The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-07-19


Old Tacoma mill wharf receiving and
waiting to receive cargoes of lumber
to be taken to every quarter of the
globe. 1t is not often that this large
wharf is so crowded with ships that
there is not room enough for another
to crowd in and tie up, but such is the
case there today and their demand for
cargo is taxing the capacity of the
mill to the very utmost to get them
loaded so that they can clear away at
the earliest moment.
Of these Thirteen vessels twelve arc
sailing ships, and one. the Oscar ii is
huge steamship of $500 tons bur
den. The fleet now tied up will carry
away fourteen million feet of lumber
and it is expected that within two
weeks all will have been loaded and
lowed out to sea. 1t is fine sight to
see this commercial fleet alongside of
the WHAT, their tall masts and spars
grazing each other and looking like a
waving forest as the vessels swing
with the motion of the wind and
wave.
But this is not the only big fleet
that will load lumber at the Old Town
mill. From this time on the specta
Gle can be observed at any time, for
the general revival of business through
out the world has resulted in greatly
increased demand for Puget Sound
tir, and from all ports vessels are
bound for Tacoma to load lumber.
This increase in business has become
especially noticeable in the past
two months. Last month vessels
cleared, carrying away nearly S,0O0,-
OOO feet. This will be nearly doubled
this month and the outlook for en-
suing months is almost as bright.
During the financial depression the
demand for lumber was not such as to
warrant saw mills in running to their
full capacity, but that has been chang
ed. Today the Old Town mill is work
ing 300 men and every saw and every
lathe is being turned for all they will
cut. The output is 100000 feet of
lumber in every ten hours. Enor-
nous as this output is, it is not suffi-
Gent to fill the demand and the Or
ders now on hand are sufficient to
keep the mill running for some time
to come.
The lumber is cut into all lengths
and sizes. Some goes out as great
squared end beams, some as rough
board lumber and some as handsome
finished building material. Some, also
is prepared for use as masts on yachts
and sailing vessels on the Atlantic
seaboard. Yesterday two fiat cars
were loaded with long, straight fir logs
designed for this use and consigned to
Boston. All the finished lumber goes
through the dry house which has a
capacity of $4,000 feet per day.
While the shipments of lumber by
water are the most noticeable, vast
amount of lumber is loaded on cars
and shipped to interior points.
The Tacoma Mill company, whose
plant is more familiarly known as the
Old Tacoma mill, is the second largest
establishment of it's kind in the world
1t was first started in 1868 and has
been ever since in continuous opera
ton though not always running at its
full capacity. Last year it turned out
about 100000 feet, while this wear
promises to reach 100000 feet or
more. 1t cuts Washington fir alto
gether. The works are commodious
and complete. The wharf is one of
the finest On the Sound, with plenty
Of space for handling the lumber de-
stlned for shipment by water. The
officers OF the company are President
Charles Hanson vice president, treas
urer and manager, w. H. Hanson:
secretary, III. c. Observation-Disclosures