Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1903-08-21
DALLAS BIG SAWMILL
Many Expensive Improvements Are
Being Made to Plant This
Summer.


entire plant is undergoing steady
transformation, with the result that
the capacity of the mill is being
rapidly increased. No new machinery
has been added recently, but every
thing has been so conveniently ar
ranged that a greatly increased daily
output of lumber is possible. When
the mill was built few years ago,
machinery for daily capacity OF
SO, ,OCO feet was installed. The addition
of gang edger a few months later
gave the plant a capacity of something
like IS. 900 feet, With this same equip
ment there has scarcely been q day
this Summer when the output has
fallen below 40, 900 feet, and in a recent
day Of 10 hours the cut reached the
enormous total of $4,000 feet Active
preparation is now under way to en-
large the mill and make the daily
capacity still larger.
Much work of a substantial charac-
ter has been done upon the LaCreole
creek this Summer In the way OF
strengthening the banks, deepening
the channel, blasting out rocks, and
improving the flood dams. The mar
row chasm, familiarly known as '"The
Gorge" in the mountains twelve miles
west Of town, has been blasted out
and widened, and the tortuous channel
of the LaCreole at that point has been
Strengthened, until the loggers no
longer find there the annoying OBJ
stacle which at one time caused much
worry and expense in floating logs
down to the mill. The stream has
been improved In other places, par
ticularly at point on the Cutler farm
near town, where large amount of
cribbing has been put In.
The banks of the log pond at the
mill have been raised and strengthen
ed, and of late much work has been
done in clearing the pond of trees and
driftwood that have been foated in
with the logs. The race leading from
the creek to the pond has been deep
ened and widened by the continuous
flooding of logs until it has an average
width of probably 20 feet from bank
to bank and is deep enough in most
places to float a large log, even at the
present low stage of water. The new
headgate is built in such manner as
to make the work of regulating the
passage of logs into the pond much
easier than formerly.
The Company has purchased from
Mrs. HI. L. Veazie the tract of land
lying between the south end of the
pond and the City Park, and will con-
vert the same into additional pond
room. A force of men and teams will
begin the excavation in the near
future. The LaCreole makes short
bend at this point, and of late years
the stream has been making serious
encroachments upon the north bank
in seasons Of high water. A sub
stantial crib will be built to protect
the pond and prevent the washing
away of any more of this valuable
land. The lumber for the crib is
on the ground. The enlarged
pond will fill long-felt want by CIV
ing the company much better facilities
for the storing and handling of logs.
The flood-dams in the LaCreole are
being put in the best of shape for the
Fall and Winter run of logs, and
every precaution is being taken to
protect them from the effects of high
water. Manager johnson informs us
hat the old dam below the mouth of
Laurel creek will be removed and
arger and better one built in its
place. The new dam will be built
to the latest approved plans
or structures of this class, and will
,e provided with what is known as a
gate. This gate is sim
lie in in its construction, and has
many points of superiority over the
'ld-style "splash-board' gate. 1t can
,e operated by one man, and is easily
nd quickly lowered or raised at any
tage of water. There is absolutely !
10 danger connected with its opera j
ion, and the expense of keeping it in
epair is small.
A large amount Of new machinery
as been ordered by the company, and ]
yill be placed in position before the
Winter season begins. Probably the
lost useful, and, at the same time :
lost expensive, machine included in {
ne order is a new 150-horse- power s
ogging engine, which is to take the
lace of the light engine now being
sed in the mountains. This engine |
as a double cylinder and double
rum, and will operate one mile of
able. By its use, the largest and :
,ngest logs can be easily handled.
In addition to the three boilers and {
lie monster four-valve engine now in 7
Sc, 110-horse boiler and 55- v
orse engine will be installed to drive
lie present planer and another which \
to be added at once. To accommo- {
ate the two planers, larger planer 9
ned will be built. A new eonveyer
ill carry the dust and shavings
cross the pond, a distance Of several F
lndred feet where they will be o
armed. The company is constantly j
the ground that has been !,
ashed away by the LaCreole in o
.ooD4 x-oors NT,,ob 1-or5 ,.oon, hoe