, 1882-04-28
OUR REPORTERS BUDGET.

WHATcoM, Whatcom county, Apr. II.
EDITOR PUGET SOUND ARGUS:
SIR:-But little OF public interest has
occurred here during the last few weeks.
The weather has been very cold, and
frequent showers. Old residents say
that spring is at least month later
than usual. No fruit trees yet in bios
som, and but few wild flowers. Work
hands have been at work framin & tim
bers for the saw-mill, and have made
good show. There are one or two other
excellent sites for steam saw-mills on
this bay, deep water for vessels to load
right from the mills, and well sheltered
from the strongest winds. They could
be secured on very fair terms. And
when the distractions in the Nooksack
river are removed, as they will be before
many months, immense quantities of
logs will come down to the bay, where
but seven or eight miles of towage will
be required to take them to TIE mill
sites. The contractor for cutting TIE
ditch around the jam on the Nooksack,
commenced work with large force of
Indians, some time since. These chances
cannot be idle long. Our two new stores
are doing a good business. Every
steamer brings few land seekers, many
remain, some return. Some have taken
claims, and gone away to work for the
Summer, as there is absolutely no
chance to hire out here. Settlers will
come without much effort on our part,
bpt some o5her wants are not likely to
be supplied very coon, unless they are
,N,nla thrnt,nh tln Dro1a Enr
instance we want better mail boats and
service, a church and doctor. Five
acres of land on Whatcom were recent
ly sold for brewery.
Yours, "WHATcoM"
New TACOMA, April II, 1882.
ED. ARGUS: Mr.. George Atkinson is
Surt of the Tacoma saw mill. Every
thing has thrifty appearance. All the
modern improvements are used in and
about the mill Electric lights will soon
illuminate the mill and wharf. The
frame of the mill will be renewed, 78 IT
wide by 36l long, with corrugated iron
work in the mill which is cutting from
10O M to 125 M every 10 hours work
A large endless chain draws the logs in
che mill; also another carries the slabs
out to the large fire pile. There are two
other large fires to consume defective
lumber and refuse matter. There is
sluice TO carry surplus sawdust 100 feet
from the mill. From 100 to 150 menlare
employed. Saw dust is used as fuel for
steam to drive six engines with their
immense machinery. There is one cir
cular saw #. in diameter, and one
above it AZ ft.-also several smaller cir
cular saws. There are two sets of gang
saws and one gang edger. Logs 120 It.
long can be sawed here. A new Stearns
gang will be put in the mill June 1st,
which will increase the capacity Of tie
mill to $50 NJ of lumber in 10 hours.
The lath gang turns out 30 NJ to 40 NJ
laths per day. A new planning mill, AZ
x145 IT,, is ready for the machinery.
There will be three planers, and any
thing from 10 II to 80 It. can be planed.
A round square or fat surface can be
made smooth by passing once through
the mill. The planning mill will be run
by wire cable 200 #. long, connected
with the saw mill. There is new ma
chine and blacksmith shop, two stories
high and 30x90 TT. square -one engine.
In the last two months eight vessels
were loaded here, four of which were
from foreign ports. The ship Inspector
1900 tons burden, sailed April 1lth.
There are five shutes to carry lumber
from the mill to the wharf. The mill
company have large boom of logs and
are doing arushing business. Mr.. I.
P. Woodward is Supt OF the cook
house. He is an affable gentleman OF
20 years experience in this business. /
know whereof l speak for | have proof
of the pudding" About 5000 lbs OF meat
and other things in proportion, are used
every month. Mr.. Woodward is the
happy father of ION boy. There are
about 80 Cinnamon grading on the rail
road to the new coal bunkers between
the old and new towns, The pile driV-
er is at work on the foundation.
AT NEW TACOMA.
The Congregational and Presbyterian
Churches each have the foundation laid
for a new place of worship. The frame
of the new opera house is up-40xl20
IT,, 20-ft. story. A hotel foundation has
also been laid, 40x60 IT,, to be stories
high. Lister and Sprague are erecting
foundry double the capacity of the old
one. A. j. SMITH.
ONE hundred thousand elephants are