The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-08-30
Eastern Lumbermen Coming West.

There is coming to be something like
an exodus of eastern lumbermen to
the north Pacific coast in search OF
new fields of operation. 1t was lately
mentioned in the Lumberman that
prominent sash and door concern, at
Merrill, Wis, was to establish business
at Tacoma, WASH, as a more promis-
ing field of operations than the present
location. A. w. Brown, of the Brown
Brothers Lumber Company, Rhinelan-
der, Wis, has been at Seattle and other
coast points, looking for chances. He
is accompanied by T. E. Lennon, an
extensive logger of Rhinelander, which
seems to mean that the object of the
two explorers is in the direction Of
timber purchases. John HERMAN,
representing the Murphy Lumber Com
pany, of Green Bay, Wis, is also on
Puget sound looking up the timber re-
sources of that region. Lately dozen
of the wealthy and influential manu-
facturers of Merrill, Wausau, Grand
Rapids, and other places in Wisconsin,
started for the Pacific coast, in pri-
vate car, over the Great Northern rail
way, their journey to be one Of pleasure
mingled with business objects. They
will, of course, look at the timber Of
western Washington, and study the
logging, milling, and market resources
and prospects of the country.
Without doubt there is a reviving
interest i'm north Pacific coast timber
and lumber operations. which is be-
coming manifest by the incidents re-
ferred to-. The lumbermen of Michi-
gan and Wisconsin see that the time
has come when the old hives of white
pine industry must swarm and colonies
60 forth to new occupancies. Timber
in the old states is verging toward
scarcity. The value of white and nor
way stumpage has probably reached
it's limit. Good timber that will turn
out No. l logs may advance in value
hereafter, but the coarser aud smaller
growth must stand still in value, and
possibly Decline Many concerns have
exhausted their timber supply. MI
merous mills have been dismantled and
removed to other fields.
The timber that supplied the mills
having been sawed out, the slaughter
field must be changed to new localities.
The old firms and companies, having
accumulated capital in the lumber bus
mess, seek other opportunities. They
want cheap stumpage, for in the rise
of the value of lumber they made the
most of their wealth. AS yet the ten
dency to seek new chances in the south
has been greater than like quest on
the Pacific coast. But there seems to
be new determination in the latter
direction. Old and experienced lum-
bermen see that there is to be another
period of prosperity and progress in the
country at large. They want to get in
on the ground floor, make their invest
ment and start in operation while
values are low and opportunities album
dant, so as to get the full benefit of a
rise in demand and values. 1t is prob
able that within year we shall see a
great change on the Pacific coast.
There will be many investments OF
eastern capital and timber. This will
be Of great benefit to the coast region,
as it will put money in circulation,
give employment and enhance enter
prise. Weak concerns will sell out to
the incomers who have capital, and
thereby the lumber situation will be
strengthened. There is brighter day
dawning for Washington timber and
mill owners.-N. w. Lumberman[ Chi
cago.
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