Hays & Bivion were listed in the 1880 Census in Precinct 2 as owing and operating a steam-powered, circular sawmill worth $2,500. They employed ten men at peak production and six normally. The workers were paid $.80 to $1.00 daily for ten-hour shifts; the firm paid out a total wage of $360. In three fulltime months, the sawmill, from $1,100 in supplies and sawlogs, milled 200,000 feet of lumber worth $2,000.