W. J. Cude Land & Lumber Co. 1904-1908
Theodore Lumber & Improvement Co. 1908-1911
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Standard gauge, 30-lb rail Headquarters: Nashville, TN Mill Location: Cude, MS (Leflore County) Mill Capacity: 35,000 ft/day Years of Operation: 1904-1911 Miles Operated: 3 1/2 miles in 1910 Locomotives Owned: |
Other Equipment: 4 log cars |
Click Map for Larger Version |
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History by Gil Hoffman: In the summer of 1904 W. J. Cude, of Kimmins, Tennessee, and several of his Tennessee friends purchased 7,000 acres of hardwood timber lying between Moorhead and Itta Bena, in Leflore County, and built the town of Cude on the Southern Railway and a sawmill to cut this timber. The sawmill had a cutting capacity of 35,000 feet per day. In April 1907 the W. J. Cude Land & Lumber Company took over the Cude operation. In December 1908 the Theodore Lumber & Improvement Company took over logging operations for the Cude Company and built a tram road northward from the mill into the timber. W. F. Gerlicher was secretary-treasurer and general manager of the Theodore Company. The Cude mill cut out in the fall of 1911. Today Cude is called Colony Town.
Sou Ry built spur for W.J. Cude at MP1056 for $328.92 on Oct. 12, 1904 (C&G AFE List) |
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St. Louis Lumberman, V48, #9, 11-1-11, p. 100. FOR SALE Steel rail, 30-lb., and 20-ton Climax locomotive. Address: "BOX 3", Cude, Le Flore County, Miss. |
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Southern Lumberman, 12-25-1905, p. 46: Cude, Miss., its Founder and Some Plans for its Development: Eighteen months ago W. J. Cude, of Kimmins, Tenn., purchased 7,000 acres of timber land in LeFlore County, Miss. – A prosperous town has grown there, and a fine mill will be built. Greenwood, Miss., Dec. 20. — (Special) — In this county of rich resources and rapid development, many of the large cities had their foundation in the establishment of a single industry. The South is especially rich in history of this character, and many of the prominent Southern cities date from the establishment of a saw mill. So in a country where the soil is rich, the timber plentiful and the climate healthful, there is no telling to what size the town of Cude, Miss., may some day grow. This thriving town was founded about eighteen months ago by Mr. W. J. Cude, the popular hardwood lumberman of Kimmins, Tenn. His success in Tennessee caused him to decide to engage more extensively in the manufacture of lumber, and the productive timber lands of the Mississippi Delta seemed the most inviting as a permanent investment. So after looking around for quite a while, he decided upon a location in Leflore County. His first purchase was 5,000 acres, which he bought outright; then he secured the timber rights on 2,000 acres which adjoined. The Birmingham and Greenville division of the Southern Railway runs directly through this tract, and at a point fourteen miles east of Greenwood and forty miles east of Greenville, he established the town of Cude. This is one of the finest boundaries of hardwood timber in Mississippi, and it is estimated that this 7,000 acres will cut not less than 25,000,000 feet of high-grade lumber. This is not taking into consideration the cross-ties and other by-products that can be secured. Since the first building in the town was erected fully 25,000 cross ties have been manufactured, and yet the workmen are not out of the sight of the town. Mr. Cude’s tract of timeber is principally oak, both red and white. In addition, there are much fine gum and cypress, while persimmon and ash will also figure quite prominently in the future output. Mr. Cude expects to begin building his new mill as early in the spring as the weather will permit. It will be a band mill of 40,000 feet capacity. He would have done this last summer had not the rains in the early months interfered, and later the epidemic of yellow fever swept over the Southern country, retarding in this, as in many instances, the natural development of this section. Soon after completion of his band mill, Mr. Cude will establish a planing mill of ample capacity to take care of the entire product of his plant. As in all of this portion of the delta country, the soil around Cude is very rich, possible of production in almost all branches of farming. The chief crop of the farmers of this vicinity is cotton, but Mr. Cude has stated, that with the experience he has had in farming in Tennessee, it is his intention to utilize his cut-over land in raising not only cotton, but corn, hay and other products. In addition, he will establish a large stock farm. It is his belief that this is a great country for the now popular alfalfa hay. When Mr. Cude erected the first house of the town of Cude, eighteen months ago, while it was on the railroad, his workmen had to clear away the brush, as if it were the very heart of the forest. Cude has now grown to be a town of goodly proportions, and several industries are figuring on establishing there. Only last week a proposition came from a persimmon mill, which manufactures shuttles and other persimmon products. The town has grown so rapidly within the past few months that it has been impossible to build homes for all who intend to locate there. A number are now living in tents, and some even are camping in the tool houses which Mr. Cude erected in preparing for the work of building his plant. Cude has one of the finest artesian wells in this section of the country. It produces from 75 to 100 gallons per minute, throwing a stream fully twenty feet high, and it has never at any time shown any tendency to diminish in strength. This fine weather furnishes health-giving qualities to Cude, and, besides, the location of the town was so arranged that it is well drained at all seasons of the year. Several of Mr. Cude’s personal friends have been his guests recently, and a number of enjoyable hunts have been arranged. Among the kills were deer, wild turkey and quail in abundance. Mr. Cude shipped to Nashville this week a pair of very fine antlers from one of the recent hunting expeditions out of Cude. A Nashville taxidermist is to so mount this trophy for him that it will be an ornament for his home at Kimmins. He also shipped home for Christmas a fine young buck killed only last week. Mr. Cude has been one of Tennessee’s most successful lumbermen. Four years ago he located at Kimmins, and at once built up a fine trade in hardwoods. Success has seemed to follow every venture he has undertaken since that time. He has been in the lumber business ten or twelve years starting at Beardstown, Tenn., in Perry county, on Buffalo river. Mr. Cude was reared on a farm and has never given up his love for the freedom of that life, with its days of fishing and hunting – sport which he greatly enjoys. So about Kimmins he has built experience and valuable knowlede which he possess and intends to turn to good advantage in the country which surrounds Cude. From Kimmins Mr. Cude has been shipping on ??? up quite extensive farming interests, and the expe??? average of fifty cars per month for some time, mostly popular, oak and chestnut. His new purchase in Mississippi embraces chiefly those woods which he has so successfully handled at Kimmins. |
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ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:
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