the first permanent sawmill was established by sadler and o'neil in the early 1890s. robert booth and patrick shannon, were also actively logging this region from 1895. booth and shannon produced square timber, which was taken by cpr to papineauville for export to britain, from the port of quebec in quebec. by 1903 booth and shannon were the only lumber producers in biscotasing, possibly having taken over and expanding the o'neil mill which closed in 1898.