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.
However, the attributes of the river that made it well-suited for a massive surge also rendered it an unfavorable location for operating large-scale water-powered sawmills. This was because only one such mill, the "Big Water Mill", operated in Williamsport prior to the boom's inception, and it ceased operations at least twice.