Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-09-03
WOOLEN MILL
AT STAYTON
TO START SOON
(stayton Mail.)


woolen manufacturer, who recently
purchased the defunct Stayton mill,
came to town Friday and states that
he will at once reopen the mill. This
announcement is in keeping with what
Mr.. Wilbur stated was his intention at
the time Of securing the MILL Incl
dentally 1t forms the most welcome
and important bit of news which this
city has had for some time. Mr., Will
bur declares that he is here to stay
and that the mill will at once be put
in operation, probably within two
weeks.
The industry will be carried on un-
der the title of the Santiam Woolen
Mills, corporation capitalized for
$4,000 Mr. Wilbur is president and
manager Of the concern, and will
spend his entire time here, in personal
charge of the MILL The capital stock
is fully paid in
The mill property is at present un-
dergoing a thorough overhaullng un-
der the directions of j. II. Evans, of
Salem, an expert woolen mill man,
who has been assigned to the position
Of foreman. Mr. Evans, who has al
ready been engaged in the manufac-
turing business with Mr.. Wilbur for
several years, will remain here perma-
nently, and is arranging to locate his
family in Stayton.
For the present 1t is the intention
simply to put the old machinery Of the
mill in running order, and then dis
place II as rapidly as practicable with
new and more up-to-date models. Con-
siderable new machinery has already
been ordered, including mapping ma
chine, dryer and picking machinery.
These will have to be specially con-
structed in the east, and several
months will probably elapse before
they can be installed It is planned to
add new looms at some future date.
In regard to the number of persons
the mill will employ, Mr.. Wilbur stat
ed that probably not more than half q
dozen would be put on when the mill
first opened. Additions to this number
however, will be made as rapidly as
possible, and within three or four
months the total number employed will
run over the forty mark. When run to
its full present capacity, the mill will
give work to fifty people. A few
skilled workmen will be brought in
from the outside, but for the most part
Il is the intention of the management
to employ local people.
Mr.. Wilbur stated that the mill
would purchase all local wool offered
Willamette valley wool, however, is
only suitable for manufacturing Ger.
tain grades of goods, he said and the
bulk Of the wool used here will come
from Portland
The finished product turned out by
the local mill will command a market
throughout the United States, and also
in the Orient The Santiam Woolen
mill will be a manufacturer Of high
grade blankets, mackinaws, batting
and mattresses, and will be the larg.
est exclusive maker of wool blankets
on the Pacific Coast.
We believe that the advantage which
will accrue to Stayton through the op.
Grafton Of the mill is too obvious tc
need comment 1t is interesting, how.
ever to know that Mr.. Wilburn pur.
poses benefiting the town in every
way possible in the conduct of his en-.
terprise. In an interview this week he
said:
81 want the cooperation and friend.
ship Of all local people want every.
one to realize what this industry will
mean to the town. Once have placed
) the mill in operation 1t will never
step. When run at full capacity the
mill will turn out goods to the value
; Of $15OOOO year-goods that will be
shipped cut and paid for with outside
money that will be distributed here
I think the benefits of. the enterprise
speak for themselves"