Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	HO-36
Corporate Name:	F. A. Beckham
Local Name:
Owner Name:	F. A. Beckham
Location:	Enumeration District 23
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:	Enumeration District 23
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:	25-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:	50,000 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:	Sawmill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	International & Great Northern at Crockett
Historicial Development:	F. A. Beckham operated a sawmill in Houston County during the enumeration period of the Census of 1880. The mill was capitalized at $3,200. Work required four male employees, one of whom were children under the age of sixteen. Beckham paid his workers seventy-five cents per each eight-hour day in the winter and ten-hour day in the summer, spending $100 total in wages during the two months of mill operations. The power plant consisted of a twenty-five horsepower steam engine with a boiler. Cutting equipment included a circular saw. From raw materials and mill supplies worth $350, Beckham's mill produced 50,000 feet of lumber for a gross value of $600. The mill did no remanufacturing. Beckham did his own logging near the mill.
Research Date:	MCJ 02-20-96
Prepared By:	M. Johnson