The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-10-24

Employing some 20 odd men month
II, and dispensing better than $780,
600 among It's employees, the Great
Northern Lumber Co. Is one OF the
chief factors IN the prosperity in the
Upper Wenztehee Valley. Consid-
erably over = million dollars has
been invested By the company in this
locality and they are now planning
extensive improvements which VIII
ulaterizlize N Tire near future
The saw mill has a capacity Of
10000 feet daily and annually cuts
between 8. ODD. 600 and 10000 600
feet. A big part Of the lumber pro-
duct Is turned into fruit boxes, this
company manufacturing nearly four
million boxes every year, little less
than half the number OF boxes used
II the Wenatchee Valley This IS the
busy season Of the year and finds
the box and planning mill running day
and night The mill IN all depart
ments Is now operating on an eight
hour basis and paying the highest
scale Of wages ever recorded IN the
lumber business
The timber holdings Of the Great
Northern Lumber Co. are IN the Vi
cinity OF Lake Wenatchee. where they
own some 5000 acres Of timber
This insures them a steady run for
the next fifteen years and there Is
other timber available which would
keep them going for another fifteen
years At times in the past there
have been rumors that the mill would
be disTnanteled or removed to some
other locality. There need Be no such
fear. says Mr.. Scritsrleier. the gen
erzl manager. It Is perfectly safe 10
say that the present mill viii be in
operation twenty years from now.
AT this time the Great Northern Is
conducting six logging camps Of their
own and only few weeks ago an
agreement was entered into with 4
logging firm, which has taken con-
tract 10 put several million feet Of
logs into the river. Both the com
pany camps an those Of the contract
ors viii operate all winter. which
means that there viii be a big supply
Of logs on and for next year.
Next spring will also see rive dr:v-
ing Of logs again. Years ago the
mills supply of logs was brought
down this way, but after the compile
ton Of the logging road this practice
was given up. In addition to driving
the Wenatchee river, logs will be
brought in as usual over the logging
road. New rail equipment. such as
car and locomotives. were bought the
past year and from present indica-
tons the company IS anticipating a
big demand for lumber and boxes next
season and IS making preparations
for heavy seasons run, which will
mean operation both day and night.
There are now over 80 miles of stand
ard guage logging road and in all
probability next year win see several
extensions 20 tap numerous big bodies
Of timber in the Lake Wenatchee dis
trict.
The company has gone to consider
able expense in providing comfort
able quarters for their employees in
the woods and has special boarding
and sleeping cars which are portable
and are moved from camp to camp.
They are paying the highest scale
of wages and giving the men all the
accommodations possible under the
conditions II has been the policy Of
the company TO deal fairly with their
employees and TO make the working
conditions the best possible.
When. interviewed by an Echo re-
porter this week Mr.. Scritsmeier, the
general manager stated: we are
contemplating extensive improve
ments for the near future, work on
which viii likely begin at an early
date. However, as our plans are not
fully matured. / am not in a position
TO say just what these Improvements
viii be. However, we are planning
on busy season next year and it is
imperative that we make some
changes and additions"
"Our company desires the good
wishes and cooperation of the business
interests of Leavenworth and is will