Harvesting Wood: Difference between revisions

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This is just a few notes to start...
This is just a few notes to start...


Walker reported that, at the Hopewell Furnace, on average approximately 2 cords of wood could be chopped down in a single day.<ref>Walker 1966, 239</ref> Crandall reports 2.5 cords as average in the Hanging Rock District. <ref>Crandall 1906, 20</ref> However, Crandall notes that, in the Hanging Rock District, "Rueben Bevery, who was a reputed to be a champion chopper of this region and who, it is said, could cut, split and rank eight cords per day indefinitely... his name was as familiar as was that of a lad who cut down the cherry tree." <ref>Crandall 1906, 20</ref> Crandall also indicated that he personally had "known many expert wood choppers who could chop, split and rank from four to five cords a day"<ref>Crandall 1906, 20</ref>
A cord of wood is four foot lengths of wood stacked four feet high and eight feet long.


A cord of wood is 4 foot lengths of wood stacked 4 feet high and eight feet long.
Walker reported that, at the Hopewell Furnace, on average approximately two cords of wood could be chopped down in a single day.<ref>Walker 1966, 239</ref> Crandall reports that two and a half cords was average in the Hanging Rock District<ref>Crandall 1906, 20</ref>. However, Crandall notes that, in the Hanging Rock District, "Rueben Bevery, who was a reputed to be a champion chopper of this region and who, it is said, could cut, split and rank eight cords per day indefinitely... his name was as familiar as was that of a lad who cut down the cherry tree"<ref>Crandall 1906, 20</ref>. Crandall also indicated that he personally had "known many expert wood choppers who could chop, split and rank from four to five cords a day"<ref>Crandall 1906, 20</ref>.


Woodcutters could cut anywhere from a few cords to more than 1000 cords. Many woodcutters were farmers who supplemented their income in the offseason. <ref>Walker 1966, 238</ref> for example, between 1851-1853 Edwin Gault was paid for 1993.5 cords.<ref>Walker 1966, 238</ref> However, one must remember that he may have had helpers, who he then paid.  
Woodcutters could cut anywhere from a few cords to more than one thousand cords. Many woodcutters were farmers who supplemented their income in the offseason<ref>Walker 1966, 238</ref>. For example, between 1851-1853 Edwin Gault was paid for 1993.5 cords<ref>Walker 1966, 238</ref> However, one must remember that he may have had helpers, who he then paid.  


Wood cutters comprised a large proportion of the workers at any charcoal iron furnace. At Hopewell between 1851-1853, 225 persons were paid for any type of work and 116 were paid for cutting cord wood. <ref>Walker 1966, 239</ref>
Wood cutters comprised a large proportion of the workers at any charcoal iron furnace. At Hopewell between 1851-1853, 225 persons were paid for any type of work and 116 were paid for cutting cord wood<ref>Walker 1966, 239</ref>.


Woodcutters sometimes delivered the wood to the charcoal hearth, called "delivering in the ring". They were paid $1.75 for this wood.<ref>Walker 1966, 239</ref>
Woodcutters sometimes delivered the wood to the charcoal hearth, called "delivering in the ring". They were paid $1.75 for this wood<ref>Walker 1966, 239</ref>.


<references />
<references />
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==References==
==References==


* Crandall, Elias. 1906. “Reminiscences of the Hanging Rock District.” The Iron Trade Review, July, 20–23.
* Crandall, Elias. 1906. ''Reminiscences of the Hanging Rock District.'' The Iron Trade Review, July, 20–23.


* Walker, Joseph E. 1966. ''Hopewell Village; a Social and Economic History of an Iron-Making Community.'' Philadelphia,: Univ. of Pennsylvania Press.
* Walker, Joseph E. 1966. ''Hopewell Village; a Social and Economic History of an Iron-Making Community.'' Philadelphia,: Univ. of Pennsylvania Press.

Revision as of 13:43, 25 May 2020

This is just a few notes to start...

A cord of wood is four foot lengths of wood stacked four feet high and eight feet long.

Walker reported that, at the Hopewell Furnace, on average approximately two cords of wood could be chopped down in a single day.[1] Crandall reports that two and a half cords was average in the Hanging Rock District[2]. However, Crandall notes that, in the Hanging Rock District, "Rueben Bevery, who was a reputed to be a champion chopper of this region and who, it is said, could cut, split and rank eight cords per day indefinitely... his name was as familiar as was that of a lad who cut down the cherry tree"[3]. Crandall also indicated that he personally had "known many expert wood choppers who could chop, split and rank from four to five cords a day"[4].

Woodcutters could cut anywhere from a few cords to more than one thousand cords. Many woodcutters were farmers who supplemented their income in the offseason[5]. For example, between 1851-1853 Edwin Gault was paid for 1993.5 cords[6] However, one must remember that he may have had helpers, who he then paid.

Wood cutters comprised a large proportion of the workers at any charcoal iron furnace. At Hopewell between 1851-1853, 225 persons were paid for any type of work and 116 were paid for cutting cord wood[7].

Woodcutters sometimes delivered the wood to the charcoal hearth, called "delivering in the ring". They were paid $1.75 for this wood[8].

  1. ↑ Walker 1966, 239
  2. ↑ Crandall 1906, 20
  3. ↑ Crandall 1906, 20
  4. ↑ Crandall 1906, 20
  5. ↑ Walker 1966, 238
  6. ↑ Walker 1966, 238
  7. ↑ Walker 1966, 239
  8. ↑ Walker 1966, 239

References

  • Crandall, Elias. 1906. Reminiscences of the Hanging Rock District. The Iron Trade Review, July, 20–23.
  • Walker, Joseph E. 1966. Hopewell Village; a Social and Economic History of an Iron-Making Community. Philadelphia,: Univ. of Pennsylvania Press.