The 'inexhaustible' pinery - an epilog

"In the early days the timber must have been beautiful but what was left was a broke, burned and sickening landscape" - Esther Gibbs, "We Went a Loggin'"

     Valleys of the St. Croix, Red Cedar, Chippewa and Black Rivers in the days of logging were often referred to as warehouses of inexhaustible pinery. But in a space of less than 80 years, lumbermen stripped the pine from the land at such a great rate that shortly into the 20th century, lumber had to be imported.
     The lumber industry, in retrospect, has been viewed as a ruthless assault in nature by some, and by others as bringing progress to the valleys.
     Had it not been for the timber, man probably would not have ventured into the area as soon as he did.

Did have its impact

     Regardless, the lumbering man did leave an impact on the area. Some came, made a fortune and left. A few left lasting contributions. Many were caught up in the hardships of its development and work while still others were trapped in its aftermath.
     On one hand towns, cities, roads, bridges and railways always followed the lumbermen, but when the trees were gone, large tracts of virtual deserts were left behind. When the trees were gone, the flow of the streams had been disturbed and in some sections soil had been washed away.

Cities public demand for lumber

After loggers ravaged the woods, dry branches were perfect kindling for forest fires. Fires often burned for weeks or months in the northern part of the area. Some felt the fires destroyed nearly as much timber as was cut.

     William Irvine who managed Chippewa Lumber and Boom Co. for 32 years, told an old settlers group in his later years, "Public sentiment in general condemns the lumberman for the distruction of the forest, forgetting the public demanded the products which were used to supply the wants of the people.
     "The earlier lumbermen were in a constant struggle with the wolf and had no time for questions of reproduction, care of smaller growth and kindred subjects.
     "The great question is the forest was that of getting to market the merchantable product in such a manner as to permit the operator to pay his bills and labor with the hope of a reasonable return for his time and investment, and to the observer of the period the best interest of all classes were advanced by the methods then in effect."

Went back to get it

     In commenting on earlier practices, Irvine said, "We put in good logs n the late 60s and 70s, taking only the perfect trees and leaving any which showed any defects. I remember looking at a grand white pine left standing in the forest and asking the chopper who had padded it by why he had not cut it down. he looked at me with a pitying glance and pointed to a little spot on the side of the tree, probably 50 feet above the ground, with a withering mark, "My boy, don't you see that punk?" Many hears later we went back for that tree and for many poorer ones as well."
     Irvine added, "To men whose lives have been passed in the various stages of lumber industry in the Chippewa Valley, there is paths in its passing and as its requiem is sung, let not the sentiment be forgotten that in addition to the material prosperity it has brought to so many of our people; to the lumber industry is due the development of as fair a domain as ever the sun shown on, one which furnished homes for countless thousands and fertile fields for northern Wisconsin."

Cut down in a few years

     What took nature 50 to 100 years and in the case of some of the huge white pine many more years to develop, took an expert woodsman only a few minutes to cut down.
     The lumberman throughout the period here had little regard for reforestation or even for smaller trees.
     Choice trees were cut and often when falling to earth crushed other growth. Slashings were then left behind, killing any undergrowth.
     One of the reasons for the pineries disappearing so rapidly was wasteful practices by logging crews.
     Again looking back, had more thoughtful methods been encouraged the industry could have been prolonged.
     Crews were responsible for much of the spoilage. They often left high stumps. Us of the axe resulted in more waste because the ends had to be squared later. Coming of the cross saw into the woods, a method which was brought here from Maine and Michigan, eliminated some of this waste.
     One old-timer recalled that in the late summer of 1908 or 1909, "a big fire started in the swamp north of Tony and spread east and north to Hawkins. The fire lasted about one month, with men fighting it and keeping vigil constantly. We fought the fire with gunny sacks and shovels, hoping to divert it at the creeks. Much virgin timber was killed in the fire..."
     Slashings were excellent kindling and one observer in 1871 reported more pine was probably burned than reached the mills.

Saws also chewed up lumber

     In addition, more than a billion board feet of lumber could have been produced in 1872-1905 had band saws been used to the exclusion of malley and circular saws. Besides what was lost because of needlessly wide kerfs, much valuable material was burned as refuse.
     On the latter point, scraps which are now used for various wood products were destroyed.
     Some hemlock, cut to obtain the bark and then left in the woods, could have been converted to lumber and pulpwood.
     The logging era brought related industries to the valley. Many towns had furniture factories, planing mills, barrel and stave factories and wagon and carriage plants.
     Some of the umber barons did leave behind grants and endowments from which many persons have and will continue to benefit.
     Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls was granted by Irvine as well as Carson Park in Eau Claire by William Carson. Sen. H. H. Stout, son of H. L. Stout of Knapp, Stout & Co. Company, gave money to start Stout State University at Menomonie. The younger Stout also started a number of traveling libraries in the area.
     Andrew Tainter built Mabel Tainter Theater and Library in Menomonie and Edward Rutledge, an associate of Frederick Weyerhaeuser, left funds for Rutledge Home in Chippewa Falls.
     A. B. McDonell gave to Notre Dame parish in Chippewa Falls and endowment for McDonell Memorial High School.
     R. D. Marshall gave money for St. Joseph's Hospital; his wife conveyed to Chippewa Falls land adjoining Irvine Park known as the Marshall playgrounds.
     Moon Library at Stanley was donated by Mrs. Delos Moon of Eau Claire. Her husband had been an official of the Northwestern Lumber Co. at Stanley.
     Threats of damage by fire, insects and price fluctuations tended to discourage private owner from making any long-term investment in reforestation. Studies show it took 50 years for a conifer to develop to cutting size and no capitalist felt he could afford this investment.
     Just the same, some lumbermen became exceedingly wealthy.
     One report notes that George Hiles came to the Black River Falls-Dexterville area in the early 1850s with only a few dollars in his pocket, but left with a fortune estimated at $15 million. He also left behind thousands of "massacred" acres.
     State and federal laws protected lumbermen for a number of years because of their vast influence. Many were state senators and assemblymen, but by 1900 the lumbermen had lost control of local politics and faced a sudden rise in taxes.
     Hardship and poverty borne by the average logging jobber, lumberjack and mill hand is a dismal picture in contrast with the opulence and power the lumber baron enjoyed.
     However, the successful lumberman, because of his own energy, stamina and courage, raised himself from obscurity to a position of wealth and power. he faced risks that would have daunted an average man, but did so with full knowledge of the problems ahead.
     Probably the most depressing result of the lumber industry, and perhaps the most needless of all, was the plight of the settler on submarginal cutover lands

- Arnie Hoffman

Extracted from the Eau Claire Leader Telegram
Special Publication, Our Story 'The Chippewa Valley and Beyond', published 1976
Used with permission.