USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Picture of Lycoming County, 1st ed > Part 8
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Among the products classified under lumber and its re- manufacture are: dining, living, and bed room furniture; office furniture and hardwood flooring; doors, sash and wood trim; store fronts and fixtures; picture and mirror frames; spindle carvings and novelties; window shade rollers; venetian blinds and roller awnings; trailers, excelsior, ironing boards, step and extension ladders, snow shovels, furniture frames, and all types of upholstered furniture.
Among the hundreds of articles classified under chemicals, food products, textile, leather and rubber goods, and miscella- neous products are : soaps, disinfectants, insecticides, glues, grease and fertilizers, paints, enamels, stains, sweeping compounds and
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varnishes for industrial and consumer uses, ice cream, dairy prod- ucts, pretzels, potato chips, candy, flour, ice, meats, shoes, sandals and slippers, braid, bindings, lingerie tape, men's uni- forms, caps, shirts, blouses, ladies' hosiery, shirts, pajamas, broad silks and rayons, ribbons and belting, men's and boys' sport shirts, ladies' underwear, cigars, musical instruments and optical supplies, cast stone and cinder blocks, paper boxes, mattresses and bedding, automobile springs, crepe paper, celanese products, ladies' and misses' hand bags, carbonated beverages, and many other articles.
Industry in Lycoming County grew as a result of the tireless efforts of its citizenry. With the decline of the lumber business, many workmen who were skilled in this industry turned to the soil, but there was not enough land for all, and many were obliged to seek employment elsewhere. For a while business and industry were virtually at a standstill. Something had to be done to compensate for the lost lumbering business if Williamsport and the surrounding towns and villages were to avoid the fate of "ghost towns." In order to avert industrial and financial collapse a trade association was formed by a group of business men for the purpose of attracting new industries to the county. That the association was successful is evidenced by the foregoing list of products now (1939) being manufac- tured. These new industries have provided a balance in the busi- ness life enjoyed by few communities of Pennsylvania. Seldom have national economic depressions caused as much disorganiza- tion in Lycoming County as in other sections of the state. The industrial life of the county is affected very little by seasonal unemployment, since the industries operate on a fairly well bal- anced production schedule throughout the year.
The population of Lycoming County is quite homoge- neous. Of a population of approximately 95,000, about 90,000 are native-born whites. Only a little more than three and one-
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Corn husking near Jersey Shore
half per cent of the residents are of foreign birth. Except for a number of laborers imported for the construction of railroads and a few skilled workmen brought in by the steel mills, the mills and factories are manned by local labor. Most of those imported by the railroad interests were from Italy, Hungary, and Ireland, and those brought in by the steel interests came largely from New York and were of Polish descent. Several skilled mechanics in the machine shops came from Canada.
AGRICULTURE
From the time of the first pioneers to the present day, agri- culture has played an important part in the economy of the
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county. Farming was the chief occupation of the population before the coming of the lumber industry. It was then, as it is now, the cornerstone of the county's economic structure. Dur- ing the heyday of the lumber business the farmer was hard pressed to provide the basic needs of the people engaged in it. Rough feed and grain, milk, butter, eggs, and meat were needed in large quantities in the lumber camps and in the towns. When, in spite of this heavy demand, the financial returns of farming dropped rapidly, farmers left their acres to work in the forests. When the lumber business declined many of them returned to their neglected fields, some of the land which had been stripped of its trees was now cleared and converted into farms. The West Branch Valley, Nippenose Valley, and Muncy Valley were dis- covered to be exceedingly adaptable to various types of farming, in spite of the rugged and rocky hills which enclose them.
Because of great differences in elevation and wide varia- tions in temperature, Lycoming County is adaptable to a variety of agricultural pursuits. Elevation and temperature conditions divide the county into three zones, each of which reflects these differences in its agriculture. The first zone includes the West Branch Valley and its immediate environs. Here the frost-free season is longest, usually a full six months. In this valley the raising of dent corn is commercially successful and peach trees thrive. This district contains some of the most fertile and pro- ductive truck-farms in the state. Truck farming has been highly developed in the vicinity of Williamsport where an extensive acreage equipped with irrigation facilities produces a great variety of vegetables. Roadstands along the main highway, east of Williamsport, sell many kinds of fruits and produce throughout the year.
The second zone embraces the central hill region and Nip- penose and White Deer valleys. Here the growing season is considerably shorter than in the first zone. The production of
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Scene in Muncy Valley
seed corn is small, and peaches thrive only in carefully selected places. The third zone comprises the Allegheny plateau, most of the intervening lowlands, and the elevated area south of the Susquehanna River. In this zone the growing season is fre- quently less than 110 days and rarely more than 120 days. Some dent corn is grown for feed, rye is often substituted for wheat, but the main crops are the short-season crops: oats, buckwheat, and hay.
Agriculture in Lycoming County has always consisted of general farming, dairying, and poultry raising. The general practice has been a five-year crop rotation of corn, oats, wheat, and hay. In some instances, the rotation period is shortened to
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four years, and occasionally buckwheat is substituted for some other crop. In the western part of the county some tobacco is grown, but not extensively. For many years there were few im- provements in methods employed or in quality of farm prod- ucts. This was due in large measure to the fact that the finan- cial returns from the lumber industry were so much greater.
Since the close of the lumber era, hundreds of acres have been cleared and devoted to farming. But for many years agri- culture was conducted along makeshift lines, and it was not until the establishment of farm agencies and associations that any great advancement was made. Since the inauguration of the County Agricultural Extension Association (1914) and the ap- pointment of a County Agricultural Adviser, progress in all phases of rural activity has been steady. The adoption of sci- entific methods of seed treatment, insect control, and soil fertili- zation has resulted in a great increase in virtually all crops. Due in a large measure to the various stock breeding and testing as- sociations, milk production per cow has nearly doubled, and the value of the herds has greatly increased. Although sheep raising is not practiced extensively at present, similar advances have been made. Through the introduction of high-class stock, culling of poor ewes, and improved methods of feeding and care, poor grades of wool have decreased from 12.7 per cent to 3.3 per cent. Along with these improvements in crop production and animal husbandry has come an increased efficiency in the economics of the home. Better foods are selected and prepared, and more stress is placed upon the relation of food to health.
Careful grading and packing of farm products have resulted in larger income, and bookkeeping methods have removed the uncertainty of many farm activities. Because of the activities of farm agencies and trade associations, there has been a recent trend toward specialization in farming and in stock and poultry raising. Of the recently introduced crops, the most important
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are soy beans, alfalfa, and barley, with soy beans of greatest value in agriculture and industry. Barley in some localities is being substituted for wheat, and in other places alfalfa is re- placing clover or timothy as a legume crop. Agriculture in Ly- coming has reached the proportions of big business. Within the county are 3,014 farms, of approximately 100 acres each, with an average value of $3,676 per farm. The value of all farm land and buildings is over $11,000,000. These farms pro- duce annually 7,000,000 gallons of milk and over 1,000,000 dozens of eggs. The estimated value of farm crops, including livestock, poultry, and livestock products, is considerably above the five million dollar mark. Farm implements and ma- chinery are valued at approximately $3,000,000 or about one thousand dollars for each farm. These figures and estimates are based upon the United States Census of agriculture for the year 1935.
LABOR
Most of the early commercial enterprises in Lycoming County were personally owned and operated. Industry grew and mechanical improvements were introduced. These machines brought new problems in the relationship between employee and employer. While businesses were small the interests of the owner and his few employees were closer and a friendly feeling usually prevailed. But as industrial establishments became larger, these relationships were usually altered.
With the growth of the lumber industry there came a rapid increase in population. Numbers of workers were attracted by reports of steady employment at high wages. Attempts to organize labor unions met with failure until 1872, when a labor dispute locally known as the "Sawdust War" occurred. This was the county's first and most serious labor disturbance. By 1872 the lumber business had reached gigantic proportions and huge profits were being made by the operators. The workers,
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dissatisfied with their share of the benefits derived by various improvements in production, struck.
Twelve hours was the usual working day, and in many industries it was not unusual for employees to work fourteen hours. Thus one of the main objectives of the workers was a shorter working day. On April 14, 1868, the State Legislature enacted a law defining a legal working day as "eight hours of labor between the rising and setting of the sun, where there is no contract or agreement to the contrary." One year later a law was passed by the legislature granting workers the right to or- ganize. Since there were many exceptions in these laws and no penalties were attached, there was no effort to enforce them. The county contained approximately seventy-five sawmills em- ploying about three thousand men.
These men worked in the mills an average of six and one- half to seven months of the year. During the remainder of the year they were employed in the woods, cutting and rafting tim- ber for the coming season. The work was strenuous and haz- ardous. In the mills, the huge saws used to cut the logs were a constant source of danger. At the time there were no laws compelling employers to provide safety guards or periodical fac- tory inspections for the protection of workers. Serious accidents frequently occurred. Because of the dissatisfaction arising from these working conditions coupled with the decrease in the amount of free land available to settlement, large numbers of workers were in a mood to organize and to demand their rights.
In 1871 a labor political organization known as the Labor Reform Union was organized and set up on a nation-wide basis. The movement grew and, in 1872, a branch was organized in Williamsport. As soon as the local branch was formed a meet- ing was called at Bender's Hall on Market Street, Williamsport. The immediate point at issue was the question of hours. Among the resolutions were demands that the workmen receive a share
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of the benefits which had come with the invention of labor-sav- ing machinery. The resolutions pointed out that it was only just and equitable that the labor thus saved should result in a reduc- tion of working hours without a corresponding reduction in wages. The workers charged that they worked longer hours (eleven and one-half to thirteen per day) than their brothers in other cities, and they insisted upon the introduction of a ten- hour day.
A committee of ten persons was appointed to see the mill owners, to present the resolutions, and to report at the next meeting. For several days meetings and parades were held, and most of the mills in Williamsport and vicinity were closed. Meanwhile, the West Branch Lumbermen's Exchange, an in- corporated association of businessmen of the West Branch Val- ley, held several meetings to discuss the situation. On June 29, the Exchange adopted a resolution defending the scale of hours and wages and announcing the reopening of the mills. The workers then visited the mills and induced the men to remain on strike. Day after day the union meetings continued, and the attitude of both the men and the owners became more bel- ligerent. Since the entire commercial life of the community was dependent upon the lumber industry, almost all activity was at a standstill. Fearing violence the Mayor and City Council ap- pointed special deputies and policemen to cope with the situa- tion. At several of the mills the strikers refused to obey orders to disperse, and forced their way into the mill yards. Minor riots resulted and several men were injured. The mill owners then appealed to the mayor and the sheriff for further aid. An appeal was made to Governor John M. Geary to call out the local militia. The Governor acted promptly. Approximately 400 members of the Lycoming and Dauphin County militia were ordered to report for duty at Williamsport. The troops first encamped in front of the court house. Later they were
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quartered in Herdic's Grove, the present site of the Williamsport Hospital.
With the arrival of the militia excitement in the com- munity increased. Soldiers patrolled the city streets and numer- ous arrests were made. One of the union leaders, named Greevy, was arrested when he attempted to make a speech. He was charged with "inciting to riot" and held under five thousand dollars bail. Bail was provided by a friend, but an hour after his release he was rearrested and the amount of bail raised to ten thousand dollars. Other leaders were arrested and held for bail. In several instances when bail was furnished, the men were re- arrested on other charges and additional bail demanded. When their best leaders had been put in jail by the militia, the workers gradually returned to their jobs on the terms prescribed by the Lumbermen's Exchange. The arrested men were held for the next term of court. While they awaited trial, petitions contain- ing thousands of names and requesting pardons, were presented to Governor Geary. Local authorities also circulated petitions urging the governor to refuse pardons and compel the men to stand trial. The latter prevailed; the men were tried, convicted, and sentenced. In several instances the charges were dismissed; several persons received light sentences; but the leaders were com- mitted to the State Penitentiary for long terms. On the day their sentences were to begin, Governor Geary issued pardons for all those found guilty without stating his reasons. It is said that Peter Herdic interceded on behalf of the union men and con- vinced the governor that the time spent in jail awaiting trial was sufficient punishment.
The outcome of the "Sawdust War" had a demoralizing effect on the Labor Reform Union and it soon disbanded. With only a few exceptions, attempts to organize labor unions in the county met with general failure until the beginning of the twen- tieth century. In 1878-79 the Knights of Labor organized sev-
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eral units among the sawmill workers. They lasted but a short time, being replaced by the craft unions of the American Federa- tion of Labor and by the Railway Brotherhoods. The Typo- graphical Union, Local No. 141, one of the oldest labor or- ganizations in the county, has been in existence for more than fifty years and has achieved considerable success in improving the working conditions of its members.
The years immediately preceding the World War were prosperous ones for labor organization in Lycoming County. In Williamsport alone the total union membership exceeded five thousand. But with the close of the war the unions rapidly de- clined in influence and membership. Except in a few instances there was little growth in the labor movement until 1933. Since that time, unionization has been greatly accelerated, due in a large measure to the organizing activities of the Congress of In- dustrial Organizations and the American Federation of Labor.
The Lycoming County Labor Council was formed in order to provide a basis of cooperation between C. I. O. and A. F. of L. unions. The old Central Labor Union, which functioned for many years under an A. F. of L. charter, died when the split occurred in Pennsylvania.
QUESTIONS CHAPTER X
1. What was the first large industry in Lycoming County?
2. What other industries located in the county?
3. How many factories were there in the county in 1860?
4. Name ten products manufactured in Lycoming County today.
5. What are principal farm crops grown in the county?
6. What was the "Sawdust War"?
CHAPTER XI The Turn of The Century
CHANGES IN LIVING
LONG with the growth in population occasioned by the lumbering industry came numerous changes and innova- tions which we call progress. The twenty years from 1894 to 1914 witnessed sweeping alterations affecting virtually every phase of individual and community life. Some of these changes are directly traceable to the disastrous floods of 1889 and 1894 in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and the decline of the lumber industry. Others were brought about by new developments in the fields of communication, transportation, and entertainment.
Social customs and ideas, many of them observed for cen- turies, were discarded and replaced. Habits, manners, and fash- ions in thought, dress, and action were changing amidst a chorus of cheers from youth and sighs from the aged. The business panics of 1893 and 1907, with their accompanying widespread unemployment and resultant lowering of living standards, were in large measure responsible for the re-examination of the beliefs of political and industrial democracy.
Beginning with William Jennings Bryan's first presidential campaign, which projected the "free silver" controversy, on through to the split in the Republican party, which led to the election of Woodrow Wilson, there was a nationwide battle for political supremacy. In Lycoming County this struggle for power was marked by heated, often bitter, and sometimes hu- morous discussions. At times the Socialist party polled sub-
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stantial and unexpected numbers of votes for its candidates. Commanding considerable attention during this period were the activities of groups demanding a woman's suffrage amend- ment to the United States Constitution. At the same time other groups and organizations were concentrating their efforts upon preventing the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. These factions finally gained victory with the passage of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Amendments.
The business life of the county also was undergoing a great change. This was a period which changed the county from an agricultural and lumber center to one with a variety of industries. By 1914 the vanishing lumber industry had been replaced by scores of busy factories in almost every section of the county. A great variety of products were being processed and shipped to all parts of America as well as to many foreign countries. With the establishment of new industries came a de- mand for skilled workers. This need was met partially by the transportation of workers from other sections of the country. But most of the workers had to be trained in the factories them- selves or in the schools.
This added responsibility of the schools was met by pro- gressive advances in education. Special emphasis was placed upon training in the practical or vocational subjects. Instruction in the manual trades and commercial sciences was stressed and facilities were expanded. Strict attendance laws were enacted and the school term was lengthened. Fortunately, except for the Spanish-American War, this period was free of military strife. Thus the people of Lycoming County were able to pur- sue their tasks uninterrupted by abnormal financial demands upon the community. Although many changes took place be- tween 1894 and 1914, they were accomplished slowly enough to be accepted by the people. New inventions, customs, and ideas were necessary to progress, and they sometimes made neces-
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sary restrictions which were unknown to the pioneer settlers. Laws were made to regulate public utilities, corporations, and large businesses. By these, obligations and responsibilities for- merly assumed by the individual were taken over by the com- munity or the state. Among these were the workmen's com- pensation laws, regulation of weights and measures, and laws relating to the public health.
TRANSPORTATION
The turn of the century also brought sweeping changes in methods of transportation. Horsedrawn street cars were sup- planted by those of the electric type. The invention of the in- ternal combustion engine made possible the "horseless carriage" which soon displaced the horse and buggy and resulted in the construction of a network of paved highways. Bicycles, too, were widely used for travel and pleasure, and cindered paths for cyclists were constructed beside the public roads. In the West Branch Valley a favorite course was the tow-path of the old West Branch Canal.
Although the motor-truck and motor-car had not yet be- come dangerous competitors of the railroad, the railroads com- peted with each other for business. One-day excursion trips at reduced rates were a popular method of attracting customers. Excursions from Hall's Station to Lake Mokoma at twenty- five cents the round trip were quite popular. Another popular trip was from Hall's Station to Harvey's Lake in Luzerne County. Complete time-tables were published in railroad ad- vertisements, and the superiority of the coal used on one line over that used by its competitor was stressed. The management of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway was particularly proud of the fact that their locomotives burned "hard coal-no smoke." A popular diversion was a ride on the paddle-wheel steamboat which made regular trips down the river from Market Street bridge in Williamsport to Sylvan Dell, then a favorite
Horse Car at Market Square, Williamsport, about 1900
-
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Paddle-Wheel Boat (Hiawatha)
place for picnics. Another equally popular trip was the ride on the open trolley from city line to Star Island, later known as Indian Park, near Montoursville.
CURBSTONE MARKET
An important institution of the period was the curbstone market. It was conducted in Williamsport on Market Street between Fourth Street and the river, two days each week, Wed- nesdays and Saturdays. Farm products were brought into the city and offered for sale on the Street. The market vehicle was a one-room cabin on wheels, called a van, about six feet wide and eight to twelve feet long. These vans were drawn up to
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the edge of the pavement, and purchases were made from the curb. Farmers who did not have vans sold their produce from wagons or carts. Many farmers started long before daybreak to make the long drive to market. Others came a day in advance and spent the night with friends or at a hotel. Besides being a commercial enterprise the street market was an important social institution. It afforded a common meeting place for the people of the community. Streets were thronged with busy shoppers eager to visit with rural relatives or friends, discuss current issues of the day, and to garner a choice bit of scandal for retelling on their arrival home.
RELIGION
Religious institutions have always been a major part of the life of Lycoming County. Williamsport, where the spires of more than a half hundred places of worship point skyward, became familiarly known as the "City of Churches." Free from the competition of radio, the automobile, and the popular maga- zine, the church building was more than a place of worship. It was a center for recreation and a general meeting place for all social groups. Church buildings ranged in size and archi- tecture from the plain one-room building of the rural crossroads to the magnificent edifice of the more populous center. Each congregation, owned an organ or piano. Several of the more prosperous ones had large pipe organs.
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