| Alpha-Numeric Key: | SA-108 |
| Corporate Name: | J. O. Belser |
| Local Name: | |
| Owner Name: | J. O. Belser |
| Location: | Five miles east of San Augustine east of Black Jack Road |
| County: | San Augustine |
| Years in Operation: | 9 years |
| Start Year: | 1922 |
| End Year: | 1930 |
| Decades: | 1920-1929,1930-1939 |
| Period of Operation: | 1922 to 1930 |
| Town: | East of San Augustine |
| Company Town: | 2 |
| Peak Town Size: | 3,000 in 1928 |
| Mill Pond: |  |
| Type of Mill: | Rough and finished lumber and ginned cotton
 Sawmill |
 Pine Sawmill |
Hardwood Sawmill |
Cypress Sawmill |
| Planer |
Planer Only |
Shingle |
Paper |
| Plywood |
Cotton |
Grist |
Unknown |
| Other |
|
|
|
|
| Power Source: | Steam
| Horse |
Mule |
Oxen |
Water |
| Water Overshot |
Water Turbine |
Diesel |
Unknown |
| Pit |
Steam |
Steam Circular |
Steam Band |
| Gas |
Electricity |
Other |
|
|
| Maximum Capacity: | 20000: 1928 |
| Capacity Comments: | 20,000 in 1928 |
| Produced: |
| Rough Lumber |
Planed Lumber |
Crossties |
Timbers |
| Lathe |
Ceiling |
Unknown |
Beading |
| Flooring |
Paper |
Plywood |
Particle Board |
| Treated |
Other |
| |
|
| Equipment: | 1922: a 2 1/2 Mississippi Hall & Brown planing mill complete with belts, pulleys, knives grinder, cut-off rig with saw, fan, and blowpipes. Sawmill. Cotton gin. 1928: Circular sawmill, planing mill, edgers, trimmers, dry kilns. |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | Gulf, Coast, & Santa Fe |
| Historicial Development: | For $750 in three notes, in 1922, Belser bought a planing mill on a mortgage to Greer-Downs. The sale included a 2 1/2 Mississippi Hall & Brown planing mill complete with belts, pulleys, knives grinder, cut-off rig with saw, fan, and blowpipes. Belser's mill was producing 20,000 feet a day in 1928.
In 1928 and 1930, J. D. Belser signed two mortgages with First National Bank that revealed he was running a sawmill and a cotton gin. In 1928, for $2,073.40, Belser mortgaged his boiler and engine, edger, trimmer, and sawring. In 1930, he once again mortgaged his equipment, including his complete sawmill rig.
It appears that the Belser sawmill was one of the countless casualties of the Great Depression.
|
| Research Date: | MCJ 02-19-96 |
| Prepared By: | M. Johnson |