The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-18

From the outset. the operation OF the
Bonner mills was successful. The Sc
lection of a site was ~singularly FORUM
ate. Back Of the mill stretches the
fabulously rich valley of the Big Black
foot and it's tributary basins. extend
ing for a hundred miles rorthward and
eastward. The valleys and mountain
sides of this immense stretch Of coun-
try are timbered with pine and fir n
tamarack. which makes the finest grade
of lumber that Is produced In this re-
gion. The system of waterways with
which nature has penetrated this rich
empire. affords easy means OF getting
the logs from their native forests to
the mill. and each spring there are mil
lions of feet of clear logs driven down
this stream and it's tributaries.
The facilities for storing the logs
above the mill are excellent. There Is
a large natural reservoir that holds
easily all OF the logs that are sent down
TO be held till the mill is readyfo them.
Strong piers nave been constructed in
this natural storage pond and here the
logs are readily handled until they are
fioated down to the mill. The sawmill
plant OF the company is modern and
complete. 1t II supplied with all Of the
most improved machinery and with
all of the conveniences and b saw
ing devices that make IL possible TO
produce rapidly N cheaply the lum-
Der that has made the Big Blackfoot
mills known all through Montana. The
capacity of the mills is 160 900 feet each
day of 10 hours. the l0-hour system
having been substituted for the 11-hour
day several years K I'm these mills.
Everything in connection with the pro-
cess Is performed by machinery. h
logs are taken from the pond by an
die chain that delivers them at
the carriages. They are placed upon
- 49, -. - t-,..NnVaa 1nNtna that
Is almost human I'm its operation and a
movement OF n lever in the hand OF
the sawyer. sends the carriage with its
load whizzing toward the rapidly NOV
ing saw. The lumber drops from the
saw upon rollers that are operated
by steam. and boards. planks and
heavy timbers are carried down the
double line OF trimmers. edgers N
sorters till the finished product is de-
livered at the south end of the mill.
There os a fascination about the pro-
cess that holds the visitor spellbound
as he watches the transformation into
lumber OF the immense logs, n this
attraction never wanes. No matter
how often the visitor returns 10 the
scene. the charm IL still there and he
will watch for hours the rapid move
ments Of men and machinery. The
sawyer with his hand upon the lever,
regulates the movement of the entire
force OF men. The long line of opera
tIves follow the sway Of his hand like
an army Of trained soldiers. There is
no drone I'm this busy hive OF industry.
From morning till noon and from noon
till night. the buzz OF the saw n the
whirr of machinery continues and each
man must keep w with the procession
or be buried in timber. Bewildering
as the scene is To the visitor at first
glance. there Is "A well organized sys-
tenn about N all that soon becomes aD-
parent. Every man has his part to per
form and he attends strictly TO that.
IL Is this faithful performance of de-
tails that makes perfect the operation
I'm it's entirety. Should one man i'm the
J long line fail for a m in the per-