Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-01-25
LUMBER BUSINESS
OF GRAYS HARBOR COUNTRY In
The JANUARY TIMBERMAN.
Frank II. Lamb, of HOquiam. Writes
of This Section for the OreaOn
Timberman, on the Lumber Trade
of the GrayS HarbOr Region Dur.
ing 1905.

VI INC OrdyS HdrDOr Region Dur.
ing 1905.
The year Of 1875 was charac terized
throughout all branches of the lumber
industry by general and increasing pros
perity. The year opened with an upward
tendency to lumber prices and deter.
minatiou to increase the output and tax e
advantage OF the Increased demand,
which the mills foresaw was coming
This representation was borne out by
the course OF events throughout the year.
The demand for lumber, although what
might be characterized as good at the
beginning OF 1905, became by the end Ct
1905 the best the industry has ever
known, so that it was more question
with the mills Of selecting their orders
than it was Of securing orders at any
price.
The general prosperity and good times
which characterized all industries in the
year 1905, affected not only the lumber
industry, so far as it related to the saw
mills and logging, but as a natural con.
sequence extended to the price OF logs
and stumpage. Perhaps in no single
year in the history Of the country has
stumpage so greatly increased in appar.
ent value. 1t is maxim OF the lumber
industry that the profit of the sawmill
and the logging camp solely, is limited
to moderately fair profit upon the capi.
tai invested, while the profit arising from
the increased values due to the scarcity
OF lumber and to increased consumption
of lumber per capita throughout the
United States reverts to the stumpage
holder. This has been the law of stump
age values in all localities, but never has
it been borne home to the Northwest
lumbermen to the extent that it was
in 1905, and especially was this true on
Grays Harbor.
The upward tendency in lumber prices
throughout the year has been especially
fortunate and gratifying to the more
newly established mills; it has enabled
them to clear some of their Obligations
incurred for construction, and besides
enabled them to make expansions and
Improvements in their plants. Taking
advantage OF this on Grays Harbor are
notably the Western Lumber company,
which has prepared extensive improve
ments OF their plant, which will cost
approximately $4,000; the Dryden &
Leitch Lumber company at Aberdeen,
during the year have also added exten.
sive provements, increasing their
boiler capacity and adding new mach.
inery, which has not on'y reduced the
cost OF labor, but has greatly increased
their output the Hart Wood Lumber
company is also result OF the increased
demand and the prices for the lumber,
The company was formed early in the
year to take over the plant OF the Market
Lumber company, and large amo unit
of money was expended in completing
the plant and in making necessary i'm.
provements. so that the company today
has very finely equipped, medium
sized mill, and is manufacturing lumber
at a minimum of cost. The Michigan
Mill company, at Aberdeen, has also
added to its plant, installing planning
machinery and improving their general
mill. The Aberdeen Lumber & Shingle
company commenced the construction
OF a planning mill during the latter part of
1904, but most OF it was completed and
made in 1905. So far as in
creased output OF the har Dor is concern.
ed, however, the most notable addition
during the year OF 1905 has been the
practical rebuilding OF the mill of the
Lumber & Box company at
Hoquiam, SO that from being single
mill cutting about $4,000 feet per day, it
started up on the Sd OF January, 1906,
with a capacity OF 250, 0,0)0 feet for a ten.
hour day. This plant, und,r the name
OF the Panel & Folding Box company,
has been eXpending a large amount of
money in the endeavor to construct o"e
of the most modern and extensive plants
on the Coast. With the beginning OF
the new year they can see the end of the
greater part OF their work accomplished.
The veneer factory is practically COM
pleted and ready for work. 1t will have
three large veneer machines and through.
out all OF its appointments it will have
three times the capacity OF the old plant
this branch OF the business has proven
a very profitable one for the company
and the demand is simply more than
they can supply. The new veneer fac.
tory will also enclose under its roof the
general box factory Of the mill, which
will be in operation early in 1906.
The Lytle Logging & Mercantile Com