The Timber Trade, article, transcribed (Buffalo Courier & Republic, 1869-07-23_002).pdf

The Timber Trade, article, transcribed (Buffalo Courier & Republic, 1869-07-23_002).pdf

The Timber Trade of Tonawanda.

Correspondence of the Courier.

TONAWANDA, July 20, 1869.

EDITORS COURIER:—In “Exavier's” article published in the columns of the COURIER a short time since, but a small portion of the commercial business done at Tonawanda was mentioned. Please allow me to state, in addition, that the most extensive lumber dealers in North America are doing business at this point—Messrs. McGraw & Co., of the city of Albany, formerly Sage & McGraw, and one of the oldest lumber firms in the country. The firm is now composed of Thomas and John McGraw, and they have been engaged in the lumber trade for about thirty-one years, and for the nine years last past doing business at Tonawanda. They have within the last few years purchased several thousand acres of pine timbered land in Michigan at or near Saginaw, and it is said have erected thereon the most extensive sawmills in the United States, with a capacity for cutting three hundred and fifty thousand feet of lumber per day, and are cutting thirty millions of feet per annum, and forward the same therefrom in their own barges, steamboats and vessels direct to the port of Tonawanda, where it is transshipped to the eastern market. They have already, since the opening of lake navigation last spring, sent forward to this port from their Saginaw mills, as per custom-house receipts, on or about seven millions feet, which are now in progress of being forwarded to the east. Their commercial docks at this point are probably the most extensive on the frontier. Their office is located with Messrs. Burrows & Lane on the dock, at the mouth of the Tonawanda creek, where at all times can be found William Hollister, Esq., of Rochester, their general agent—he who has been a lumber inspector for the general government, and for private individuals, for the last twenty-one years.

Messrs. Evens and Killmaster, who are in fact the successors of the Hon. Henry P. Smith, the pioneer lumberman of Tonawanda, in the round pine trade, who brought the first raft across lake Erie to this port—this firm has been doing business in the timber trade, at this point, for about twelve years, and are perhaps most extensively engaged in the round pine, mast and spar trade of any firm on the frontier. They buy large tracts of standing timber of the Canadian government, cut and haul the same to the lake shore on the Canadian coast, tow it with their steamboats to the port of Tonawanda, where it is sold by them to various parties and manufactured into building timber, shingles, &c.

They have already, since the opening of lake navigation last spring, brought into this market about five million feet of pine logs and masts, towed with their own steamboat, the “N. P. Sprague,” commanded by Capt. Harvey Booth. The “Sprague” has towed into Tonawanda, this present season, nine rafts for the firm, and, I am credibly informed, not a log has been lost out of the nine tows from the starting point (Canada shore) to the port of destination. Captain Harvey Booth has been engaged upon the lakes, in the timber trade, towing rafts to Tonawanda for twenty-three years in succession, and for the last nine years for the firm of Evens & Killmaster, and he has earned a reputation, as a commander, second to none that ever trod the deck of a ship on the western lakes.

Alexander McDougal, a gentleman of thirty years experience in the timber trade, is also doing a large business at Tonawanda, in the square oak, mast and spar trade, commencing as a lumberman in the year 1839, on the Genesee river, in the county of Allegany, and carried on business in that locality until there was no ship timber to be had in that section. Mr. McDougal has recently purchased ten thousand acres of pine and oak timbered land in Michigan, and is now cutting and transporting the same to Tonawanda, to be shipped from the latter port to the city of New York, Boston and other eastern and southern ports. Mr. McDougal has a line of vessels running from Michigan direct to Tonawanda, and amongst the number is the “Vanderbilt,” built by him about two years since, which is considered one of the most staunch timber vessels in the trade.

Daniel A. VanValkenburgh, of Lockport, ranks as one of the oldest timber dealers on the frontier, and has been, and now is, engaged in the square oak and pine timber trade at Tonawanda, for about twenty-three years; and has built at this port, to use in his timber trade, several of the large class vessels which are now plying between the western ports and Tonawanda, with timber to be transshipped at this port to the eastern market.

George S. Weaver, of the city of Albany, is now and has been for a series of years engaged in the timber trade at this point, shipping the same from the western lakes via Tonawanda to the east, and his annual shipments amount to millions of feet.

T. R. Dewolf, of Canada West, is also largely engaged in the round pine trade, at this point, and has been for about three years, and has at all times on hand and for sale a large quantity of Canadian pine logs.

Messrs. E. G. Merrick & Son, of Detroit, are shipping to Tonawanda millions of feet per annum of round and square pine timber, which is transshipped by their agents, Messrs. McDougal & Vincent, directly to the eastern markets.

William Youel, of Port Burwell, Canada West, keeps constantly on hand, and for sale, a large quantity of Canada timber, and has for three years last past.

General Schott, of Vermont, is one of the oldest dealers in the mast trade in the country; headquarters at Tonawanda, purchases and ships from this port direct to Boston from three to five million feet of masts and spars per annum.

Joseph Jackson, from Canada West, is also engaged in the round pine timber trade, Tonawanda, and has been for on or about twelve years last past. He makes his purchases in the Canadian province, transports it by steamboat to Tonawanda to the amount of several millions per annum, which is sold to various lumber manufacturers at this point, and eastern dealers.

William Laramy & Co., of Batavia, are largely engaged at this point in the sawed lumber trade, and have been for about five years. They have recently purchased of the Canadian government eighty thousand acres of pine timbered land, and have erected thereon extensive sawmills, where they are manufacturing lumber to the amount of millions per annum, and shipping direct to Tonawanda, where it is transshipped by their agent, E. T. Ayer, Esq., for the eastern and southern market. They have five of the large class vessels engaged in bringing lumber from their Canadian mills to this port, which of itself alone would be considered a large commercial business in some of the commercial ports adjacent to Tonawanda.

Harvey Bissel, of Toledo, also is one of the old stock of timber dealers, headquarters at Tonawanda for about fourteen years; is extensively engaged in the square oak and square pine trade, purchasing the same principally from Ohio and transporting it in his line of ship timber vessels (built by him specially for the Toledo and Tonawanda trade) where it is transshipped by his agent (his son James) to New York, Boston, Philadelphia and the Atlantic coast. Mr. Bissel is one of the oldest dealers in square oak timber on the frontier.

Alonzo H. Cheesbrough, of Suspension Bridge, is also a timber dealer at Tonawanda, and has been for about twenty-five years engaged in the square oak trade at this point, cutting the same from the stump, principally from the state of Ohio, transporting it in his own line of timber vessels to Tonawanda, where it is transshipped to the various ports on the Atlantic coast. Mr. Cheesbrough has probably shipped more square oak timber from the lakes to the ocean than any other man engaged in the square oak trade.

Frederick Lafortune is also engaged in the timber trade at Tonawanda, and has been for about seventeen years. He takes it from the forests in Canada, transports it across Lake Erie to Tonawanda, at which port he has on hand and for sale, from one to two million feet of the best Canada pine, mast, spar and shingle logs.

In 1868 there were built at the various ship yards in Tonawanda, seven of the large class vessels, three barges, and four steam tugs, besides a goodly number of canal boats.

In 1866 and 1867 the vessel (three master) “Erastus Corning” was built at this point, which, as I am credibly informed, is one of the largest sail vessels ever sailed upon Lake Erie. This year (1869) three vessels have been built and launched from the yard, at this point two barges and one steam tug. In prospecting through the various ship yards on or about the twelfth inst., we learned that thirteen canal boats had been built and launched at the various ship yards, since March last, and we had the pleasure of seeing the launch of one of them on that day, from Messrs. Kent & Williams’ ship yard, the “John A. McDougal,” of two hundred and thirty tons burthen.

By the way—D. F. Cady, Esq., of Lockport, an extensive boat builder at that place (and is every inch a canal man) occupied one of our ship yards during the month of June last, and built a large class steam dredge for some parties at Erie, Pa., which was launched about ten days since and has gone to its destination; the cost of which was about fourteen thousand dollars. We are informed that Mr. Cady has contracted to build two more, and will lay the keels for the same on one of the ship yards in Tonawanda in a few days. More anon.

XAVIER.

1869-07-23