Johnson County High School - Wyomalo Yearbook (Buffalo, WY)

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.f ' wa :AJ . - l- -- . -- - 1 ..... v ' MNQN1-14's s 'S -vf 1 . ' .Z Q its fr:f1f'f: -l ...L-.. . .. im.-, swag' 3,5155 ,, w - ' 1 9 2 8 THE TIE INDUSTRY . A This region of the country in recent years has made a great change from stock raising to that of farming and lumbering. The lumber industry has increased very rapidly and is fast becoming one of our leading industries, especially tie production. In 1925 15,000 ties were floated and hauled dovsm to Buffalo, in 1926 ?,2,000, in 1927 97,000, and in 1928 they expect to float from 150,000 to 160,000. After the first two years, which was 1925-1926, but few ties were hauled down' on trucks due to increased cost of hauling. The ties can be floated down at a cost of ten cents per tie while it would cost twenty-five cents per tie to haul them. At first this was not con- sidered profitable, but this is being disproved by the yearly output of lumber and ties. Upon the invitation of Mr. Bartholomew, of the Clear Creek Timber Company, three members of the W'yomalo staff, accompanied by the faculty advisor, spent a most profitable day at the company's camps in the Big'Horn Mountains about twenty miles from Buffalo. Since we learned that we were the first Johnson County High School students to visit the camps, we hope you will gain from this account a bird's-eye view of this big industry located in our midst. As we arrived at Camp 1 after dinner, we had some time to look around before our lunch was prepared. This camp consisted of a few houses, where the employees lived, the cook shack, and the commissary. The commissary has a large supply of canned goods and clothing to be distributed at the various camps. After lunch We got on a sled and from Camp 1 We Went to the lumber yards. Here a large supply of lumber is kept for the immediate demand of the customers. As we rode along we saw many trees which were marked by the Government stamp. We were told that the Government hires a forest ranger to go through the forests and mark the matured trees to be cut. This is done by cutting away a piece of the bark and stamping this place on the tree with the letters U. S. By this time we had arrived at Camp 3. We were cordially welcomed and given hot coffee which we certain- ly appreciated, for we were chilled from our ride. We were not accustomed to the cold mountain air, although we had been told that it was still cold in the mountains and that we should wear our warmest clothing. After looking' around the camp we started on to Camp 2. Along the road we saw the men busy cutting the trees. Each man cuts his own trees, hews them, and cuts them in the required lengths for ties. Each man marks his own ties and piles them up. A teamster then drags them down to the flume and parks them in decks. The flume is about three. and one-half miles long. In the spring about the first of June they start floating the ties. The water is turned into the flume: the ties are then put in, and floated down Clear Creek. The spruce trees are taken to the mill to be cut for lumber because they will not take dip and therefore can not be used for ties. The trees that are too large to be cut bv hand are taken to the mill to be cut into ties. All material which is too small for this purpose, such as mine props or lumber is taken to Buffalo to be used at the Box Factory, which is a new enterprise in the city. At Camp 2 they have besides the dwelling houses and cook shack, the school which the children from all the other camps attend. Although this industry was started several years ago but few people in our community realize what it has really done for the business people and citizens of Buffalo. It gives employment to a large number of men and helps our merchants from whom the camps' supplies are bought. There are at present 200 men on the payroll of 315,000 per rronth, and their equipment amounts to 875,000 or S80,000. The timber area which they cover is about five miles from east to west and one to three miles wide, comprising about ten sections in all. This timber is cut over but once, therefore all material that is of any use is taken the firse time. In Washington and Wisconsin, the woods are gone over in three different cuttings to get the various kinds of lumber but here, as is the Minnesota plan, everything usable is taken at the first cutting, which is much more economical and expedient. The trees which are left will mature in about fifty years. The forests are not being re-stocked, for at present the trees are much too thick to afford the proper growth to the immature panes. 'ghe ties are inspected and graded at Buffalo and are then sold to the Burlington ai roa . From Camp 2 we went to Camp 4 where we again received the same cordial welcome and were again given refreshments, and started homeward. Estella Potts. NINE

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AQOM4 A , ,. O ,- NW23155' ,.. , V ...1 '- -4- , ' J XX . W' ff f -1 f:- W 1' X.: ' qw, 1928 Order o Books re Administration I2 Classes Activities Athletics '23 Humor and Advertising