The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-09-25
HILLS Saw MILLS
The Bees Account Confirmed
From Helena.
ON LAKE AND RIVER.
Will Build a Railroad to Haul Logs
Mills Will Be Constructed
This Winter.

Nearly two weeks ago the Bee an
nounced that the Great Northern would
build saw mills on or near Flathead lake,
and that the building of these mills
would probably mean railroad to the
lake. The Bees account is confirmed by
the following Helena dispatch to the
Great Falls Leader under date of Sep
TENDER %:
President James j. Hill, of the Great
Northern railway, is making large in
vestments in Montana pine and cedar
lands. Mr.. Hill has during the last six
months purchased large tracts of fir and
cedar lands in the state of Washington
through former Governor B. NJ Clough,
of Minnesota, and is now Looking up
some of the best pieces of timbered
land in Montana.
John O'Brien, one of Mr.. Hills closest
business associates, has been in Montana
for a fortnight and while his investiga-
tions and the resulting purchases have
been kept quiet. they represent large
amount of cash. AS far as can be
learned, it is Mr.. Hills intention to build
sawmills at convenient points on water
ways that are tributary to the Sec
tions where he is most interested. Mr..
Hills latest investment in this state will
give employment to a large number of
men and will make Montana more of a
labor producing section than it has been
in the past.
Mr.. O'Brien has just located two saw
mill sites on or near Flathead lake. One
is located on the bay at the head of the
lake and the other on the slough on
Flathead river near the lake. Mr.. Hill
owns several large tracts of timbered
land in the vicinity and is negotiating
for the purchase of considerable more.
Mr.. O'Brien has made thorough in
spection Of the timber on the Clearwater,
both forks Of Flathead, Swan and White
fish rivers. The construction Of these
mills will necessitate the construction of
a logging railroad from Flathead lake to
the nearest point on the Great Northern.
The new logging railroad will open up
that locality and will give mining opera
tions considerable impetus. It is under
stood from reliable authority that Mr..
Hill intends to put several large crews in
the woods this winter and construct the
two mills planned early in the spring
But little publicity has been given
Mr.. Hills investments in this state, but
from what can be learned is is under
stood that the location of his interests
in flathead county is only the first of
number of investments that he will
make in Montana timbered lands. With
one exception, he owns perhaps more
cedar lands in Washington than any
other individual, and those who are
acquainted with his business methods
believe that he will make further large
and liberal investments in this state.
Very rapidly the pine forests of the
great numbering regions of Michigan,
Wisconsin and Minnesota are being de-
nuded of their timber, and an estimate
of an expert employed by Mr.. Hill places
the white pine supply of the northwest
at figure, based upon the rate that
timber is being cut, at fifteen years. Mr..
Hill and many other capitalists of the
east are putting their money into the
forests of the west. Within year Fred
erick Weyerhauser, of Minnesota, formed
syndicate of Mississippi valley lum-
bermen and invested several millions of
dollars in Washington timber lands. The
same interests have large holding in
this state, although numbering opera
tions have not been started on large
scale.
Mr.. Hill is also credited with the in
tention of coming to Montana within the
next few months and personally looking
over the land that he has purchased and
that for which he is negotiating. Owing
to his vast and diversified interests. Mr..
Hill often makes large purchases with
out seeing the property. He believes
that within few years the price of
stumpage will be from 30 to 50 per cent.
higher than it is now, owing to the d.
miniShinp cnpp1v of tho Inn, Lor ,,,ol,o