Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1890-10-30
Aberdeen, the lumberman's
Paradise.

OF the developed local resources tribu-
tary to Aberdeen, the greatest unques-
tionably is lumber. Grays Harbor re-
ceives the waters of six rivers, which are
navigable by river craft and steamers for
long distance. On these river banks
stands the noblest growth Of fir, spruce,
cedar and hemlock timber ever found in
the civilized world. While it is impossi-
BILE to even approximate the amount Of
timber in this belt, the most conserva-
tive estimate calls Tor one hundred and
fifty billion feet of merchantable lumbr.
Owing to the many streams which pene-
trate this forest, every acre of it may be
said to be located on good driving water.
The manufacture and marketing Of this
vast amount of timber can alone create at
Aberdeen city larger than any in the
state to-day. Situated as Aberdeen is, at
the door Of the ocean, the worlds markets
are her markets. At no distant day there
will be erected here paper-pulp mills to
supply the ever increasing demand of the
California trade. Lumber will be sent
to the treeless countries OF South Amer
lea in ships, which will bring back raw
hides to be converted into leather at the
tanneries that must be built here, where
exhaustless quantities of hemlock bark
can be had for fraction of it's cost to
other tanning centers. There is proba-
bly, no place in the United States that
combines all the requisites for the sue
cessful operation Of tanning, boot and
shoe manufacturing, etc., as does Aber-
deem and its vicinity. Its thousands OF
acres of hemlock are yet untouched. The
bark, after careful and thorough expert
ments, produces result astonishing to
eastern tanners. 1t is asserted that one
cord of this tanbark possesses more tan
min than two cords from the eastern tree
which in itself is great desideratum.
Then hides can be imported here from
South America cheaper than eastern
firms can obtain them, as the many luna
Der laden vessels which leave these
wharves must have ballast in returning.
With an abundance of the raw material
at the lowest possible price, with railroad
and ocean communication, the problem
OF successful manufacturing is solved.
With cheap leather at her very doors, it
cannot be long before large number Of
workmen will be employed here in leath-
er manufactures. In the process of time
packing houses will be located here !;
shoe factories and other industries will
also be sure to come, as the sharp COM
petition in the East is driving every in
dustry nearer the raw material. With
inexhaustible stores of the latter, mild
climate, and fertile soil, by the aid OF
capital and pushing, energetic, well
trained business men, Aherdeen's pre-
eniinence in this direction ought certainly
to be assured. Another great market for
her lumber will soon be made available
with the completion of the Nicaragua
Canal connecting the two oceans. 1t is
but matter Of few years when this
water way across the lsthmus will be es-
tablished, bringing this harbor into close
communication with England, Spain,
France, and our own Atlantic states, and
effecting saving in travelling distance OF
nearly fourteen thousand miles. When
that time comes there will be many thou
sand people here on the shores of Grays
Harbor and the Chehalis river, engaged
in the lumber industry alone, for with the
competition of that enterprise it will be
possible to ship lumber into the gulf and
to West India points, and to the east
coast Of South America, at saving of
fifty per cent in time, distance and money
over the present condition.