Early Lumber Markets. 
Before there were any facilities for shipping the 
forest products to market, the local timber had but a 
nominal value. The settler looked upon the forest as 
a barrier to his progress rather than as a natural 
resource of value. Soon after the completion of the 
Erie Canal in 18228, there grew up a market for the pine, 
which was shipped to Albany by canal boats. At that 
time Albany was the chief lumber market in New York 
State. The shipping of pine, and of oak for ship and 
boat timbers caused to be built up a considerable lumber 
trade at Ithaca. The very finest grades of pine brought 
$6.00 per thousand feet delivered at the wharf at Ithaca ; 
and $10.00 per thousand feet delivered at Albany. In 
1835 the business of building canal boats at Ithaca was 
in a prosperous condition. In the townships of Lansing 
and Groton, oak, ash and beech timber was hauled overland 
to Auburn during the winter months. __ 
It was not until after 1850 that other markets 
and means of transportation were obtained. The fol- 
lowing dates show when the various railroads were built 
and new markets were made available to the forest pro- 
ducts of Tompkins County. 
pees Owego), 
Cayuga and Susquehanna R.R. (Lackawanna ee wee ---a- 1834 
Lehigh Valley R.R. (Ithaca to Geneva) ------------= 1870 
* (Auburn Division ) ------------- 1874 
Midland R.R. --------------- -----+--+-------------- 1872 
Ithaca and Cortland R.R. (E.C. & N.) -9------------ 1871 
