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HUGE - IMPORTANT - RARE Postcard Archive Large Lumbering Archive of the Well-known Noyes Family Mostly Charles R. Noyes, brother of Amos Noyes (PA Treasurer & Congressman) Noyes, PA named after Amos 285 Postcards with messages, writing, etc Pertaining to Lumber Business Westport, Clinton County, PA & Surrounding areas 1880s For offer, a rare opportunity to buy a fresh unresearched and unread archive! Fresh from an old prominent estate. Never offered on the market until now. Vintage, Old, Original - NOT a Reproduction - Guaranteed !! This large collection was recently purchased from an elderly woman who saved it for generations. It came with a much larger letter collection, which I just listed. Charles and Amos Noyes were well known and respected citizens, involved in many things, but most notably the lumber business. Both men are prominently represented in Clinton County histories. Charles was Postmaster of Westport for decades, and held various other positions. His brother, Amos, eventually became involved in politics, and served as a Congressman and Pennsylvania Treasurer. Amos dies several years before Charles, and the majority of the items here involve Charles. A few items involve Amos. There are letters that mention Amos's death. Nearly all letters at TO Charles Noyes, in his business dealings in the lumbering business. Besides the large letter collection I have listed on lumbering, I have another smaller group of letters dealing with politics that will be listed separately. Archives such as this rarely come on the market, and this one gives a very good look into the huge lumber business of the mid to late 19th century. I counted 285 pieces. Mostly 1882-83. Various postal postmarks, some in color blues, etc. I have not read most of this collection - I glimpsed here or there, but nearly all of them are unread, and I do not know all the content. Many are lumber specific items, and also various legal and banking related for the business. These are also in no particular order. I just showed them as I found. The condition is good to very good overall. Please see photos and scans for all details and condition. If you collect 19th century Americana advertisement ad history, United States business, writing, correspondence, etc. this is a nice one for your paper or ephemera collection. Genealogy research importance as well. Combine shipping on multiple items purchased. 3163 The Renovo Record, Fri., Sept. 22, 1893. Died. Death of Charles R. Noyes. He Expired Yesterday Morning At His Home At Westport. His Loss to the Community an Irreparable One. Cancer The Immediate Cause of His Death. Charles R. Noyes died yesterday morning at his residence at Westport this county, after an illness of about six months. He was taken sick with rheumatism. He spent several weeks last spring at the famous Sizerville mineral springs, under the care of an eminent physician, in the hope of effecting a cure. When he returned to his home he was feeling better and with encouraging signs of relief. About four months ago a cancerous affection appeared over his right breast. He paid little attention to its presence until it began to cause him pain. His physicians advised him to to to Philadelphia at once for treatment. He did so but the physicians believing that death would result. They pronounced it Osteo Sarcoma, a form of cancer under the right collar bone extending above and below to the chest. He returned home very much disheartened, without the slightest hope of recovery. Mr. Noyes was born in Grafton Co., N. H., Jan. 5th, 1829 and died in the 65th year of his age. He received an education in the public schools and the Newberg Methodist Academy in Vermont. He came to Westport in 1850 and acted as clerk for his brother, Col. A. C. Noyes, until 1854, when he became partner in his business, in storekeeping, lumbering, building railroads, &c. After the Colonel’s death he moved his family into the old mansion, located at the mouth of Kettle Creek, where they still reside. Mr. Noyes was a well known democrat. He held the position of postmaster from 1854 to 1891. He filled nearly all the township offices, and several times was sent to Harrisburg to represent the democracy of the county in state convention. He was a candidate for county treasurer in 1890, but was defeated by the present treasurer, Hon. S. W. Caldwell. Mr. Noyes was married to Mary A. Herman, a daughter of Michael Herman, on July 45th 1865. Their children are Hattie, Martha, Edward, Nellie, Bessie, Hannah, and Daisy, all of whom are living. The death of Mr. Noyes, will be a great loss to the people of both Noyes and Leidy townships. He was kind and charitable, helping all with a liberal hand. Funeral services will take place at his late residence at 1 o’clock Saturday afternoon. Rev. John D. Cook will preach the funeral sermon. Interment at Noyes cemetery. Amos Clark Noyes (September 17, 1818 – September 4, 1880) was an American politician and business owner. Born in Grafton County, New Hampshire, he later moved to Pennsylvania, where he served on the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and as Pennsylvania Treasurer (1877–1880). Biography Amos Clark Noyes was born on September 17, 1818, in Grafton County, New Hampshire. His ancestors were of Scotch-Irish descent. Noyes became a prominent and highly respected figure in the state of Pennsylvania.[1] Noyes was also a prominent landowner and noted lumberman in the vicinity of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.[citation needed] Noyes was born to Rufus and Hannah Clark Noyes.[2] He taught school at the age of sixteen.[3] In 1847, he moved to Lockport, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the lumber business and was a dealer of general merchandise. He resided in Emporium, Cameron County, Pennsylvania for two years before relocating to Westport, Pennsylvania, in 1849, where he lived for many years and was known as “Square Timber Noyes.”[3] He served briefly as a colonel of militia in the run-up to the American Civil War, during which he was a prominent War Democrat.[4] As a contractor, Noyes was involved with the construction of the Clinton County Courthouse in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, which was built between 1867 and 1869.[5] Noyes was nominated as the Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives by the legislative districts of Lycoming and Clinton (in 1862).[1] He served a total of five one-year terms in office, from 1863–1865 and 1871–1873.[6] In 1875, at the Democratic State Convention in Erie, Pennsylvania, Noyes was a major, albeit unsuccessful, candidate for the party nomination for governor.[2] He was elected to the office of Pennsylvania Treasurer and served from 1877 to 1880.[6] Noyes Township in Clinton County was named after Amos Noyes.[1][7][8] The Col. A.C. Noyes Castle, Knights of the Eagle, named for Noyes, was instituted in 1890 in Westport, Pennsylvania, with 49 members.[9] Personal life Noyes was married on July 30, 1854, to Rebecca J., daughter of Charles and Hannah (Saltman) Stewart. Rebecca was born on September 10, 1833, in Westport, Pennsylvania, and like her husband came from an old Scotch family.[4] The funeral of Amos Noyes took place on September 7, 1880.[4] BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. HON. AMOS C. NOYES. Among the names of the men who have been prom- inent in the State of Pennsylvania, who have held positions of great responsibility and honor, we find the name of Hon. Amos C. Noyes. Born in Grafton County, N. H., Sept. 18, 1817, he grew to man's es- tate therein, developing into a manhood as firm in its integrity, as grand in its conceptions of nobleness aud generosity as the granite rocks of his native State. His ancestors, as set forth in the biography of his brother Charles, were of Scotch-Irish descent, and resided in New Hampshire from its earliest set- tlement. Until he had attained his majority he was occupied in agricultural pursuits connected with his father's farm, acquiring meanwhile the rudiments of a useful and practical education. He was then actively engaged for a few years in general mercantile pursuits, meeting with varying success. Removing to Em- porium, Cameron Co., Pa., in 1847, he occupied him- self in the lumbering trade.' In this business he continued until his death, which occurred Sept. 3, 1880. In 1849 he moved from Cameron County to Westport, in Clinton County, Pa., where he continued to reside until his death. In the lumbering business he met with great and merited success. He was at the head of the firm of Noyes, Bridgens & Co., who were at that time the largest square-lumber dealers on the West Brand), and for many years his time was engrossed by the cares incident to so large and ex- tensive a business, also by a growing interest in the momentous public and political questions then agi- tating the country, and whicli culminated ultimately in the civil conflict. During the Rebellion he was an active and warmly-interested LTnionist, and exerted (2 . &, J^ / CHAPMAN TOWNSHIP. 589 himself to the utmost in aiding to uphold the rights and honor of his State and country. In politics, Col. Noyes (taking that title from a militia colonelcy which he held some years before) was a Democrat, and during the civil war a war Democrat. In 1862 his legislative district, then composed of Clinton and Lycoming Counties, nominated him as the Demo- cratic candidate for the House of Representatives. Hon. James Chatham was the Republican nominee for re-election. The previous year Mr. Chatluim had carried the district by four hundred majority. This Col. Noyes not only reversed, but added twelve hun- dred to it, making a change of sixteen hundred votes. His term, for which he had made such a gallant fight, was filled with such honest fidelity to his section and State that he was ag.ain put forward by his friends for the same position and was again elected. In 1864, observing the two consecutive term rule, he was not a candidate. In 1868 he was a Presidential elector on the Democratic ticket. In 1870 his legislative district, which had been by the apportionment changed to embrace Clinton, Cam- eron, and McKean Counties, again nominated him for the Legislature. Cameron was a Republican County, and gave Schofield, the Republican candidate for Congress, forty-five majority, while it gave Col. Noyes three hundred and fifty-eight Democratic ma- jority, and he was for the third time elected. In 1871 his district was again changed to comprise Clinton, Lycoming, and Sullivan Counties, and was entitled to two members, and Col. Noyes was one of those elected to represent this district. In 1872 he was for the fifth time elected to the Legislature. While act- ing in this capacity he served on several prominent committees, viz., the Committee on Ways and Means, on Corporation and Education, besides others of less magnitude and importance. While engaged in these responsible positions he evidenced at all times and under all circumstances the possession of many needed and admirable qualities. When the internecine strug- gle was at its fullest and most menacing development he was bold and fearless in speech and action, while he labored incessantly to increase the means and re- sources of the government, and effectively denounced the trickery of faithless partisans and officials. Al- though devoted to the interests of his party, and an energetic and able ally and leader, he always sternly refused to use his talents in serving it when conscien- tiously opposed to its measures and operations. In 1875, at the Democratic State Convention held at Erie, Col. Noyes was one of the most prominent candidates for the office of Governor. After a warm contest of many ballotings between his friends, Bigler and Barr, a compromise was finally made by nominating Judge Pershing. In 1877 he was nominated by the Demo- cratic State Convention as its candidate for State treasurer, to which office he was elected, and which he filled with credit to himself and his State. He was also a member of the Board of Public Charities, and was tireless in his efforts to make that organiza- tion prompt and effectual in its workings. Generously interested in all matters of progress, im])rovement, and philanthropy, he did much to ameliorate the condition of the poorer classes in the section of Pennsylvania where he resided, and was always ready to co-operate vigorously in all charitable enter- prises. As an orator. Col, Noyes was curt, incisive, logical, and convincing, wliile his plain and unlabored delivery was forcible and impressive. He died in the prime of life, honored and esteemed by all who knew him, and still missed by his friends and neighbors as few men are. He was married July 30, 1854, to Miss Rebecca J., daughter of Charles and Hannah (Salt- man) Stewart. She was born Sept. 10, 183.3, in West- port, Pa., and came of an old and honorable Scotch fiimily. The funeral of Col. Noyes took place Sept. 7, 1880. Rev. J. J. Pearce, an old and esteemed friend, preached the sermon, paying a glowing tribute to the memory of the deceased, and attesting to his moral worth and stainless character. After the sermon John S. Bailey, Esq., read a biographical sketch of his life from boyhood to the time of his death. The body was then taken in charge by the Masonic order, and proceeded to the place of burial, which had been se- lected a few days before by the deceased. The hearse was preceded by Renovo Lodge, No. 495, of which he was a member. A number of other lodges were in the procession, as were many of the most prominent men in the State, and hundreds of the hardy lumber- men, who came many miles to attend the burial of their deceased friend. It was the largest funeral ever held in Northern Pennsylvania, and well attested the love and respect felt for him by all classes. CHARLES R. NOYES. Prominent among the representative families of Clinton County we find the name of Noyes. Their ancestors were Scotch-Irish, and came, it is supposed, from the north of Ireland, and settled prior to the Revolutionary war in the southern part of the State of New Hampshire, where Nathaniel Noyes (the first of the family of whom definite knowledge is had) was born. Soon after the war for independence he, with his family, moved to Grafton County, N. H., where he bought a farm, on which he remained until his death. His wife was Miss Mary Harriman, and to them were born six sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to man and woman's estate. The seventh of these was Rufus, who was born in 1789. He grew to manhood in his native county, and, like his father, turned his attention to farming. He married Miss Hannah Clark, who was of English extraction. Their children were Amos C, James C, Hannah M., Rufus H., Charles R., and Jennie, all of whom are still living, except Amos C. and Rufus H. Mrs. Noyes died in 1846, at the age of fifty-three, and in August, 1862, Mr. Noyes was thrown from a load of hay and 590 HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. killed. Charles R. Noyes, our subject, was born in Grafton, Jan. 5, 1829. He grew to manhood on the home farm, going to the district school winters and two terms at the Newbury, Vt., Methodist Seminary. Arrived at maturity, he started out in life for himself, his first work being on a farm at twelve dollars per month. In 1850, Mr. Noyes joined his brother Amos, who was keeping a general store in what is now West- port, Clinton Co., Pa. He clerked for his brother until 1854, when he became a partner. In 1859 they partly closed out the mercantile business, and we next find the brothers grading and building the mason-work for the bridges of nine miles of the Phila- delphia and Erie Railroad. Their contract was com- pleted in two years. The brothers then devoted their energies mainly to lumbering, which has been Mr. Noyes' principal calling ever since. He has an in- terest in many thousand acres of pine lands. In Cameron County the firm is known as the " Hunt's Run Lumbering Company." In Clearfield and Clin- ton Counties he is one of the firm of Carskaddon & Co. at Three Run. He is also owner, or nearly so, of the Noyes' mill near Westport, a water-mill which he runs about nine months in thfe year. Mr. Noyes handles principally square timber, round logs, and sawed lumber, and in a skilled way as his success attests. He has always been a Democrat in politics, but never an office-holder, save in his township, where he has been school director for nine successive years, and has also been Westport's postmaster since 1854. By his neighbors and associates he is spoken of as a business man of sound judgment and sterling integrity, and whose word is as good as his bond. July 4, 1865, he was married to Mary A., daughter of Michael and Christina Herman. She was born June 6, 1842. Their children are Hattie, Martha, Edward, Nellie, Harry, Bessie, Hannah V., and Daisy. Westport is an unincorporated community in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies above the Susquehanna River, along Pennsylvania Route 120. According to the Historical View of Clinton County, Pennsylvania by "D. S. Maynard", Westport, Pennsylvania in Noyes Township was formerly known as Kettle Creek.[1] This is also mentioned on The Clinton County Register & Recorders Office website and other sources.[2][3] The first settlement at the mouth of Kettle Creek was in 1785, when the land was a part of Pine Creek Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.[4] The Kettle Creek post office was established circa 1847 or 1848, but was discontinued, leaving the present community of Westport without a Post Office for about a year. In 1850, a new post office was established, but the name Kettle Creek was already taken by a post office located at the head of the Creek, so the name "Westport" was already in use, hence the current name.[4] The first bridge that spanned the creek at Westport, was erected by Clinton County in 1852. The first railroad bridge, which was only a few feet away, was built in 1859. Both bridges were swept almost simultaneously by a flood on March 17, 1865, which caused severe damage. However, both bridges were eventually replaced.[1] Noyes Township is a township in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 333 at the 2020 census,[2] down from 357 in 2010.[3] History Noyes Township was cut off and formed from Chapman Township in 1875, and was named in honor of Colonel A. C. Noyes, the most prominent citizen residing within the limits of the area. The first settlement in the territory was made around the time of the Revolution, or shortly after, on the lower, north side and near the mouth of Kettle Creek.[4] Adjacent counties Potter County (north) Lycoming County (east) Union County (southeast) Centre County (south) Clearfield County (southwest) Cameron County (west) Nearby: City Lock Haven (county seat) Boroughs Avis Beech Creek Flemington Loganton Mill Hall Renovo South Renovo Townships Allison Bald Eagle Beech Creek Castanea Chapman Colebrook Crawford Dunnstable East Keating Gallagher Greene Grugan Lamar Leidy Logan Noyes Pine Creek Porter Wayne West Keating Woodward Census-designated places Census-designated places are unincorporated communities designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Castanea Clintondale Dunnstown Farwell Lamar McElhattan North Bend Rauchtown Rote Salona Tylersville Woolrich Other unincorporated communities Cooks Run Farrandsville Hyner Keating Mackeyville Westport The wood industry or timber industry (sometimes lumber industry -- when referring mainly to sawed boards) is the industry concerned with forestry, logging, timber trade, and the production of primary forest products and wood products (e.g. furniture) and secondary products like wood pulp for the pulp and paper industry. Some of the largest producers are also among the biggest owners of timberland. The wood industry has historically been and continues to be an important sector in many economies. Distinction In the narrow sense of the terms, wood, forest, forestry and timber/lumber industry appear to point to different sectors, in the industrialized, internationalized world, there is a tendency toward huge integrated businesses that cover the complete spectrum from silviculture and forestry in private primary or secondary forests or plantations via the logging process up to wood processing and trading and transport (e.g. timber rafting, forest railways, logging roads).[citation needed] Processing and products differs especially with regard to the distinction between softwood and hardwood.[1][2][3][4][5] While softwood primarily goes into the production of wood fuel and pulp and paper, hardwood is used mainly for furniture, floors, etc.. Both types can be of use for building and (residential) construction purposes (e.g. log houses, log cabins, timber framing).[citation needed] Production chain This section is an excerpt from Wood production.[edit] Lumber and wood products, including timber for framing, plywood, and woodworking, are created in the wood industry from the trunks and branches of trees through several processes, commencing with the selection of appropriate logging sites and concluding with the milling and treatment processes of the harvested material. In order to determine which logging sites and milling sites are responsibly producing environmental, social and economic benefits, they must be certified under the Forests For All Forever (FCS) Certification that ensures these qualities.[6] Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, window frames). Lumber has many uses beyond home building. Lumber is sometimes referred to as timber as an archaic term and still in England, while in most parts of the world (including the United States and Canada) the term timber refers specifically to unprocessed wood fiber, such as cut logs or standing trees that have yet to be cut. Lumber may be supplied either rough-sawn, or surfaced on one or more of its faces. Beside pulpwood, rough lumber is the raw material for furniture-making, and manufacture of other items requiring cutting and shaping. It is available in many species, including hardwoods and softwoods, such as white pine and red pine, because of their low cost.[1] Finished lumber is supplied in standard sizes, mostly for the construction industry – primarily softwood, from coniferous species, including pine, fir and spruce (collectively spruce-pine-fir), cedar, and hemlock, but also some hardwood, for high-grade flooring. It is more commonly made from softwood than hardwoods, and 80% of lumber comes from softwood.[2] Terminology In the United States and Canada, milled boards are called lumber, while timber describes standing or felled trees.[3] In contrast, in Britain, and some other Commonwealth nations and Ireland, the term timber is used in both senses. (In the UK, the word lumber is rarely used in relation to wood and has several other meanings.) Re-manufactured lumber See also: Timber recycling Re-manufactured lumber is the result of secondary or tertiary processing of previously milled lumber. Specifically, it refers to lumber cut for industrial or wood-packaging use. Lumber is cut by ripsaw or resaw to create dimensions that are not usually processed by a primary sawmill. Re-sawing is the splitting of 1-to-12-inch (25–305 mm) hardwood or softwood lumber into two or more thinner pieces of full-length boards. For example, splitting a 10-foot-long (3.0 m) 2×4 (1+1⁄2 by 3+1⁄2 in or 38 by 89 mm) into two 1×4s (3⁄4 by 3+1⁄2 in or 19 by 89 mm) of the same length is considered re-sawing. Plastic lumber Further information: Plastic lumber, Fiber-reinforced composite, and Wood-plastic composite Structural lumber may also be produced from recycled plastic and new plastic stock. Its introduction has been strongly opposed by the forestry industry.[4] Blending fiberglass in plastic lumber enhances its strength, durability, and fire resistance.[5] Plastic fiberglass structural lumber can have a "class 1 flame spread rating of 25 or less, when tested in accordance with ASTM standard E 84," which means it burns more slowly than almost all treated wood lumber.[6] History The basic understanding of lumber, or “sawn planks,” came about in North America in the seventeenth century.[7] Lumber is the most common and widely used method of sawing logs. Plain sawn lumber is produced by making the first cut on a tangent to the circumference of the log. Each additional cut is then made parallel to one before. This method produces the widest possible boards with the least amount of log waste.[8] Lumber manufacturing globally is determined by the preferred style of building; areas with a "wood building culture" (homes were built from wood rather than other materials like brick) are the countries with significant sawmilling industries. Historical wood-frame home building regions are: Europe, North America, China.[citation needed] Different areas of the world are recognized as significant timber suppliers; however, these areas (Indonesia, Sarawak, New Guinea, etc.) are exporters of raw logs and do not have a significant domestic lumber producing industry. The largest lumber manufacturing regions in the world are: China (18%); United States (17%); Canada (10%); Russia (9%); Germany (5%); Sweden (4%).[9] In early periods of society to make wood for building, the trunks of trees were split with wedges into as many and as thin pieces as possible. If it was necessary to have them still thinner, they were hewn, by some sharp instrument, on both sides, to the proper size.[10] This simple but wasteful manner of making boards is still continued in some places. Otherwise, logs were sawn using a two-person whipsaw, or pit-saw, using saddleblocks to hold the log, and a pit for the pitman who worked below. In 1420 the island of Madeira – an archipelago comprising four islands off the northwest coast of Africa and an autonomous region of Portugal – was discovered. King Henry VI[clarification needed] sent settlers to Madeira and ordered sawmills to be erected for the purpose of cutting the various species of excellent timber with which the island abounded. About 1427, the first sawmill in Germany was built.[10] Cornelis Corneliszoon (or Krelis Lootjes) was a Dutch windmill owner from Uitgeest who invented the first mechanical sawmill, which was wind-powered, on December 15, 1593. This made the conversion of log timber into planks 30 times faster than previously.[11] The circular saw, as used in modern sawmills, was invented by an Englishman named Miller in 1777. It was not until the nineteenth century, however, that it was generally applied, and its great work belongs to that period. The first insertable teeth for this saw were invented by W. Kendal, an American, in 1826.[12] Logging in the American colonies began in 1607 when the Jamestown settlers cut timber to build the first settlement in the new world.[13] America's first sawmill was built at the Falls of Piscatauqua, on the line between the Province of Maine and the Province of New Hampshire, in 1634. Unauthenticated records, however, claim that as early as 1633 several mills were operating in New Netherland.[10] The American colonies were essential to England in the role of supplier of lumber for the British fleet. By the 1790s New England was exporting 36 million feet of pine boards and at least 300 ship masts per year to the British Empire.[13] The timber supply began to dwindle at the start of the twentieth century due to significant harvest volumes, so the logging industry was forced to seek timber elsewhere; hence, the expansion into the American West.[14] Conversion of wood logs A sawmill with the floating logs in Kotka, Finland Logs are converted into lumber by being sawn, hewn, or split. Sawing with a rip saw is the most common method, because sawing allows logs of lower quality, with irregular grain and large knots, to be used and is more economical. There are various types of sawing: Plain sawn (flat sawn, through and through, bastard sawn) – A log sawn through without adjusting the position of the log and the grain runs across the width of the boards. Quarter sawn and rift sawn – These terms have been confused in history but generally mean lumber sawn so the annual rings are reasonably perpendicular to the sides (not edges) of the lumber. Boxed heart – The pith remains within the timber, post or beam, with some allowance for exposure. Heart center – the center core of a log. Free of heart center (FOHC) – A side-cut timber, post or beam without any pith. Free of knots (FOK) – No knots are present. Dimensional lumber A common 50 by 100 mm (2 by 4 in) board Dimensional lumber is lumber that is cut to standardized width and depth, often specified in millimetres or inches. Carpenters extensively use dimensional lumber in framing wooden buildings. Common sizes include 2×4 (pictured) (also two-by-four and other variants, such as four-by-two in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK), 2×6, and 4×4. The length of a board is usually specified separately from the width and depth. It is thus possible to find 2×4s that are four, eight, and twelve feet in length. In Canada and the United States, the standard lengths of lumber are 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 feet (1.8, 2.4, 3.0, 3.7, 4.3, 4.9, 5.5, 6.1, 6.7 and 7.3 m). For wall framing, precut "stud" lengths are available, and are commonly used. For ceilings heights of 8, 9 or 10 feet (2.4, 2.7 or 3.0 m), studs are available in 92+5⁄8 inches (2.35 m), 104+5⁄8 inches (2.66 m), and 116+5⁄8 inches (2.96 m).[citation needed] North American softwoods The length of a unit of dimensional lumber is limited by the height and girth of the tree it is milled from. In general the maximum length is 24 ft (7.32 m). Engineered wood products, manufactured by binding the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with adhesives, to form composite materials, offer more flexibility and greater structural strength than typical wood building materials.[15] Pre-cut studs save a framer much time, because they are pre-cut by the manufacturer for use in 8-, 9-, and 10-foot ceiling applications, which means the manufacturer has removed a few inches or centimetres of the piece to allow for the sill plate and the double top plate with no additional sizing necessary. In the Americas, two-bys (2×4s, 2×6s, 2×8s, 2×10s, and 2×12s), named for traditional board thickness in inches, along with the 4×4 (89 mm × 89 mm), are common lumber sizes used in modern construction. They are the basic building blocks for such common structures as balloon-frame or platform-frame housing. Dimensional lumber made from softwood is typically used for construction, while hardwood boards are more commonly used for making cabinets or furniture. Lumber's nominal dimensions are larger than the actual standard dimensions of finished lumber. Historically, the nominal dimensions were the size of the green (not dried), rough (unfinished) boards that eventually became smaller finished lumber through drying and planing (to smooth the wood). Today, the standards specify the final finished dimensions and the mill cuts the logs to whatever size it needs to achieve those final dimensions. Typically, that rough cut is smaller than the nominal dimensions because modern technology makes it possible to use the logs more efficiently. For example, a "2×4" board historically started out as a green, rough board actually 2 by 4 inches (51 mm × 102 mm). After drying and planing, it would be smaller by a nonstandard amount. Today, a "2×4" board starts out as something smaller than 2 inches by 4 inches and not specified by standards, and after drying and planing is minimally 1+1⁄2 by 3+1⁄2 inches (38 mm × 89 mm).[16]