The diamond drill., 1920-10-23
HAD A CREW OF MEN IN WOODS
FOR the PAST YEAR
BIG LOG PRICE BUBBLE BURST
Information is That Log Prices For
Ford's Mill will Not be Out OF
Line With Others

Much stress is laid upon the origi-
nal purchase by Henry Ford OF the
Michigan Land & Iron Co.'S. lands.
This purchase is played up as a trump
card in putting the Ford interests on
easy street so far as timber supply In
the future Is concerned.
The Michigan Land & Iron Co. deal
was big one and gave much timber
lands TO Mr.. Ford but 1t also gave a
lot OF land upon which there is no
timber. In fact, we'll informed woods
men say that the preponderance OF
acreage Is In favor OF the non-timber-
ed lands in this purchase.
What the purchase did do was 70
get the Ford interests well anchored
in the upper peninsula timber section
from which anchorage they have
worked until they have secured fully
as much additional timber as they ac-
quired with the purchase. all OF II
timber OF the first quality.
Worked Quietly All Summer
The acquiring OF this timber has
been in progress all summer. Early
last spring Mr.. Guy Holmes OF Me-
nominee, one OF the best posted cruis-
ers In the northwest. was secured by
Mr.. Ford to take charge OF his timber
cruisers. Mr.. Holmes has been locat-
ed in the vicinity OF Covington, Bara-
ga county, all summer, from which
point he has kept crew busy esti-
mating and reporting on timber lands
within large radius of that place.
Some OF the finest timber lands in
the upper peninsula lie adjacent 10
that point In Baraga. Iron and Hough-
ton counties and almost all OF the
good timber that could be purchased
has changed from the possession OF
its owners of year ago to that OF Mr..
Henry Ford.
Nor, were fancy prices paid for the
timber, either. Those in position to
know say that Mr. Ford made some OF
the cheapest timber purchases. figur-
ed on stumpage basis, that have been
made north of the straits since hard
wood timber came into demand
No Logging This Winter
II is further given out that Ford will
do no logging this winter. II will be
well along in the spring before his
mill will be ready for operation and
when 1t is started up II will be on
moderate basis and for that run II
will be fed on timber purchased from
jobbers. ,
Log buyers have been about the pc
ninsula representing that they are
with the Ford interests. !
Latest reports are that most OF these |
parties are impostors; that the Ford |
interests have no intention OF boom
Ing the log market. To the contrary |
Il was given out during the week that !
the log prices paid by Mr.. Ford will
not be AT varience with those paid by \
other log buyers and this announce
nent has had very depressing effect
upon the spirits OF those who saw
N the entrance OF the Ford people TO
his peninsula the picking OF gold dol
ars from the branches OF the trees
III over the woods up here.
II is gradually percolating through
he minds OF many that there has
been a lot OF bunk told the people A.
bout Ford's intentions, with the end
N view OF working up the grounds for
'eal estate speculations.
The Importance OF Ford's locating
Il Iron Mountain Is very great. great
,r perhaps than is realized, but its
greatness is not from the fact that
great city is 10 be founded or a mad
OF money made but be-
'ause II points to the steady expan-
ion OF the first efforts to future op-
OF trade and profit.
All that is known Just now Is that
he Ford people will build and oper-
Ite saw mill OF the double band with
'e-saw type which means the employ
nent OF a couple OF hundred men. Il
To this Il Is quite certain that there
VIII be added a factory for the cutting
Ip OF the lumber sawed into pieces