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