Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1905-01-19
,NslON QUESTION
! by Prominent Tim
{ber Men.

Mr.. g. A. Rubedew and f. N.
Brown, Of Moscow, were in town
few days last week in the inter-
ests of the extension of time asked
for by the Potlatch Lumber Co.
for the removal of timber from
state lands purchased some four
years ago. When these gentlemen
arrived the matter Of extension
was very unpopular, but after the
question was thoroughly explained
to our business men quite num-
Der substantial citizens placed their
names to the petition asking the
legislature to grant the timber
company a twenty year extension
OF time. Mr.. Rubedew is one Of
the largest individual timber hold
ers in Northern Idaho, and in an
interview with the FREE PRESS
man made the following statements:
every individual timber holder
is interested and greatly in favor
OF the extension Of time for the
following reasons:
"First-If the extension is grant
ed the company will remove the
timber clean as they go and not
jump from place to place over a
distance Of thirty-five miles, there
by endangering it greatly by fire,
which is one of the greatest risks
owners of timber have to contend
with.
"Second-The market will not
necessarily be over-supplied with
manufactured lumber.
"Third-The company will con-
lstruct a common carrier railroad
}S<ot which any individual holder
iWstslvate concern cau ship timber
Ief IQpber.
j" Iourth- 1t will generally de-
x41qp now unproductive region" "
Mr.. Brown has been in the tim.
Der business all his life and for the
past four years prominent in the
management of the Clearwater
Timber company's business which
is confined entirely to the Clear
water section. He gives facts and
figures as follows:
"In consideration of the exten.
sion the Potlatch Lumber company
proposes to build a railroad into
the Potlatch basin and to com.
mence the construction during the
year 1905, and to have the road
completed within two years. They
will build large modern mill and
manufacture the timber in Lataf
county and that they will not con.
test the right of the state to tai
said timber. They will cut the
timber clean and release the lands
to the state as fast as cut"
Mr.. Brown a SO quotes Mr.
Henry Turrish, vice president Of
the Potlatch Lumber Co., as fol.
lows: "What we would like to dt
is go at it right and do what would
be handsome thing for Northern
Idaho, this would be to build ,
railroad IS miles long, east from
Moscow through the timber. W.
would clean up the timber as w
go, which would open up the LAM
to agricultural settlement - boil
the state aud other timber land
Somewhere up the road would b
built a sawmill which would be
credit to any state and something
Idaho might prize. The m il
would cost $3.50, 900 to $500, 900
The railroad would cost 50, 800, ,OOO
The timber already has cost u
) SO, 100000 Getting out the frs
timber and opening up ready t
run would cost perhaps a quartz
of a million dollars. The tota
immediate expenditure therefor
would be about Sc, ,00O,0 With
a very short time. We would d
this much for that part of the coun
try and do it as soon as we coul'
get at it-that is within a yeal
We were promised immunity fror
taxes on this land when we bough
it, but if the state is willing to ez
tend the time to forty years W
would be able to 60 at it and max
the most OF our bargain, and woul
be willing to pya taxes on the tin
ber we have purchased. We wi
give any assurance of immediat
work which may be asked. FREQ
erick Weyerhaeuser of Duluth,
one of the most responsible bus
ness men who live, and his integr
ty is never questioned. He hi
given his word, which is new.
questioned by reliable bushes
men. The company is ready
put up a cash bond. a certifie
check to the amount Of 500, 900 ,
enter into a contract to do the
things"
The visit of Mr.. Rubedew an
Mr.. Brown and their frank arg
ments have done much towar
enlightening the community {
this subject.
udahoo COmpanv Entertaine