The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1903-06-05
SALE OF HOLBROOK ISLAND
The Lewiston Development Co. Secures II for
a Mill Site-The Price Paid Is $4,000
Plans Of the Company

Plans Of the Company.
G. w. Thompson for the Lewiston
Development company yesterday closed
an option he held for the purchase o
Holbrook's island and the property is
transferred to himself and associates by
N. B. Holbrook the former owner. The
Itolbrook island is located in the Clear
water river, directly opposite the present
business center. 1t contains 52K acres
| aud is an ideal site for a large manufac-
turing plant, site which the company is
now planning to utilize. The price paid
is $4,000 Mr.. G. w. Thompson, vice
president of the Idaho National bank
closed the deal for the Development COM
pany. Mr.. Thompson was seen this
morning and was very we'll pleased over
the closing of the deal. He said: We
have secured the best located mill site on
the Clearwater river. We have had ex-
rt mill men 60 over the proposition
and they pronounce it admirably adopted
for the purposes for which we want it.
The island is three quarters of a mile
long, the slough this side with improve
ment is capable of holding 30 600 900 feet
flogs. There is another slough pocket
in the north shore that will hold half as
much more and the area of this island
gives plenty of capacity for large
milling plant. Its nearness to Lewiston
and easy a cess to the railroad makes it
especially valuable.
The site was not bought for specula-
tive purposes but will be utilized as
rapidly as our plans can be developed.
No special legislation is necessary to
erect mills and make improvements for
milling purposes on the Clearwater river
and therefore we shall not ask for any.
The state and national policies are for
free open rivers and we do not believe
that future legislatures will abridge our
rights by granting special privileges that
amount to monopolies.
The success of the numbering industry
along the Clearwater lies in the indie
pendent companies operating here. The
Clearwater timber is now going begging
at about so cents per thousand for white
pine and nothing for the balance. Com
petition between independent operators
would soon tell different story here. In
fact every kind of timber should be
selling for 81 to IS per thousand.
recently heard from a friend in Wiscon-
sin that claim of 1 500, 900 feet sold for
$40 900. This was at the rate of $I2 per
thousand stumpage. A claim here hav-
ing that amount would bring only $500
or 5000 and yet the difference in the
price of lumber here and in Wisconsin is
not more than rs or 80 per cent. And
the price Of stumpage here should not be
over 80 per cent less than there. Inde-
pendent operators once established here
and with open competition the market
price OF lumber will advance materially
and the benefits 60 10 the smali holders
who are now at the mercy of the big
companies
The Lewiston Development Company
has by this step added another line to its
enterprises for the up-building of the
city. We believe in Lewiston and Lewis
tons future and show our faith by in
vesting our money here. We will use
our influence too to encourage independ
ent operators for the development of the
timber of the Clearwater country be-
their coming and great flu ure in the
deyeloDmen Mt of Idaho's rich resources