The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-12-20
EARLY HISTORY
OF NUMBERING
Captain A. W. Simpson Talks Ia.
terestingly Of Pioneer Days
in This City,
HE WAS IN ASTORIA IN 1852
Operated a Sawmill ON Ground
Where the FlaVcl Building
Now StandS--Thc Lum-
ber Prospects.

Captain A. NJ. Simpson, the veteran
mmberman spent yesterday in the city
and visited his min at Knapp,on in
the afternoon. CaptaiJ Simpson,
though well advanced in years is still
hale and hearty and Is one OF the few
remaining old pioneers on the coast
he was n pleasant caller az the Asto.
rian Office last evening and talked over
his early experience in this city and
elsewhere on the coast He was prob
ably the oldest business nina to locate
in this city, having started a Sawm!ll
IN 1859, where the Flavei brick build
ing now stands. on the corner OF Bond
and Tenth streets. the mill wharf be-
ing located adjacent 10 where Brown
& McCabe's Office now is There yet
remains some Of the piling although
much decayed by the ravapes OF time.
The venture only partially proved q
success in those days and Captain
Simpson, after a few years in business,
moved 70 San Francisco and there es-
tahlished a mill since which time he
has been probably the most prominent
figure in the lumber business on the
Pacific coast. There was no town
here" said Captain Simpson. in those
times
Colonel Mcclure lived in an old
log cabin close by. or on the
ground where the odd Fellows build
ing now stands. We used TO can It
the Cove then. spent many an even
ing with the colonel and his wife, and
they were fine old people. He belong
ed to the Hudson Bay Company and
was full OF reminescences and thrilling
adventures. the best portion OF his life
having been spent with that company,
His cabin was OF the rudest kind but |
he and his wife appeared TO enjoy life |
TO the fullest extent They were both |
plain. practical people, and did not |
lack for the necessities OF life, although |
living in what might be said to BE- an
uninhabited region.
But times have changed w'rderful-
ly." said Mr.. Simpson. Astoria has a
good future, and believe the lumber
business VIII soon be q close rival 10
the salmon industry. The resources for
supplying the market, however. are
unlimited and we should be conser-
vative Lumber is always wanted and
win continue TO be so. The foreign
demand is immense and the Eastern
demand is equally as heavy. Local
towns are building up. so that the To-
cal demand is extensive and viii con-
tinue to be so for years. All places
along the coast" continued Captain
Simpson are prosperous. Coos Bay
and Humboldt are on the top wave OF
prosperity. / keep on building vessels
for the lumber trade az the former
place. the same as I have been doing
the past 40 years But think the eX-
port trale is a little oyerione and
think I shall not bui'd 50 many yes
sells in the future as have in the past
Astoria is a good place for a mill, and
is just as good and better 10 export
lumber from as Portland. You have
the advantage OF Portland in being
nearer the ocean. with an almost un-
limited supply Of fine lumber adjacent
to the river Besides. you have termin-
al rates now on lumber. which places
this city on an equal footing with the
metropolis. !
Yes, Astoria should have sey- q
eral sawmills and they would prove 5
a success. We have exported for years j
from Knappton and have now a good /
market, but we had to begin on rather {
a small scale and build up our trade. t
But the foreign trade is growing and (
will like increase as the years 90 by" !
Captain Simpson came from san Fran l.
eisco by way Of Eureka and Coos Bay. h
He will leave today for South Bend, q
stopping on the way at Shasta before d
TO San Francisco. s.