Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	RR-30
Corporate Name:	F. M. Giddens
Local Name:
Owner Name:	F. M. Giddens
Location:	1880: Precinct 6. 1884: Clarksville
County:	Red River
Years in Operation:	6 years
Start Year:	1879
End Year:	1884
Decades:	1870-1879,1880-1889
Period of Operation:	1879 to 1884
Town:	Clarksville
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:	1880: 20-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:	1880: 1,000,000 feet during the reporting period of the Census
Produced:	Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board Treated Other
Equipment:	Circular sawmill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Unknown
Historicial Development:	F. M. Giddens operated several sawmills during the last half of the 1800s in Red River County. His sawmill in Precinct 6, enumerated in the Census of 1880, was a circular saw, steam-powered operation that milled a million feet from $5,500 worth of supplies and sawlogs. The gross value of the product was $9,750. Giddens employed thirteen workers at peak production and eight normally during eight months of operations. He paid them from $1.00 to $2.50 daily for nine-hour shifts in the winter and ten-hour shifts during the summer. He paid out $2,000 total in wages in ten months of operation. This sawmill was listed at Clarksville in an 1884 railroad directory. Giddens also had a sawmill listed at Walker Station, Red River County.
Research Date:	MCJ 04-05-96
Prepared By:	M. Johnson