Standard gauge, 35-lb rail
Headquarters:
Mill Location: Forest, MS (Scott County)
Mill Capacity: 100,000 ft/day
Years of Operation: 1915-1930
Miles Operated: 16 miles in 1918
Locomotives Owned: 5 known
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Other Equipment:
Purchased
Clyde Iron Works 3-drum Skidder #274, shipped to Forest, Miss. 10-23-1915.
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Click Map for Larger Version |
History
by Gil Hoffman:
The
Bienville Lumber Company was organized in 1900 and built a circular sawmill
with a cutting capacity of 60,000 feet per day at Alberta, LA. This mill cut
out in February 1915 and was moved to Forest, MS, with operations beginning
there in November 1915.
The
mill at Forest had a single band and gang with a cutting capacity of 100,000
feet per day. The timber supply consisted of about 30,000 acres of shortleaf
pine in the vicinity of Forest. The company specialized in general yard
stock. W. A. Davenport was president and general manager while J. R.
Mitchell was secretary, treasurer and sales manager. Both men came to Forest
from Alberta, LA. Davenport was born at Arkadelphia, AR, and Mitchell in
Mason City, IA.
The
sawmill cut out in 1930 or 1931, but the planing mill continued to operate
until 1934.
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ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:
1
2T Shay
Lima
663
7-1901
29½ 3-10x12 63150 empty
Transferred from Bienville operation at Alberta, LA, in
1915.
Built as Louisiana Logging Co., Ltd. #1, Minden, LA; to
Bienville Lumber Co. #1, Alberta, LA.
2
2T Shay
Lima
1904
5-1907 28
3-10x10
66000
Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1216,
Birmingham, AL, on 6-24-18. Cost $6,500.
Built as Porter-Wadley Lumber Co. #4, Cotton Valley, LA; to
Bryceland Lumber Co., Ltd., Bryceland, LA; to Birmingham
Rail & Locomotive Co. #1216.
4
3T Shay
Lima
567
2-1899 32
3-12x12
100000
Transferred from Bienville operation at Alberta, LA, in 1915.
Built as J. J. Newman Lumber Co. #4, Hattiesburg, MS; to
Bienville Lumber Co. #4, Alberta, LA.
7
4-6-0
Baldwin
15469
8-1897 54
15x24 85625
Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1199,
Birmingham, AL, on 11-19-19.
Built as Georgia Pine Ry. #1, Bainbridge, GA; to Georgia,
Florida & Alabama Ry. 1st #1, in 4-1901, renumb. #121 about
1904; to Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. #158, Albany, GA; to
Upchurch Lumber Co. #10, Hastings, FL, on 7-10-11;
to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1199.
Baldwin class 10-24 D 29
8
2-6-0
Baldwin
80000
Purchased secondhand.
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