The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-08-03
Port Blakeley's Lumber Trade.


found at the great Blakeley mill,
where 400, 900 feet of lumber is being
turned out every twenty-four hours,
and the harbor is crowded with ships
destined for almost all parts of the
world. While prices are still low and
fluctuate rapidly, the demand is grow
ing, and the company is constantly
opening new fields for its products in
more distant parts of the world. A
Post-Intelligencer reporter who visited
the mill last week found ten vessels
loading, and was informed that quite
a number are on the way to Blakeley
for cargoes. In speaking to him of
the condition and prospects of bust
ness, one of the mill officials said:
"We are at present doing a large
business with South American and
Australian ports, and expect, with
proper attention, to secure the South
African trade, which if successful will
be big thing. We have the finest
lumber in the world, and there is no
reason why we should not be doing
five times the business that is being
done at present on the Sound. Why,
there is some first quality and some
selected Norway lumber out there on
the wharf, and it does not even COM
pare with our second quality lumber"
It is the intention of the company
to send an agent to Nova Scotia as
soon As times brighten up to work up
its interests. 1t has been shown by
actual tests that Puget Sound timber
makes superior masts and deck plank
to the Nova Scotia product, and it is
thought that considerable business can
be done in that line. Outside of the
South American coast and Australia
the lumber of this section is but little
known, and it is the intention of the
company to send live agents to Europe
to work up the business. Two or
three years ago several cargoes of lum
Der were shipped around the Horn to
European ports, but arrived IN poor
shape. It was wet when loaded at the
mill and, in going across the equator,
dried out, became wet again in going
around the Horn and again dried in
| recrossing the equator, which caused
it to rot. An experiment will proba
bly, be made this fall, in which the
lumber will be thoroughly sun-dried
before loading, and if it is found that
the cargo reaches its destination in
good shape and European builders
learn what a fine article can be had
here, strong bid will be made for
that trade.
Two cargoss of spars and deck plank
have been shipped during the past two
years to Arundel, Norway, and have
given great satisfaction. 1t is expect
ed that 10000 900 feet of lumber will
be shipped to Port Pirie, Australia,
this year. The total amount for the
two years preceding this has been 3O,-
100000 feet. The falling off is attrib-
uted to the depression in mining in
dustries in that country. A large
amount is being shipped to the west
ern South American coast, especially
Valparaiso. The Hawaiian trade.
which has been for long time and is
now controlled by the Blakeley COM
panv, does not amount to much just
now, owing to the dull times which ex-
ist there. The California trade
amounts to really nothing, and the
lumber shipped there has to be forced
on the market.
The company has at present $50
men employed, and between $4,000
and $4,000 in wages is paid out every
month. The day shift begins work at
Il in the morning and works till 6,
with an hour for lunch, and the night
shift goes on at 6 80 and works till
5 80 a. m. About 100000 feet is be-
ing turned out every twenty-four
hours. and it has very little time to ac-
cumulate, as there are ten vessels at
the slips loading. The majority OF the
logs used at the mill are brought from
the company's principal camp at
Skookum.
The following vessels are now load
ing or are loaded and ready to sail
Rark Columbia, for San Francisco,
100000 feet; ship Aristomene, for Val
paraiso, 1,45O,OOO feet ship Earl
Burgess, for Amsterdam, l'25OOoo
feet: bark Mercury, for
San Francisco, 100000 feet; ship
Corola, for Valparaiso, 100000 feet;
barkentine Kate Flickinger, for FIJI
islands. $4,000 feet; bark Matilda. for
Honolulu, ESQ., 900 feet; bark EN- Ram
lila, for Valparaiso, 100000 feet; ship
Beechbank, for Valparaiso, 100000
feet.
To load next week: Barkentine
George G. Perkins, for Sydney, N. S
W $4,000 feet; bark Guinevere, for
Valparaiso, $4,000 feet.
Tbose to arrive within the next two