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

At about four O'Clock last Saturday
morning party of nine bicycllsts
pushed up the south hill bound fol
Montesano and the ocean beach al
Westport There were Thos McLarty
John Morrison, John Little, VIM
Shorter, Al. J. Munson, B. S. Barger,
Robt. Lee, Frank Tue1l and G. c.
Angle. Going up the Kamilche Val
ley, accidents occurred to Lee, Little
and McLarty, and the latter led his
wheel to Slater & Changers Single
Mill at the Summit. where he found
handle bars and caught up with the
party at Elma. The trip in the cool
morning air was exhilarating and
splendid views of the Forbes, Duck
worth, Mcdonald. Callow and other
farms along the valley were obtained.
The ride from Summit to El1na was
all down grade and fairly good. After
a short rest in El,na the ten mile spin
to Montesano was made in short time,
the road being level and good, ex-
cept for dust, but the boys were not
very presentable when they reached
the city. The cyclometers showed the
distance to be about SO miles, which
was made in little over four hours of
actual travelling. the balance of the
time being spent in fixing up the
damages and giving the ''s1ow riders"
chance to rest.
Several hours were spent in Monte
sano, which is a pleasant town of
about 1900 people, but being surround
ed by a farming community looked
dull in comparison with it's size and
Shelton. AT o'clock the party left
town on the steamer, all but Tuel1,
Barger and the Editor going to Aber-
deem and riding over the emile plank
road to Hoquiam where they spent
Saturday night. The three named
stopped off at Cosmopolis and rode on
to Aberdeen on Il stretch of sidewalk
over the marsh. Cos1nopo1is is
rather small place, which is supported
by the extensive plant of the Grays
Harbor Commercial Company. Frank
Ellis, who has charge of the yards,
took us through the mill and yards,
the box factory, and other plants
operated by the Company.
Mr.. and Mrs. C. F. White were at
home and preparing to spend Sunday
on the beach. H. A. Pittman and Mrs
Frank Ellis with their families
were already on the North beach,
out for the summer, so we
failed to see them. DIR. Hickerson,
who is pastor of the Methodist Church
was found in fair health. o. F.
Thompson, Geo. Endicott, Dan I.annse,
Phil Ashmun and Coal Oil Johnny"
were among the Shelton
people we met.
The plant is one of the best ara-ang-
ed mills to be found in the state. and
is equipped with bandsaw, dry k i1ns,
and all the modern appliances for pro-
ducing first-class lumber cheaply.
Large quantities of spruce lumber are
worked up, largely for the Eas tel IN
car trade, but considerable is used in
the box factory, where all sorts. of
boxes are made and stamped. The
immense lumber sheds are filled with
neat piles of dressed lumber of all
kinds, and what strikes the visitor is
the large quantities of weatherbos rds,
and flooring from six foot 1eng tbs,
upward. No rustic is manufactured
except on special order, We in1e.gine
that this yard is conducted on. the
orderly system in vogue in the: old
eastern mills, and an Fastener raight
easily imagine himself to be in ONE of
his home mills. The mills OF this
state are fast coming down to ca refu1
grading and the economical handling
OF their product, and where the 1um-
Der is for eastern shipment there
must be no waste weight. We failed
to see the refuse burner, but there is
probably small one about the rni11.
About 200 men are employed alb out
the plant.
At South Aberdeen we saw several
of planked stree is across tile
marshy land, but only a. half dozen
houses were in sight. Aberdeen itself
this Saturday night, presented lively
appearance, although nothing special
was billed for the night, the m ain
street was conf ortably crowded. and
the business houses appeared to be
doing good business. Aberdeen is
somewhat smaller than Montesauo.
but has more business houses. and o.
peared the live1iest town on the Har-
Dor. 1t has splendid school bui1din o.
and boasts of number of attractive
and expensive buildings. Those of the
party who visited Hoauia1n, which is
two miles down the river over a good,
plank road, report another lively log
ging and milling town Houuiam is
the outlet for a large sect on of fine
agriculturalcountry up eHunlptulips
river and on the Quinau1t, and being
on the Harbor, will undoubtedly make
prosperous town. The boom DAYS
brought it a large hotel and other fine.
buildings, but the former is not at
present running. The river towns are
very promising in appearance. but the;
sawdust streets are too suggestive of
f1eas, and fires and we have no desire
to exchange Shelton for any of them.