*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** ---page 051--- [ad] Books and Stationery 10,000 Songs and Song Books Curiosities of All Kinds J. E. Mathews [ad] HISTORY OF HUMBOLT COUNTY 51 shrinks, checks nor warps makes it well adapted for this kind of work, as indeed it does for all kinds of work known to the builder’s art, from the plainest four-post shanty to the most elaborately-finished mansion. Redwood is used quite extensively as a veneer. The bet part of the tree for this purpose is that at the base, just where the trunk joins the root. Among the stumps of the old worked-out logging claims there is a rich harvest for future reaping. From them can be obtained the very best of material for veneering, while many, perhaps a large proportion of them, are well worth working for the choice lumber they contain. THE LUMBER INDUSTRY. The modus operandi of logging and the manufacture of lumber in Humbolt county is in the majority of instances different from that which prevails in other counties. In the first place in order to derive any remuneration the investment of capital must be large and the operations conducted on a mammoth scale. There is not a plant in Humboldt county, even the smallest, that is not worth, considering mills, railways, shipping and timber land, less than one-half a million dollars. True, some obtained the land for little or nothing, but it is worth to-day, on an average, from $80 to $100, and even more per acre. There are two systems or plans for the manufacture of lumber in this county. One of the most approved, and less expensive is the "production of timber at the point of shipment." In this case the logs are hauled down and sawed at the mill, which is located on the Bay accessible for lumber vessels of any draft. The other system is where the mill is located in the timber belt and there the lumber is manufactured and then transported by rail to deep water for shipment. This latter plan is not approved of and only adopted where the advantages of a mill site with a deep water frontage can not be obtained. With this explanation we will give a description of the LOGGING CAMPS, Where from 80 to 200 men are engaged, according to the period of the year and the capacity of the mills. In the Mad river country the land is comparatively level, while in the Eel River, Freshwater, Ryan’s Slough, Jacoby Creek, etc., the timber grows on steep hills, which form narrow canyons. Those who own level timber land claim it is the best, and others who have steep hillsides are loud in their praises of that form of country, following the saying that "every crow thinks her own young the blackest," but to an impartial judge both have their advantages and disadvantages. In the level country there is less loss of timber than that which grows on the hillsides, but again it is more difficult to haul the logs than in a rough locality where shutes can be used. After the rainy season the felling term commences, which is followed up with more or less vigor until the winter months. After a large area has been cut from--or rather sawed--the weeds and branches of the trees are set on fire so that when the cutters are through the charred trees lying butt downward are ready to be sawed into logs ranging in lengths of from twelve to twenty-four feet and longer. Then the swampers begin their work by cutting skid roads, building landings, bridging over creeks and [ad] Gibbard & Lever, Funeral Directors and Embalmers Undetaking [Undertaking] Parlors 3d & H Sts., Pioneer Bldg., Eureka [ad] ---end---