The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-06-21

VIeAtoIS W Tie IuSeG pOuud country
cannot realize the magnitude of our
lumber industry until they have in
cluded in their itinerary Port Blakely
and indeed large part OF our OWL
population is unfamiliar with the ex.
tent Of this great plant except as they
have watched the immense cargo ship
ments each month in the immense
cargo shipments each month in the
Puget Sound Lumberman. In 1893
the output of the Port Blakely mill
was 100000 feet of lumber and %,
SOC, 900 lath. Since then the capacity
OF the plant has been has been increa-
sed but the lumber market has been
so depressed by the dali times that
the full capacity OF the mill has not
been brought into requisition until
recently. The cargo shipments for
March and April were nearly 17,OOO,-
90 feet of lumber and 2,5OO,0OO lath.
On the 2Sth of May the demand was
80 great that both sides of the mill
were put in operation both day and
night, and from the number of vessels
loading and in waiting at the mill
this will no doubt be continued for
some time. The cut OF the mill is
over 100000 feet of lumber and 200,
900 lath a day. 1t gives employment
IN the various departments OF work,
to about 100 men, which naturally de-
mands a large monthly payroll. The
plant was erected in 1888 by the blind
millionaire and Seattle pioneer, Cap
tain William Renton, who came to
Puget Sound in 1852. The original
cost was over 100000. The main
b uilding is 1O2x450 feet, and to see
the machiney with which it is equip
ped in full operation is an inspiring
sight. In its equipment are two log
haul ups, two double circular saws,
three band mills, one Prescott gang
mill, three gang edgers, two lath mills
one double boiler, fourteen trimmer
SAWS, four surfaclng planes for tongues
lumber, three chute conveyors of slabs
and dust to the furnaces and f1ume
for aiding scows with fire wood for
Seattle. TO drive the machinery re-
quires eight single and four double
engines and two hydraulic pumps fed
with steam from twenty-one tubular
boilers, aggregating capacity of g.
UO horsepower. Twenty-four hours
OF running requires 155,OOO,OOO gal
Ions of fresh water, which is convert
ed into steam. The area covered by
the plant exceeds ten acres, and four
teen ships can be loaded at once. An
important improvement in course OF
construction is an elevated double
track railway, 900 feet long, which
is to be operated by electric power,
and will enable them to run the lum-
Der from the mill direct to to the
dumping places for loading.
The management of this great plant
requires level head and that seems
to be fully met in John A. Campbell
who has general charge, with James
Campbell as superintendent. The
head Offices are in San Francisco
{. :. Holmes, president; Ed. Holmes,
wee president; r. l.. Taylor, secretary
and treasurer. The plant is located
nine miles across the Sound from
Seattle and is reached by the Sarah
NJ. Renton, which makes three trips a
day.
Any description can but family
convey to the reader the magnitude of
such an enterprise. The extent of
the machinery may be imagined by
the fact that forty tons of new cast
lngs were required last year for the
needed repairs. The entire plant is H.
Illuminated with $50 ipcandescent
electric lamps and ships can be load
ed at night as well as day. The mill
has large foreign trade and has re-
Gently secured a good market in South
Africa. An encouraging feature of
the lumber business is found in the
fact that the demand has not bee n
better within five years with this COM
pany than at present. If this de-
mand should continue the output OF
IT. Blakely for 1895 will exceed 100.
. OOO,QOO feet.-P. s. Lumberman.