The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-04-10
Career Of Frederick Weyerhaeuser

lex Weyerhaeuser
I tive ability Mr. Weyerhaeuser had
\ developed into great salesman, thus
i il was that the cost of production wa.
kept at the lowest possible figure un
der the management of the former and
the product Of the mill was disposed
of at the greatest possible advantage
by the latter
During those early days the log
supply was in the hands of log drivers
I 1t was business by itself. The tim
Der was cut. first on the Black river
and then further 10 the north, RATED
and brought down and sold to the
mills. This was not altogether salts
factory, and Mr.. Weyerhaeuser's bust.
ness acumen conceived the idea of &C
quiring stumpage. 1t was necessary
TO have supply of logs on hand all
the time to keep the mill in opera
ton at a profit, and this was not pos
sible under the old system. By ac-
curing the stumpage, and rafting the
logs. the supply would be guaranteed,
and there would be an added margin
of profit. He then went into the woods
and lived with the lumberjacks, ac-
quiring first hand knowledge Of that
business. He soon became an expert
in judging the value of stumpage.
Purchased Pine Lands.
While Investigating in this way he
became convinced that it would be a
good policy to acquire timberland. Mr..
Denkmann saw too, that his idea was
good one. Up to this time the tim
Der was bought along the streams. 1t
was thought that it would be too ex.
pensive to log where the operation
carried too far inland. Mr. Weyer-
haeuser took advantage OF this and
was able to purchase pine land lying
far off the streams at low figure.
He could foresee what others could
not. that modern methods and adj
vanced prices would make this tim
Der valuable. He could also see that
the time was not far distant when the
pine lands along the streams would be
denuded and the inland pine would
be in great demand.
When Mr.. Weyerhaeuser undertook
the purchase Of pine lands in the
north and took over the rafting bust
ness others followed in his wake. The
lumber interests along the river de-
veloped very rapidly following the
war. The demand increased with
leaps and bounds. Iowa settled rapidly
as did portions of the state Of Illinois,
and to the west the great states of
Kansas and Nebraska were opened up.
The capacity Of the mills were en-
larged. and the demands upon them
increased. The great river became
literally filed with rats from Its up
per reaches. Then came the heated
strife in booming and
rafting logs. This waxed warm and
resulted II, clashes between the diff
ferent companies. charges of stealing
1t was all very demoraIizing to the
business and resulted in much loss
Mr.. Weyerhaeuser interposes.
Mr.. Weyerhaeuser saw a solution or
these difficulties in the formation OF
logging eompany-a company which
should be composed of the larger
ana which would boom
all of the logs for all OF the owners
and raft them. AS a result the Mis-
sissippi River Logging company was
formed Booms were built at Beef
Slough and West Newton at great cost
but with ultimate saving to all. It
was hard work to get the warning fac
tons together. In the battle for SUI
premacy many OF the manufacturers
became bitter enemies. and it was
q ecessary to get them together. This
task fell upon the shoulders OF MIR. |
largely He was able
TO meet and pacify the operators.
When at last the company was form
ed the small manufacturers sent up a
great protest. Where did they come
in at?
Here, again, Mr.. Weyerhaeusel
showed his spirit of fairness. He in
sisted that a Just and equitable rate !
should be made for the. small mill !
oWneTS. 1ney sHouIu Hot DC IeIt OUT |
nor put out OF business. AS a result !
~ his arrangement these men were |
enabled to get their logs separated, !
graded and RATED at rate much less !
than they could do it themselves |.
It was delicate business, this sepa- |
rating, grading and pricing OF logs, |
and the task was delegated to a com.
mittee Of which Mr.. Weyerhaeuser |
was chairman and executive head. |
His fairness, and sense Of justice was
accepted by all To another it would
nave been hopeless task. The Mis-
,issippi River Logging company was
formed in 1870. In 1872 Mr.. Weyer-
1aueser was elected its president and I
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