SAGINAW AND MANISTEE LUMBER COMPANY; OPERATIONS FROM 1936-1956
The Company did not operate logging railroads from 1936 until 1941, when the Arizona Lumber and Timber operations in Flagstaff were leased (Glover;4; Stein 40.) The main Mill continued production during this time period, with the box factory shutting down in 1942. World War II played a part in the consolidation of operations, making a more efficient use of resources.
The question remains as to how the Williams Mill continued to function without the logging railroads. For more than forty years, the various railroad lines had been the arteries, providing the lifeblood of logs to the mill. All of the wood's engines had now been sold or would soon be scrapped for the war effort. The mill relied on mechanized logging from timber stands to the south, and the stockpiled logs.
Since the installation of the Clyde Loading Derrick in 1928, The mill site had the capacity to store some 3 million feet of logs. Presumably, over the years the storage capacity would have been increased. In 1936, the Great Depression began to wane, but nevertheless its effects would have had an impact on the future planning by the owners. This is one reason why the Company had purchased large tracts of timber in the Mormon Lakes area, south of Flagstaff, and were eyeing the lumber mill in Flagstaff.
In 1936, the Company had over 100,000,000 feet of timber, estimated to last three years, located south of Williams. They invested in additional Caterpillar tractors, and a fleet of new logging trucks and trailers. This area probably included the vast holdings to the south of White Horse Lake, in the general location of Tule and Saginaw Tanks, extending west to Perkinsville Road. There were additional holdings in the Hell Canyon area, which may have been harvested at this time. Contractors were also used to harvest the timber. After this area was cut, the future would depend on the resources south of Flagstaff.
FLAGSTAFF OPERATIONS: 1941-1956
On March 1, 1941, the Saginaw and Manistee leased the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company from manager Joe Dolan. The S&M had acquired vast timber holdings in the area of Mormon Lake; the lease of the AL&T allowed them to harvest these holdings.
The Saginaw extended the Howard Spring line an additional 14 miles to Allan Lake, located South of Mormon Lake. The Allen Lake Line was essentially a steam engine powered, reasonably straight conveyor belt to and from the mill. With the exception of several short spurs and a "Y" near the southern end, the line was fed by trucks. Mechanized logging had replaced the need to constantly relay spurs into the forest. A steady flow of quality timber was provided to the leased Flagstaff mill, and during WWII made a significant contribution to the war effort.
The following is an excerpt from "The Western Railroader" (published by the Southern California Railroad Club, Volume 6, Number 6 (60); Summer, 1943.)
"NEW LOGGING LINE IN ARIZONA OPENS FOR SERVICE
"Operating the only logging railroad in either Arizona or New Mexico, Saginaw and Manistee Lumber Co. and Southwest Lumber Mills, Inc., both of Flagstaff, Arizona, in May of this year secured the railroad from the Arizona Lumber and Timber Co. It is now about 26 miles long, extending into the Cocconino (sic) National Forest, with eight miles of new line expected to be built this summer. A 2 1/2 mile section was rebuilt to 1 percent eliminating a switchback and 4 percent grades.
" Long range plans are to eventually build 75 miles of line in about 20 or 30 years to reach into the companies' timber reserves.
"Motive power at present includes three locomotives, one of which is a shay. The roundhouse is located at the Southwest mill and the shops at the Saginaw mill are being enlarged to handle the railroad equipment."
It was hoped that the operations would continue for decades, which it did under new ownership and with a number of changes to the aforementioned plan. The article mentioned additional branch lines and rebuilding of the mainline into the woods. What eventually occurred was the use of trucks to haul the loads to the rail line, and then transporting the logs to to the mill site. Other than a few additions and changes, the main rail feeder remained much the same. Field research on this feeder line several years ago revealed indications of rebuilding in the rock fill structures. It would be interesting to do further field research and find the switchbacks and old right of way.
In October of 1944 the Saginaw and Manistee purchased its' first and only 2-6-6-2 articulated mallet locomotive. Not just any articulate, but a true mallet with high- and low-pressure steam cylinders. It had previously been used in the Pacific Northwest. Later, in 1953, it was sold to Southwest Lumber Mills, until having been scrapped in 1956 (Schuppert, pages 96, 97.)
The average steam logging locomotive can be said to chug its way through the forest, satisfied to rock about the unballasted rails, glad to have a day in the sunshine. A proud little iron horse: at times prancing yet determined as it goes about its work. An articulated, fire-breathing 2-6-6-2 is not just another steam engine. Such a devising of man thunders, shaking earth and sky, loudly announcing its presence; a majestic form casting broad shadows on the landscape, leaving no one to doubt as to what approaches through the cloud of steam and smoke. Such a spectacle, once witnessed, will always be remembered; awesome to behold; urging even the proudest of men to stand in silence, hat in hand, humbled with respect and admiration. This is no pony; this was an iron-willed stallion at work!
South-West Lumber Mills took control of the AL&T and the Saginaw lease in 1952-53. The next reorganized company, South-West Forest Industries, ran the line until March of 1966 (Kuhn 1981:101; Glover 1965; Stein, Report #19, page 33.)
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