Oceana County MI Archives History - Books .....Coal Kilns 1882
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 December 17, 2008, 6:13 pm

Book Title: HISTORY OF OCEANA CO., CHICAGO, H.R. PAGE & COMPANY, 1882

This county being well suplied with wood, about three years ago the Spring 
Lake Iron Company, of Fruitport, conceive the idea of constructing immense 
kilns along the railway line in which to manufacture their charcoal.  
Accordingly, in September, 1879, they commenced operations on Section 8, of 
shelby, near the village of Shelby, and erected 11 kilns, consuming 1,200 
cords per month, producing 45,000 bushels of charcoal.  The work is done by 
Daniel H. Rankin, contractor, who carried on the whole business for himself, 
purchasing wood and delievering the coal.  The cost of construction was about 
$7,000, and the capacity of each kiln, seventy-five cords.  The works here 
give employment to twenty-five men around the kilns and fifty choppers.

The Spring Lake Company also constructed in November, 1879, near Mears, in 
Golden Township, 10 seventy-five cord kilns, making 40,000 bushels of charcoal 
monthly, and employing seventy men.  This is also operated by D. H. Rankin, in 
the same manner as that at Shelby.

The importance to Shelby and Mears of this industry, may be appreciated by 
knowing that Mr. Rankin pays out monthly over $5,000 and has shipped from 
Shelby alone 1,000,000 pounds of coal in a month.

In April 1880, the New Era kilns were constructed, and are operated by the 
company itself, Duncan S. Rankin superintendent.  They are located on Section 
29, Shelby, and consist of 10 fifty-cord kilns, making 30,000 bushels per 
month.  Cost of works, $5,000.

This immense consumption of wood, - nearly 4,000 cords a month, - must tell 
upon the supply, but there is one feature that deserves to be mentioned, - 
that any kind of broken wood or branches may be manufactured into charcoal, 
which utilizes what otherwise would be wasted.

Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF OCEANA CO., CHICAGO, H.R. PAGE & COMPANY, 1882


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