WEST VIRGINIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



149 



White Sulphur Springs, Caldwell and Ronccverte. When the 

 Chesapeake and Ohio railroad was built up the Greenbrier 

 river a similar industry was begun all along tlie line. When 

 available sites for the small mills became scarce near the rail- 

 road many of them moved back into the interior where they are 

 still engaged in sawing for small owners and hauling the lum- 

 ber on wagons to the railroad. 



The first large band saw operation in the coupty was that 

 of the St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing Company. This 

 company came to Ronceverte in 1882 and erected a circular 

 mill. In 1884 this w^as replaced by a double band mill which 

 continued to operate until 1910. During 24 years the mill cut 

 433,000,000 feet of white pine from Greenbrier and Pocahontas 

 counties. After 1902 the white pine supply began to fall oft 

 and considerable hemlock and hardw^ood timber was sawed. This 

 company erected a single band mill at Shryock on Anthonys 

 creek in 1909 which it is now operating. 



Some of the large operators that have completed their work 

 were the Henderson Lumber Company, with a band mill at the 

 mouth of Anthonys creek; the Clear Creek Lumber Company, 

 and the Kittanning Lumber Company, both with large circular 

 mills in the Greenbrier section. 



Among the present extensive operators, some of which have 

 cut over vast forest areas, may be mentioned the Cherry River 

 Boom and Lumber Company, located at Richwood in Nicholas 

 county; the Fenwick Lumber Com^pany at Fenwick, Nicholas 

 county, and the Neola Lumber Company at Neola, all band mill 

 operations, Donaldson Lumber Company and Kendall-Deter 

 Lumber Company are operating large circular mills near An- 

 thony on the Greenbrier river. 



Much of the fine walnut timber was destroyed. That which 

 remained until after the coming of the railroads was eagerly 

 sought after and even the stumps throughout the Greenbrier 

 valley were bought and removed. 



Chestnut oak timber once grew in abundance in the county 

 and furnished material for an active tan-bark industry which 

 has lasted through a long period of years. 



