UNIT #3 Farms, Forests and Factories The Lumber Industry

Chapter The Forestry Industry Page 1 -As settlement spread across the U.S. (westward), the demand for lumber increased -Settlement on the Great Plains was increasing, with very little timber there to support the region’s growth -The forests of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota would support growth there -Settlers needed wood to make tools, shingle, doors and general lumber for building homes, barns UNIT #3 Farms, Forests and Factories The Lumber Industry

Chapter Page 1 UNIT #3 Farms, Forests and Factories The Lumber Industry

Chapter The “Pinery” Page 1 -Northern Wisconsin held one of the largest stands of white pine in the world -It soon became known as the “Pinery” -Some of the largest white pines in Wisconsin were:-8 feet wide -200 feet tall -500 years old -White pines was a desirable variety of wood because:-It resisted rotting -It floated (high in the water) -The logs were straight -It was soft and easy to cut -Had no real odor UNIT #3 Farms, Forests and Factories The Lumber Industry

Chapter Lumbering Page 1 -Lumbering in WI began in the mid 1800s -It was centered first in Stevens Point on the Wisconsin River -Lumberjacks, Europeans, Euro- Americans and tribal members worked during the winter -Snow and ice allowed lumberjacks to, more easily, transport logs UNIT #3 Farms, Forests and Factories The Lumber Industry

Chapter On the Rivers Page 1 -When rivers thawed in spring, lumberjacks floated the logs downriver—on a log drive -Logs were stamped by logging companies for identification and sorting -Logs had to be tended to along the way by lumbermen -Log jams were a potential problem and caused delays -Sawmills had to be located along rivers to accommodate log drives UNIT #3 Farms, Forests and Factories The Lumber Industry

Chapter On the Rivers Page 1 UNIT #3 Farms, Forests and Factories The Lumber Industry

Chapter Railroads, Not Rivers Page 1 -Railroad transformed the entire lumber industry With Railroads: Logs could be moved over land Logging camps moved off the rivers More forest (previously unreachable) could be harvested Hardwoods could be harvested Lumbering could be done year round UNIT #3 Farms, Forests and Factories The Lumber Industry

Chapter The Sawmill Page 1 -Cities grew up quickly around sawmills -Known as “sawdust cities” -By the mid 1880s, lumber-related jobs became the #1 employment in WI UNIT #3 Farms, Forests and Factories The Lumber Industry -In the 1890s, WI logging reached its peak -Lumber barons (mill owners) became wealthy and powerful in these cities (& state)