Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	HD-63
Corporate Name:	R. P. Snelling
Local Name:
Owner Name:	R. P. Snelling. A. W. Carlyle & R. P. Snelling.
Location:	Just north of Kountze
County:	Hardin
Years in Operation:	6 years
Start Year:	1881
End Year:	1886
Decades:	1890-1899
Period of Operation:	1880s
Town:	Just north of Kountze
Company Town:	2
Peak Town Size:	Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill:	Lumber Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown Other
Power Source:	Probably steam Horse Mule Oxen Water Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity:
Capacity Comments:	Unknown
Produced:	Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board Treated Other
Equipment:	Sawmill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Sabine and East Texas. Texas and New Orleans.
Historicial Development:	The Beaumont Enterprise reported that Carlyle and Snelling were running a mill a mile above Kountze. Sometime thereafter they must have built a second mill closer to town, for by 1884, Carlyle and Snelling were listed independently with their own mills at Kountze by a railroad directory. By 1886, the sawmill was in the estate of R. P. Snelling, but the sawmill did not long survive its owner. The hurricane of October 12, 1886, leveled the mill; it was not rebuilt but was moved to Woodville. The hurricane of 1886 wreaked disaster throughout the lower end of East Texas. The communities of Sabine Pass, Texas, and Johnson's Bayou, Louisiana, were completely leveled. Almost two hundred people drowned in the two communities.
Research Date:	MCJ 03-13-96
Prepared By:	M. Johnson