Research: Tram & Railroad Database

Code: 46
Corporate Name: Tyler County Lumber Company tram road
Folk Name:
Incorporated:
Ownership: Tyler County Lumber Company. Express Lumber Company. William. R. McCarty.
Years of Operation: ca. 1882- 1906?
Track Type:
Standard Gauge Wooden Rails
Track Length: Three miles
Locations Served: Hillister Tyler
Counties of Operation: Tyler.
Line Connections:
Track Information:
Tram Road Logging / Industrial Common Carrier Logging Camp
Equipment:
History: Three miles of narrow-gauge tram from Hillister, four miles north of Warren, into the pineries of Tyler County. A September 1890 news account revealed that the Tyler County Lumber Company at Hillister was employing around 150 men and operating three miles of narrow-gauge tram road with one engine and fifteen log cars. American Lumberman reported in March 1906 that the Company was in the hands of receiver W. H. Norris. It was his intention to let the Company cut out its remaining timber during the following two years. The history of the sawmill at Hillister began with William R. McCarty , who operated a mill north of Kountze in 1882 with T. J. Ridley. McCarty moved a few miles further to the north and became the first postmaster and sawmiller at Hillister. He sold his mill to W. M. Gilder of the Express Lumber Company ca.1884, and in turn Gilder sold out to Arthur and L. Hutchins of the Tyler County Lumber Company around 1888. It is quite possible later that J. P. Carter of Carter Lbr Co bought the mill from Tyler County Lbr Co. (See entry for Carter Lbr Co site at Hillister). Arthur Hutchins died in May 1891, leaving the company close to bankruptcy. John Delaney became the receiver of the Tyler County Lumber Company in July 1891, but was unsuccessful in returning it to its former capacity. It is believed that the mill, land, and timber holdings were auctioned off sometime around fall 1893. The mill was probably dismantled and sold by the Warren Land and Lbr. Co. A September 1890 news account revealed that the Tyler County Lumber Company at Hillister was employing around 150 men and operating three miles of narrow gauge tram road with one engine and fifteen log cars.