| Alpha-Numeric Key: | SH-209 |
| Corporate Name: | Ross & Cain |
| Local Name: | |
| Owner Name: | Ross & Cain. Smith & Cain. J. B. Cain. James Booker Ross. |
| Location: | Six miles north of Center, possibly near Flat Fork or Smith Creek |
| County: | Shelby |
| Years in Operation: | 2 years |
| Start Year: | 1906 |
| End Year: | 1907 |
| Decades: | 1900-1909 |
| Period of Operation: | 1906 and 1907 |
| Town: | North of Center |
| Company Town: | 2 |
| Peak Town Size: | 859 in 1905; 4000 in 1928; 2510 in 1934 |
| Mill Pond: |  |
| Type of Mill: | Rough lumber, shingles
 Sawmill |
 Pine Sawmill |
Hardwood Sawmill |
Cypress Sawmill |
| Planer |
Planer Only |
Shingle |
Paper |
| Plywood |
Cotton |
Grist |
Unknown |
| Other |
|
|
|
|
| Power Source: | Steam engine, boiler
| Horse |
Mule |
Oxen |
Water |
| Water Overshot |
Water Turbine |
Diesel |
Unknown |
| Pit |
Steam |
Steam Circular |
Steam Band |
| Gas |
Electricity |
Other |
|
|
| Maximum Capacity: | 10000: 1906 |
| Capacity Comments: | Probably 10,000 feet daily |
| Produced: |
| Rough Lumber |
Planed Lumber |
Crossties |
Timbers |
| Lathe |
Ceiling |
Unknown |
Beading |
| Flooring |
Paper |
Plywood |
Particle Board |
| Treated |
Other |
| |
|
| Equipment: | A sawmill with a steam engine, steam boiler, eight yoke of oxen, two 8-wheeled wagons, a 3-saw edger, and one double-tooth sawmill dog. |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | In 1905, the Houston East & West Texas at Tenaha; later the Gulf Coast & Santa Fe at Center |
| Historicial Development: | J. B. Cain's sawmill, also known as the Smith and Cain sawmill, was located about six miles north of Center, somewhere between Flat Fork and Smith Creek. The first historical record is Cain's mortgage to Dilley in the amount of $786 for a steam engine, steam boiler, and a sawmill. On December 8, 1906, Cain mortgaged to H. Kitchen for $500 his pine lumber at the mill yard, the lumber to cut at the yard, and all the logs to be hauled. The following April 7, he mortgaged to Farmers Bank his sawmill outfit, eight yoke of oxen, and two 8-wheeled wagons. The same month, to Dilley & Son, he mortgaged a 3-saw edger and one double-tooth sawmill dog. As financial difficulties apparently increased, Cain gave to Fleshman & Redditt a half interest in the sawmill and its fixtures, “known as the Smith and Cain sawmill.” By September of that year, J. B. Ross was partnering Cain as they, for $3000, mortgaged a moulder and a matcher machine.
|
| Research Date: | MCJ 03-02-96 |
| Prepared By: | M Johnson |