The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-14
They've Got to Go!
THE w HEN
A HUGE TRUST.
An Alleged Scheme to Secure Control of Wis
consin and Minnesota Pine Lands.

MINNEAPoLIs. Aug. 13 The details Of one of
the most gigantic trusts ever devised have just
come to the surface in this city. It is q combi-
nation of all the principal lumber interests of
Minnesota and those of Wisconsin,. Fred Way.
erhauser, rich lumberman, who has already se-
cured control of all the pine lands tributary
to the Chippewa and Msuominse rivers in Wis.
consin. 10 at the head Of the deal A short time
ago he bought ap controlling interest of ell the
Dig lumber nrms and pine-land owners in north
ern wisconsin, and now has absolute control Of
the lumber business in that section. He il at
the head of the Mississippi Logging Company,
whose headquarters are at Eau Claire. Wis. The
company is now said to control about Sc, 00O, 900
invested in lumber and pine lands, and backed by
heavy capitalists Of Berlin. The company now
owns abous 5000, 600, 900 feet of stumpage in
Wisconsin, and IL is understood that nearly az
much more is now being contracted for in Min
nesota. Options have already been secured on
large amount of Minnesota stumpage. and
agents OF the syndicate are securing the country
70 get all there Is In sight 1t is known that T.
b. Walker. the largest pine-land owner in Mn
nesota, has given an option on all the stumpage
ne owns. DE was approached by the syndicate
afew days ago and was asked if he would sell
named
price about double the market value of his
lands at the present tine, supposing it would
not be accepted, but to his surprise three days
later the syndicate took up his offer. He owns
about 1,500,O00 feet of stumpage. The other
olg pine-aud-ownsrs who are SAID to have been
approached for options on their lands are the
Pllisburys. who own SOC. 600 900 feet; Camp s.
Walker. Itasca Lumber Company. s. 2. Snyder,
d. c. Ackley. and Gaylord & Cook. Ali
these parties. except L. B. Walker. deny
"a fav t~fx rr.fin thos- l,rS l,,s
decline to talk about the deal. If che Wiscou-
sin syndicate succeeds in getting all the land
they are after it will require capital of nearly
S2O. .OOO, 600 to carry it. The scheme 10 to hoss
falls at Minneapolis and erect big mills on the
lower river. During the high water here last
spring some OF the big booms were broken and
the logs went over the dam and fosted into the
lower river. The owners were much surprised
to find that they could sell their logs to better
advantage below the falls than above, as they
were nearer the south western lumber trade, and
the present deal started from that discovery.
IL Is understood that some OF the Chicago rail-
roads aud Some Southwestern lines are encour-
aging the deal for obvious reasons.
CHICAGO, Aug. 13.-Georgs B. Shaw, an act
i've lumberman from Eau Claire Wis, was in
the city this evening. and when asked By re-
porter what he knew Of the lumber trust matter,
said: II know Mr.. Weysrhauser. the reputed
head OF the trust. very well, but never heard
u euo uocE ttuob ooiOEo saw IL III LulS OrQ-
inRs papers. Mr.. Weyerhauser has the con-
trolling interest in large number OF
lumber companies. OF course. oil tho lumber
men are constantly on the LOOKOUT for stumpage.
1t requires q great deal Of standing timber to
supply all the mills which Weyerhauser and his
associates control. he is constantly buying
pine lines. His purchases are relatively larger
and attract more attention, therefore, than the
purchases of the smaller lumber companies,
and Weyerhauser. believe. is buying for the
Co., k.,s \ L. IL.
motest idea of q trust in his operations"
N. G. Foster of Farchilds Wis,
president of the Sauls Ste. Marie
& Southern railroad. said that he had been do
ing good deal in the lumber business lately
and he had not heard Of any trust. He knew
that Weyerhauser had options a great deal
OF standing timber. but options on timber did
not make a lumber trust. The firms which had
been mentioned as being in with Weyerhauser
controlled, he thought about half the white pine
in northwestern Wisconsin, but he believed that
a corner on tho white pine lands in Wisconsin,
Minnesota and Michigan was simply impossible