Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key: BO-72
Corporate Name: R. W. Rodgers
Local Name:
Owner Name: R. W. Rodgers
Location: Texarkana
County: Bowie
Years in Operation: 6 years
Start Year: 1879
End Year: 1884
Decades: 1870-1879,1880-1889
Period of Operation: 1879 to 1884
Town: Texarkana
Company Town: 2
Peak Town Size: Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill: Lumber
Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill
Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper
Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown
Other
Power Source: 40-horsepower steam engine
Horse Mule Oxen Water
Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown
Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band
Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity: 
Capacity Comments: 420,000 board feet during Census year
Produced:
Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers
Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading
Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board
Treated Other
Equipment: Sawmill with a circular and gang saw
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads: Texas Pacific and Texas and St. Louis
Historicial Development: R. W. Rodgers' mill operated for six months during the census year ending May 31, 1880. It was valued at $2,000 and Rodgers paid from $1.25 to $4.00 per day to twenty employees. The work day was ten hours. Rodgers did his own logging. Rodger's mill also appeared in Rand, McNally and Company's 1884 lumber mill directory. R. W. Rodgers (District 3) Capital invested: $2,000 Employees: Greatest #-20, Avg-5; working 10 hours daily in summer and 10 in winter, with skilled labor $4 daily, unskilled $1.25; Total Annual Wages: $840 paid in 6 mos FT Raw Materials: $2,400 in logs and other mill supplies Annual Production & Total Value: 420,000 BF for $4,200 Remanufacturing & amount: No Does its own logging and shipping: Yes, in Bowie County, No Equipment: 1 2-gang, 1 circular saws, 40-HP steam engine & boiler
Research Date: JKG 12-1-93, MCJ 03-08-96
Prepared By: J. Gerland, M. Johnson