However, the properties of the river that made it ideal for a very large boom also made it a poor location for operating water-powered sawmills. Only one such sawmill, the "Big Water Mill", operated in Williamsport prior to the establishment of the boom, and it went bankrupt at least twice.
On the other hand, the river's properties that made it well-suited for a massive expansion also made it an unfavorable location for operating large-scale water-powered sawmills. Prior to the boom, only one such mill, the "Big Water Mill", operated in Williamsport and went bankrupt on multiple occasions.