The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-18
LUMBER MILL SOLD.
MeNurray Property Passes Into
New Hands.
IT WILL RUN NIGHT AND DAY
seattle Firm Buys One of the Finest
Cedar Lumber Mills With
Large Tract OF Timber.
1T WILL RUN NIGHT AND DAY

One OF the most important business
deals that have been made in this stata
for Some months was closed yesterday
when the big lumber mill at Lake Nc
Murray. close TO the line OF the Seattle.
Lake Shore a Eastern railroad, and
owned by the MeMurray Cedar Lumber
Company. passed into the hands OF Gra-
ham & Patten. the well-known lumber
and shingle dealers Of this city. The sale
OF the property. together with belt Of
-. 0Do.oso feet OF the finest cedar lumber
In the state. had been under negotiations
for more than month. just what the
consideration was Is not known. bat the
original cost OF the mill was upwards of
s.1s.oao. and Is still In good condition.
The mill is one OF the largest and best
equipped ia the Northwest. and has the
most modern machinery. IL was erected
three years ago by the MeMurray Cedar
Lumber Company. which was composed
Of large number OF Wisconsin and llli-
nois capitalists. They sent representa-
tives 70 the state and sank a fortune in
its construction. hut did not get much
out of it, For time they were success
full. but one year after Ii had been erect.
ed 1t was closed and did not commence
operation again until May, 1894. when it
was leased by Fleming & Ayerst after
the burning OF their Bothell mill. They
surrendered their lease six months ago
and since that time the mill has lain
idle.
Its new owners announced yesterday
that they would resume operation at once
and for time may run IL night and day
In order TO supply the great demand
which has been made upon them for lum-
Der during the past few months. Al
ready q superintendent for the mill has
been employed In the person OF George
Salt who for FIVE years was superintend-
ent OF the ST. Paul & Tacoma lumber
mills. and who for the past year has
been assistant superintendent of the
Willamette Steam Milling Company. of
Portland. He has left for Lake McNur-
ray. and as soon as the mill can be put
In condition men VIII be put OF work IN
every department.
The capacity OF the mill will be largely
increased. At present IL can produce
about 10000 feet OF lumber and 250oo0
shingles per day. 1t is proposed by the
new owners 20 put the shingle capacity
up 10 s50.00o per day Other important
changes. which viii involve a big expend-
iture OF money, may be decided upon as
soon as the new superintendent has made
a thorough inspection of the mill and
reported.
THE lumber business said Mr. Pat
ten yesterday has not improved mater
tally as regards prices, which remain
EtdtAtNaHs tht hNl tHctc ustS bscti
great demand upon US for some time
past. We made the purchase because II
was necessary If we desired TO fill all
orders. For time we will run the mill
night and day. but how many persons we
viii give employment to cannot hb said
at this time. When Fleming & Ayerst
were operating the mill they employed I'm
the neighborhood of 60 men and suppose
that we Will employ about that number.
though IL may be more. In connection
with the mill we have also purchased
about 50 900. 900 feet Of fine cedar lumber.
and 1t is our intention to manufacture
principally lumber, giving special atten-
ton 10 mixed car orders"