WEST VIRGINIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



269 



south from the main line of railroad has gone out on the water, 

 principally in the log and not as sawed lumber. 



Before the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad 

 through the county and to Parkersburg in 1857 there had been 

 a lumber industry that supplied local demands only, except that 

 a quantity of hoop-poles and tan bark had been hauled in wag- 

 ons to St. Marys on the Ohio river, and that considerable raft- 

 ing had been done on the lower water courses. 



There were several water-power sash saw mills running in 

 the county during its early settlement. Some of those on the 

 North Fork of Hughes river were Malone's mill, near Harris- 

 ville, and Liggett 's mill, Heaton's mill and McGregor's mill, at 

 other points below. Besides these there were the 2 Wells mills 

 and 4 others belonging to a man by the name of Preble. On the 

 South Fork were the Hugil mill, the Nebbo mill, and the Sen- 

 nett mill. 



A more active lumber industry began with the building of 

 the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, before referred to. 



Large numbers of hewed and sawed ties were cut, all being 

 taken by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Some of these were 

 used in the construction of their line through the county and 

 some were shipped east. In later years Pittsburg has become 

 the principal market for cross-ties. 



There has been an extensive split and sawed stave industry. 

 A stave factory located at Pennsboro built a tramway to Har- 

 risville which carried oak timber to their plant from a large area 

 in the interior. Many staves have been shipped by various op- 

 erators from Cairo, Petroleum, Cornwallis, EUenboro and other 

 stations along the railroad in the county. Joel Beckwith has 

 been one of the most extensive operators in Ritchie, as well as 

 in Wirt, Wood and Calhoun counties. 



Portable saw mills were brought to the county soon after 

 the railroad was built and began to saw lumber, cross-ties and 

 staves. There were comparatively few operations, however, un- 

 til after the year 1870. Since that date most of the timber that 

 remained has been sawed on small mills, 



A shingle factory at Pennsboro manufactured a large num- 

 ber of poplar and oak shingles. 



