Arnold, Espy & Co. (1902-1905)

A. G. Little Lumber Co. (1905-1910)

Standard gauge, 20 to 35-lb rail Headquarters: Clyde, MS Mill Location: Clyde, MS (Lamar County) Mill Capacity: 0,000 ft/day  Years of Operation: 1902-1910 Miles Operated: 4 miles Locomotives Owned:	Equipment:	Click Map for Larger Version
History by Gil Hoffman: Arnold, Espy & Company began about September 1902 as a copartnership composed of John T. Arnold, S. J. Espy and Mrs. L. S. Hawkins. On December 27, 1902, a company of the same name was incorporated at Clyde, Lamar County by the members of the partnership with $25,000 paid-in capital stock. In 1901 John Arnold bought some timber along the Pearl & Leaf Rivers Railroad in northeastern Lamar County and built a sawmill at Clyde together with a logging railroad. Beginning in early 1902 Hawkins & Company, a mercantile firm based in Hattiesburg, began buying timber in the vicinity of Clyde. The timber of Hawkins & Company together with the mill, timber and railroad belonging to John Arnold were purchased by Arnold, Espy & Company in February and June of 1903.  In 1905 A. G. Little gained control of the company and on June 17, 1905, by charter amendment, the name was changed to A. G. Little Lumber Company. At the time of the name change the sawmill had a cutting capacity of 75,000 feet daily. A planing mill and dry kilns were also operated. Due to the Panic of 1907 the plant was closed from October 1907 to October 1908. On March 22, 1910, the sawmill plant and logging railroad at Clyde were sold to the Lamar Lumber Company for $17,900 cash. For a detailed history of this operation see: Steam Whistles in the Piney Woods Volume 2, by Gilbert H. Hoffman
ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:        Road No.   Type   Builder   C.N.   Date   Cyls.   Dri. Dia.   Engine Wt.   Previous Ownership   Disposition   1?   Class B?   Climax                          34000   J. T. Arnold, Curran, MS Arnold, Espy & Co., by 2/1903.   A. G. Little Lumber Co., Richardson, MS, in early 1910.   3   37-2 Heisler   Heisler   1135   1907   15x12   36   74000   New. Named Graham.   Lamar Lumber Co. #3, Clyde, MS, on 3/22/1910. Helen White Lumber Co. #3, Clyde, MS, on 5/10/1921. Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. Bomer Hardwood Co., Alsatia, LA, on 1/25/1927. Charles Hendrix, Alsatia, LA.

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