Finkbine Lumber Co.

Standard gauge, 56-lb rail Headquarters: Wiggins, MS Mill Location: Wiggins, MS (Stone County)                           D'Lo, MS (Simpson County) Mill Capacity: 175,000 ft/day in 1910 (Wiggins)                         225,000 ft/day in 1916 (D'Lo) Years of Operation: Wiggins- 1901-1929                                  D'Lo- 1916-1929 Miles Operated: 50 miles in 1917 (Wiggins)                             18 miles in 1917 (D'Lo) Locomotives Owned: see roster below	Also see: Niles City Lumber Co. Wilbe Lumber Co.     Equipment: 5 locomotives, 100 cars, 2 American loaders in 1910	Click Here for Google Map version of Finkbine Lumber Co. logging railroad map
History by Gil Hoffman: WIGGINS MILL On October 12, 1901, the Finkbine Lumber Company, of Des Moines, Iowa, purchased the two sawmills belonging to the Niles City Lumber Company (composed of J. H. and S. O. Gary), at Wiggins, Harrison County, for $13,300. As part of this agreement the Garys became sole logging contractors for the Finkbine mills at Wiggins in an area extending 36 miles east and west and 12 miles north and south of the town for a total of not less than 100,000,000 feet of pine logs and not exceeding 150,000 feet per day. On April 2, 1903, all of the timber lands owned by the Niles City Lumber Company were transferred to the Finkbine Lumber Company. In January 1903, a new double band mill with a cutting capacity of 125,000 feet per day was completed at Wiggins. Machinery throughout was by the Allis-Chalmers Company. Other features were five dry kilns, a large planing mill and dressed lumber shed. The mill cut longleaf yellow pine, being primarily a dimension stuff mill. Some timbers were also cut. Business was both domestic and export, with export being handled through Gulfport, MS Officers of the company were E. C. Finkbine, president; W. O. Finkbine, vice president, and W. E. Guild, treasurer. In January 1903, W. E. Guild took over as general manager at Wiggins. On July 1, 1929, the mills and remaining timber lands at Wiggins and D'Lo were sold to the Wilbe Lumber Company.   D'LO MILL In July 1915, the Finkbine Lumber Company began construction at D'Lo, Simpson County, of an all electric sawmill containing two band saws, a gang saw and a resaw. When operations began in July 1916, this mill had a cutting capacity of 200,000 feet in 10 hours. The timber supply extended over parts of Simpson, Rankin, Smith and Scott counties, running east from D'Lo for about 50 miles. Offices of the company were moved from Wiggins to Jackson, MS, in December 1918. About August 1927 the supply of pine was cut out, after which the mill switched to cutting redwood shipped from the Finkbine-Guild mill in California through the Panama Canal to Gulfport. The D'Lo mill cut out for good in August 1929. On July 1, 1929, all timber lands, mineral leases and railroad rights-of-way in Simpson County belonging to the Finkbine Lumber Company were sold to the Wilbe Lumber Company.   Other sources: See court case pertaining to the sale of the Finkbine railroad running east of Wiggins to the G&SI here.
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Finkbine Lumber Co. letterhead from 1919	Finkbine Lumber Co. 3-truck Shay #54 was bought new in 1920 for the D'Lo mill, and taken to California when the company moved operations there in 1927.	The new Finkbine Lumber Co sawmill at Wiggins under construction in 1902-03 that replaced the smaller mill bought from Niles City Lumber Co. in October 1901.
Finkbine Lumber Co. log train unloading logs at Wiggins circa 1910. Note the use of leased Gulf & Ship Island RR flat cars, in addition to those owned by the lumber company.	An American Hoist & Derrick Log Loader at work east of Wiggins. After the 1906 hurricane blew down much standing timber, Finkbine Lumber Co. created ponds along their logging railroad to store the downed timber until they could be cut at the mill in an attempt to salvage as many trees as possible before rot and insects destroyed them.	A 1920's postcard view looking southeast towards the mill at Wiggins.
An early postcard view of the mill pond and sawmill at Wiggins.	A nice panoramic photo of the new Finkbine Lumber Co. sawmill at D'Lo looking northeast. The mill opened in July 1916 and could cut 200,000 board feet of lumber per day.
When Finkbine Lumber Co. shifted logging operations from the area east of Wiggins to the southwest in 1914, they established a logging camp called Stillmore. This camp was later moved a few miles further southwest close to Silver Run and called New Stillmore. This rare photo from Russell Hatten is the only photo known to show the camp at New Stillmore.	A derailment has turned over one of Finbine's American Log Loaders. Shays 11 and 12 have been sent to help #5, an unidentified rod engine. Number 11 still has factory lettering, so it probably dates this scene close to 1910.	Another nice view of the same wreck with Shays #12 and #11 assisting #5. These are the only known photos showing #5.
60-ton 3-truck Finkbine Lumber Co. Shay #11 in later lettering. The locomotive was bought new by the lumber company in 1906, and remained with the company at Wiggins until it was sold to Wilbe Lumber Co. in 1929.	An earlier view of Shay #11 at the mill pond in Wiggins.	An early view looking west across the mill pond toward the planing mill and powerhouse.
Another early view of the Wiggins sawmill of Finkbine Lumber Co.	Finkbine Lumber Co. logging crew at Wiggins. Unfortunately nobody is identified in the photo.	An early Finkbine logging scene east of Wiggins using oxen to haul logs to the closest logging railroad spur.
Finkbine's large commissary at Wiggins was run by Kew Mercantile Co. The name was derived from the initials of the first names of the primary Finkbine officers: K. E. Jewett, E. C. Finkbine, and W. E. Guild.	Circa 1910 view of the water tank, dry kiln, and mill sheds at Wiggins.	Another early view of the Finkbine sawmill at Wiggins looking west.
Finkbine Lumber Co's large engine house and machine shop at Wiggins. On the left is the water tank from a 3-truck Shay.	Water tank and lumber sheds at the Wiggins mill looking northwest. The company office is in the distance.	Finkbine's planing mill and power house at Wiggins.
Mill houses at Wiggins circa 1906.	Lumber yard at the Wiggins mill looking southeast.	An early postcard showing one of Finkbine Lumber Co's 4-6-0's on a log train at Wiggins.
Finkbine Lumber Co. grading crew building logging railroads near Wiggins.	An American Log Loader at the mill at Wiggins.	American Hoist & Derrick Co log loader that ran on rails on top of the log cars.
Finkbine Lumber Co. office at Wiggins circa 1905-07.	Finkbine office staff and crew erecting a flag pole in front of the office... probably around World War 1.	Two views of Finkbine Lumber Co.'s Clyde Iron Works skidder. These huge machines were used to drag the cut logs to the logging railroad spur using cables.
A very early Clyde Iron Works skidder used by Finkbine Lumber Co. near Wiggins, probably circa 1910.	Probably another log pond used to store storm-downed timber after a hurricane.	Finkbine Lumber Co. planing mill at Wiggins.
One of Finkbine's 3-truck Shays meets 4-6-0 #30 in the woods. Number 30, a former Central of Georgia engine, was bought secondhand from Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. on 10-13-1919.	Finkbine Lumber Co. Shay #10 was bought used from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. on 11-22-1913. Here is appears to have a new cab from a former Gulf & Ship Island engine with the distinctive round porthole windows.	Another nice view of 4-6-0 #30 on a log train, complete with caboose on the rear, at a Finkbine log camp.
A scene of the Finkbine Lumber Co. logging railroad near White's Crossing, east of Wiggins, in July 1914, just before the railroad was removed as logging operations were being shifted to the area southwest of Wiggins.	Finkbine Lumber Co. bought this nice 4-6-0, Number 59, from the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad by 1919.	Finkbine Lumber Co. purchased 2 McGiffert log loaders from Clyde Iron Works in late 1915 for use at Wiggins and D'Lo.
Finkbine's McGiffert log loader at D'Lo. Empty log cars were pulled under the loader as they were loaded.	Circa 1916 postcard view across the log pond at D'Lo. Too bad we don't have a better view of that nice side-door caboose lettered for Finkbine Lumber Co. barely visible in this photo.	Left section of a panoramic photo of the Finkbine Lumber Co. sawmill at D'Lo.
Middle section of a panoramic photo of the Finkbine Lumber Co. sawmill at D'Lo showing the planing mill and lumber sheds.	Right section of a panoramic photo of the Finkbine Lumber Co. sawmill at D'Lo showing the large lumber sheds. Note the Hormel wood refrigerator car being used to haul lumber.	Finkbine Lumber Co. club house at D'Lo.
Various views of Finkbine buildings in D'Lo ca. 1916.	More Finkbine Lumber Co. buildings at D'Lo ca. 1916.	Finkbine Lumber Co. log train near Wiggins from an original glass plate negative.
For many years before starting Finkbine Lumber Co., the same owners operated this large department store in Iowa.	All three of these Shay locomotives were transferred from Wiggins and D'Lo, Mississippi, to Rockport, California when the company started logging redwood there in 1927.	Abandoned roadbed of the Finkbine Lumber Co. logging railroad near D'Lo in 1940.
Abandoned roadbed of the Finkbine Lumber Co. logging railroad at D'Lo in 1940.	Far left section of the 1920's panoramic photo at Wiggins looking north. The company office is on the left, and the planing mill on the right.	Middle left section of the 1920's panoramic photo at Wiggins looks northeast. The planing mill is on the left, and planing mill powerhouse in the foreground.
1920's panoramic photo of the Finkbine Lumber Co. sawmill at Wiggins. Far left is looking north towards the company office and club house, middle of the photo looks east over the mill pond, and far right looks south past the mill and machine shop.
Middle right section of the 1920's panoramic photo at Wiggins looks southeast. The sawmill and timber dock is in the foreground, and green sorting shed on the right with lumber carts lined up.	Far right section of the 1920's panoramic photo at Wiggins looks south. The roundhouse and machine shop is in the center and dry kilns on the far right.	Kew Mercantile Co. store at D'Lo.
Postcard view of the D'Lo mill.	An early (ca. 1910) postcard view of the Wiggins mill looking north-northwest.	Log train at the mill pond at Wiggins.
Postcard view looking southwest towards the planing mill at Wiggins.	Postcard view looking across the mill pond towards the sawmill at Wiggins.	Another postcard of the Finkbine planing mill at Wiggins.
The Finkbine Clubhouse at Wiggins still exists today.	To develop cutover timberland, Finkbine established a large pickle plant at Wiggins in 1912 as the American Pickle & Canning Co. It was later sold to Widlar Co., and later Standard Brands Co., then Brown-Miller Co. and operated until 1983.
LOCOMOTIVE ROSTER by Gil Hoffman: WIGGINS: 4              4-6-0                   Baldwin                  13623                  8-1893                     56                    18x24                      96000 Purchased from Louisville & Atlantic #4. In service by 3-1906. Built as Richmond, Nicholasville, Irvine & Beattyville #4, Richmond, KY; to Louisville & Atlantic #4, in 5-1899. Baldwin class 10-30 D 327     5              2-6-0?                 Unk 1st 10      4-6-0                   Schenectady                                                                     57                    18x24                      96000 Purchased secondhand. In service by 1906. Sold to Georgia Locomotive Co. #49, Atlanta, GA; to Cincinnati, Flemingsburg & Southeastern #10, Flemingsburg, KY, in 1910.   2nd 10    2-6-0                   Danforth-Cooke                                                               52                    18x24                      90000 Purchased from Georgia Locomotive Co. #47, Atlanta, GA, in 7-1908. Formerly Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic #1002. For sale 11-1916.   3rd 10     3T Shay             Lima                        886                      6-1904                     36                    3-12x15                   148300 Renumb. from #50. Sold to Wilbe Lumber Co. #10, Wiggins, MS, in 8-1929.   11            3T Shay             Lima                        1646                    2-1906                     32                    3-12x12                   126600 Purchased new. Sold to Wilbe Lumber Co. #11, Wiggins, MS, in 8-1929.   12            2T Shay             Lima                        1685                    4-1906                     28                    3-10x10                   66000 Purchased new. Transferred to Finkbine-Guild Lumber Co. #12, Rockport, CA, in 3-1926; to Southern Redwood Corp. #1, Rockport, CA, in 9-1928; to Cottoneva Redwood Co. #1, Rockport, CA, in 2-1933; to Rockport Redwood Co. #1, Rockport, CA, in 2-1938; to Clifford C. Bong & Co. #1, Lathrop, CA, about 7-1942, later at Dominguez and El Monte, CA. Scrapped 1947 or 1948.   30            4-6-0                   Baldwin                  16263                  10-1898                   56                    19x24                      124000 Purchased from Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. #425, Atlanta, GA, on 10-13-1919. Cost $11,000. Built as Chattanooga, Rome & Southern #26; to Central of Georgia #1367, in 6-1901, renumb. #1385 in 1910; to Wrightsville & Tennille #30, Dublin, GA, in 7-1917; to Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. #425. Transferred to Finkbine mill at D'Lo, MS. Baldwin class 10-32 D 608   50            3T Shay             Lima                        886                      6-1904                     36                    3-12x15                   148300 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL, on 11-22-1913. Built as Kaul Lumber Co. #5, Hollins, AL; to Sumter Lumber Co., Sumter, AL, by 11-1907; to Hardaway Contracting Co. #50, Squaw Shoals, AL; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. Renumb. #10. 51            3T Shay             Lima                        2514                    2-1912                     36                    3-12x15                   140000 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL, on 10-30-1915. Built as B. H. Hardaway Contracting Co. #51, Searles, AL; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. Transferred to Finkbine mill at D'Lo, MS   52            3T Shay             Lima                        2515                    4-1912                     36                    3-12x15                   140000 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL, on 10-30-1915. Built as B. H. Hardaway Contracting Co. #52, Searles, AL; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. Transferred to Finkbine mill at D'Lo, MS.   53            4-6-0                   ALCO-Dickson     26598                  10-1902                   56                    20x26                      140000 Purchased or leased from Gulf & Ship Island #53. See Note 2. Built as Gulf & Ship Island 1st #30, renumb. #53 in 1903.   58            4-6-0                   Baldwin                  32284                  11-1907                   52                    18x24                      120000 Purchased from Missouri, Oklahoma & Gulf #101. In service by 6-1918. Baldwin class 10-30 D 520   59            4-6-0                   Baldwin                  24745                  10-1904                   56                    19x26                      140000 Purchased from Gulf & Ship Island #59. On hand by 5-1919. Baldwin class 10-32 D 793    Note 1:   At least two other locomotives are known to have been on the roster.   Note 2:   Engine #53 shown in G. & S. I. records as condemned 9-1-1926.
LOCOMOTIVE ROSTER by Gil Hoffman: D'LO 30                4-6-0               Baldwin                  16263                  10-1898                   56                    19x24                      116000 Transferred from Finkbine operation at Wiggins, MS.   51                3T Shay         Lima                        2514                    2-1912                     36                    3-12x15                   140000 Transferred from Finkbine operation at Wiggins, MS. Sold to Pascagoula Hardwood Co. #51, Laurel, MS, in 3-1929; to The Mengel Co. #51, Laurel, MS, on 11-29-1935.   52                3T Shay         Lima                        2515                    4-1912                     36                    3-12x15                   140000 Transferred from Finkbine operation at Wiggins, MS. Sold to Eastman, Gardiner & Co. #52, Laurel, MS, in 4-1929.   53                3T Shay         Lima                        2847                    5-1916                     36                    3-12x15                   146000 Purchased new. Transferred to Finkbine-Guild Lumber Co. #53, Rockport, CA, in 1927; to Southern Redwood Corp. #53, Rockport, CA, in 9-1928; to Cottoneva Redwood Corp. #53, Rockport, CA, in 2-1933; to Rockport Redwood Co. #53, Rockport, CA, in 2-1938; to Camino, Placerville & Lake Tahoe R.R., Camino, CA (for parts).   54                3T Shay         Lima                        3101                    7-1920                     36                    3-12x15                   158000 Purchased new. Cost $22,700. Transferred to Finkbine-Guild Lumber Co. #54, Rockport, CA, in 1927; to Southern Redwood Corp. #5, Rockport, CA, in 9-1928; to Cottoneva Redwood Co. #5, Rockport, CA, in 2-1933; to Rockport Redwood Co. #54, Rockport, CA, in 2-1938; to Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Co. #54, Dahican, Camarines Norte, Philippine Islands, in 7-1941.   58                4-6-0               Baldwin                  24744                  10-1904                   56                    19x26                      140000 Purchased from Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1672, Atlanta, GA, on 7-12-1921. Built as Gulf & Ship Island #58; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1672. Baldwin class 10-32 D 792

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