Mississippi Rails

S. H. Hemphill 1900-1904

S. H. Hemphill & Son 1904-1905

William Biglane                           1905-1906

36" gauge, 30 & 35-lb rail

Headquarters: Collins, MS

Mill Location: Collins, MS ( Covington County)

Mill Capacity: 25,000 ft/day

Years of Operation: 1900-1906

Miles Operated: 3 miles

Locomotives Owned: 2

Equipment:

See also: W C Wood Lumber Co.

Click Map for Larger Version

History by Gil Hoffman:

Samuel H. Hemphill began operating a sawmill at Collins, on the Gulf & Ship Island, in early 1900. His mill was a Clarke single circular type with a cutting capacity of 25,000 feet per day, exclusively longleaf yellow pine. It was reputed to be the oldest on the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad north of Hattiesburg and was brought in to saw timber for construction of that railroad. On June 14, 1904 his son, J. M. Hemphill, bought a half interest in the mill, after which the firm was known as "S. H. Hemphill & Son."

Timber was supplied to the Hemphill mill by William Biglane. In March 1905 Biglane built a logging railroad from the banks of Okatoma Creek, opposite the mill, northward into his timber. A portion of the rail for this line was supplied by the Hemphills. The railroad was known as the "Biglane Dummy Line."

On December 20, 1905 the mill was sold to W. C. Wood, J. M. Russ and C. C. Warren and operated for about a year as the J. M. Russ Lumber Company before being merged into the W. C. Wood Lumber Company.

ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:

?                  2T Shay         Lima                        37                        6-1882                     24                    2-8x8                       12000

                                  Purchased by William Biglane in 1905. Upright boiler type.

Built for C. C. Comstock, Grand Rapids, MI.

Sold to Russ Lumber Co., Collins, MS, on 2-5-06; to W. C. Wood Lumber Co., Collins, MS,

on 9-12-06.

?                  2T Shay         Lima

                               Purchased secondhand by William Biglane.
                                     Sold to Russ Lumber Co., Collins, MS, on 2-5-06.

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36" gauge, 30 & 35-lb rail Headquarters: Collins, MS Mill Location: Collins, MS ( Covington County) Mill Capacity: 25,000 ft/day Years of Operation: 1900-1906 Miles Operated: 3 miles Locomotives Owned: 2	Equipment: See also: W C Wood Lumber Co.	Click Map for Larger Version
History by Gil Hoffman: Samuel H. Hemphill began operating a sawmill at Collins, on the Gulf & Ship Island, in early 1900. His mill was a Clarke single circular type with a cutting capacity of 25,000 feet per day, exclusively longleaf yellow pine. It was reputed to be the oldest on the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad north of Hattiesburg and was brought in to saw timber for construction of that railroad. On June 14, 1904 his son, J. M. Hemphill, bought a half interest in the mill, after which the firm was known as "S. H. Hemphill & Son." Timber was supplied to the Hemphill mill by William Biglane. In March 1905 Biglane built a logging railroad from the banks of Okatoma Creek, opposite the mill, northward into his timber. A portion of the rail for this line was supplied by the Hemphills. The railroad was known as the "Biglane Dummy Line." On December 20, 1905 the mill was sold to W. C. Wood, J. M. Russ and C. C. Warren and operated for about a year as the J. M. Russ Lumber Company before being merged into the W. C. Wood Lumber Company.



ROSTER by Gil Hoffman: ? 2T Shay Lima 37 6-1882 24 2-8x8 12000 Purchased by William Biglane in 1905. Upright boiler type. Built for C. C. Comstock, Grand Rapids, MI. Sold to Russ Lumber Co., Collins, MS, on 2-5-06; to W. C. Wood Lumber Co., Collins, MS, on 9-12-06. ? 2T Shay Lima Purchased secondhand by William Biglane. Sold to Russ Lumber Co., Collins, MS, on 2-5-06.