The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-07-30

the principal crops, aud reaching
back miles and miles on both sides
are virgin forests of these and many
other hard woods above named. But
it Is not on the slopes of the hills
back from the valley that the finest
and thiokest timber stands. But all
along the coast line beautiful timber
gr ,ws that is easily accessible for both
cutting and shipping purposes.
These timbers when placed in the
Manila market are worth, according
to class, from $50 to $500 per Nj. net to
the producer. They make the most
beautiful wood for furniture for
pianos and other costly and durable
Injuries, while their demand for
durable building purposes is not only
steady but increasing at such rate
that shippers cannot begin to Gil or
ders. Then thirk of the enormous
profit ii market were properly work
ed up in the states.
There are certain men in the coun-
try-few down here-wbo have gone
into the sawmill business and without
an exception, providing he or they
have been In for three OF four yaers,
are now worth small fortunes. | am
acquainted with two Americans who
went in a few years ago, four, | be-
lieve, and 1t is fact that the mill
paid for itself in less than seven
months. These men today are indie
pendent.
There is Mr.. Carlson here messing
with me, a thorough engineer and
mechanic, a man who has been all his
life a marine aud stationary engineer.
He has just set up a mill for some
Chiuos in Cotahato and | had the
pleasure of witnessing the first log
sawed. The mill is a success; every
thing went without hitch and in
consequence thereof these Chinos will
be wealthy in few years, If the thing
is run right. He is we'll acquainted
with conditions in the islands, the
coast line, the best districts for tim
ber, markets for same, prices of ma
chinery, etc., and is competent to
Judge in ALL such matters. Besides
all this he is man of high morals
and of strong character. We have
been talking the matter over together
and il we had the capital would go
into it Immediately. You know that
| have lived in timber country all
my life, have worked in mills and
have always had an interest In the
sawmill business. In view OF this in
tersst, and further, In view of the
confidence | have in the proposition
and in the ability of this Mr.. Cai lson,
would go in to win.
There is one of the finest locations
in the islands, just 60 miles south OF
here, in a little harbor. Here right
up to the shore there Is water enough
to float the largest vessel ia the world
aud it's location is right in the course
OF island steamers making their Iuns
between various ports. At this point
these beautiful hard woods border the
coast and extend back IN unbrokeu u
virgin forests for miles into the inter
ior. The land slopes to the sea, which
factor Is a natural advantage in get
ting the timber out.
This Mr.. Carlson and | are hard
working men without capital, but we
are both very willing to get in and do
at we can In the business, both for
any one who would try the proposition
and for ourselves. He leaves In few
days to teach In the industrial school
In Xsmboanga and as | still have a
year in the employ OF the government
| it seems like good time to start the
ball rolling. so that at least by the
end of the year mentioned the thing
would be all to the good. In fact Ii
you showed interest Immediately we
could both devote time aud energy to
correspond thereto, by being released
from our contracts.
Now, we have figured all this out
carefully aud have come to the con-
clusion, conclusion based on the
experience OF other mill reople in the
islands, that for a mill that would cut
from 80, 600 to 40, 900 feet per day the
original outlay would be practically
| ISlO, 900. OF course il there we're Sl2,
600 or $40, coo available mill could
be put up with relatively greater cut
ting capacity. Inc cost of the mill
spoke of above was $4,000 and that
WAS al, paid for in less than seven
months. There was no odger in this
mill either.
| Now as regards The market and fa-
cilities for marketing the tim Der.
There are at present two large railroad
concerns in operation in the islands
aud many more in China and the sur.
rounding countries These roads con-
tinusily have trouble in getting tim
Der and ties. The ties are worth
from 90 to rs cents gold each The
average output of the mill proposed
would be 1000 ties per day. Now
counting 40 cents pIoat--this after