Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key: HO-145
Corporate Name: W. E. Mayes
Local Name:
Owner Name: W. E. Mayes
Location: Crockett
County: Houston
Years in Operation: 2 years
Start Year: 1879
End Year: 1880
Decades: 1870-1879,1880-1889
Period of Operation: 1879 to 1880
Town: Crockett
Company Town: 2
Peak Town Size: Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill: Pine and (hardwood) oak rough and finished lumber
Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill
Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper
Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown
Other
Power Source: 20-horsepower steam engines
Horse Mule Oxen Water
Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown
Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band
Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity: 
Capacity Comments: 400,000 feet of lumber during the reporting period of the 1880 Census
Produced:
Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers
Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading
Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board
Treated Other
Equipment: Hardwood (oak) and pine sawmill and planing mill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads: International and Great Northern
Historicial Development: The W.E. Mayes saw and planing mills appeared in a 1880 Chicago lumber publication. The mills were apparently located in or around Crockett. Mayes also had separate saw, planing, and shingle mills around Grapeland at this time. At least one of Maye's sawmills operated a sawmill in Houston County during the enumeration period of the Census of 1880. The mill was capitalized at $2,000. Work required six male employees, none of whom were children under the age of sixteen. Mayes paid his workers $1.00 to $1.50 per day depending upon skill level and spent $800 total in wages during the twelve months of half-time mill operations. Employees worked ten-hour days. The power plant consisted of a two boilers and two steam engines. Cutting equipment included a two circular saws. From raw materials and mill supplies worth $2,200, Mayes' mill produced 400,000 feet of lumber and 1,500,00 for a gross value of $4000. Mayes did his own logging near the mill.
Research Date: JKG 12-13-93, MCJ 02-21-96
Prepared By: J. Gerland, M. Johnson