The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-11-24

western washington and Northern
Oregon. This is his fourth trip here
As early as fifteen years ago he made
his first trip, and then he took quite a
run in the woods. going over to Gig
Harbor and also up into the Cascades
The second trip was still more thor
ough, and each successive one went
more the details of Washington's for
est resources.
Mr.. Weyerhauser is an organizer.
His method is to inyite other lumber
men of recognized capital and ability
to join him in pool. the purpose
of securing large tracts OF timber land.
Each member of the pool finds his
share adjusted to his capital. After
the stretch of forest is purchased mills
are started up and each member of
the pool is enabled to obtain logs ac-
cording to his proportlonate interest,
at almost cost figures.
1t has been stated that this new
pool formed by Mr.. Weyerhauser has
purchased million acres of Northern
Pacific lands for $3.50 per acre. Mr..
Weyerhauser and Land Commissioner
Phipps deny that any deal has been
consummated. but admit that one of
this character is in prospect. Their
statement is that Mr.. Weyerhauser'
party Of lumbermen has been brought
out here to look over the timber land
OF the company first before any ac-
tual negotiation is to be entered into.
"These men would hardly buy pig
in poke,'" explained Mr.. Phipps.
"They have come here to look over our
timber lands. If they are satisfied
with them they may purchase large
tract. But no actual purchase has
yet been made"
The best authority, of course, as to
his own interests, is Mr.. Weyerhauser
himself. He said
you have plenty of fine timber in
Washington, and so has your Southern
neighbor, Oregon. l have been out
here several time to look over the
ground. You will have plenty of fine
timber here for many, many years to
come. We are just looking around on
this trip. We may buy great deal
of timber land here, and we may start
up several mills. We will see what
can be done.
Il have had several good PROPOSE
tions in view. One of these is in
Humboldt county, California. This
embraces twenty-four sawmills, 252
miles of railroad and several hundred
thousand acres OF land. There is said
to be twenty billion feet of good tim
Der on the. land. A pool has been
partly formed in the East. and this
proposition can be got for less than
SIS, 100000.
"The story that the Tower tract, of
some 10000 acres, believe, has been
sold, am satisfied is not true, because
1t was offered to me since have come
here.
"TheJe is one disadvantage on the
coast. This is the railroad rate for
shipment East. We are asking the
railroad to give us reduction of rates.
At present there is difference of $I2
in favor of the Mississippi valley lum-
Der. 1t may be that the railroads here
cannot do better, at least, until they
can be assured OF freight both ways,
as it would not pay them to bring out
lot of empty cars here to be loaded
up with lumber"
Mr.. Weyerhauser admitted that it
is because of his anticipation that a
great market will be opened up in the
Orient for American lumber the he is
coming here with view to purchase,
and that this might justify the estab-
lishment, by him and his sons and the
men interested with him in the pool,
of several sawmills on Puget Sound
and at Grays Harbor and Willapa
bay. He is not blind to the possible
demands of Alaska, although he
rather discounts the idea that any
great money may be made by shipping
to Cape Nome, giving as his reason
that he visited on one OF bis trips to
the coast, a large sawmiIl at Wrangel
which, in his opinion, ought to be able
to fully supply the Alaskan demand.
Mr.. Weyerhauser and his associates
will return to Tacoma Monday, and
meanwhile they will cruise around
somewhat in Chehalis and Pacific
counties.
The Northern Pacific has some Of
the finest timber to be found in the
world in Chehalis, Pacific, Lewis,
Cowlitz, Mason, Thurston and Pierce
counties. It has also been rep ,rted
that the Weyerhauser interests have.
q
obtained the option on lands IN King,
Soohomish and Skagit counties. but