The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-07-30

bors to impugn his Judgment, now
developed strategical Importance As
a result those lands necessary to con
solidate his own holdings came to
him at his own price, while his adj
verse holdings that blocked the log
ging operations Of his competitors
went from him--also at his own price
In fact, all well-laid plans matured
satisfactorily with the exception OF
one, and since it has very definite
bearing on the story, the necessity for
explaining it is paramount
Contiguous to Cardigan's logging
operations to the east and north of
Sequoia, and comparatively close in,
lay block of two thousand acres
Of splendid timber. the natural, feas-
IDLE, and inexpensive outlet for which,
when it should be logged, was the
Valley of the Giants. For thirty
years John Cardigan had played a
waiting game with the owner of that
timber, for the latter was as fully
obSeSsed with the belief that he was
going to sell it to John Cardigan at a
dollar and a half per thousand feet
stumpage as Cardigan was certain he
was going to buy it for dollar a
thouSand-when he should be ready
to do so and not one second sooner.
Eventually the time for acquiring
more timber arrived. John Cardigan,
meeting his neighbor on the street,
accosted him thus:
"Look here, Bill, isn't it time we
got together on that timber of yours ?
You know you've been holding it to
block me and force me to buy at your
figure. I'll give you dollar a thous-
and stumpage for your timber, Bill"
~ want dollar and half"
"a dollar is my absolute limit"
''Then I'll keep my timber"
Sand I'll keep my money. When
/ finish logging in my present hold
ings, I'm going to pull out of that
country and log twenty miles south
of Sequoia. Remember, Bill, the man
who buys your timber will have to log
it through my -land-and I'm not GO
ing to log that Quarter-section in the
valley. Hence there will be no outlet
for your timber in back"
'Not going to log it? Why, what
are you going to do with it?"
'I'm just going to let it stay there
until die, When my will is filed for
probate, your curiosity will be salts
fied-but not until then. Better take
dollar, Bill. It's good, fair price,
as the market on redwood timber is
now, and you'll be making an even
hundred per cent. on your investment.
Remember, Bill, If don't buy your
timber, you'll never log it yourself
and neither will anybody else. You'll
be stuck with it for the next forty
years-and taxes aren't getting any
lower"
'Tll hang on little longer,
think"
II think so, too," John Cardigan re-
piled. And that night, as was his
wont, even though he realized that it
was not possible for Bryce to gain a
profound understanding of the business
problems to which he was heir, John
Cardigan discussed the Squaw creek
timber with his son, relating to him
the details Of his conversation with
the owner.
Bryce pOndered. "But isn't 1t
cheaper to give him his price on Squaw
hon 1no0ino N tho
San Hedrin and have to build twenty
miles Of logging railroad to get your
logs to the mill?"
at would be, son, If had to build
the railroad. Fortunately, I do not.
I'll just shoot the logs down the hill
side to the San Hedrin river and
drive them down the stream to log
boom on tidewater"
Bryce looked at his father admir-
ingly. II guess Dan Reyes is right,
Dad" he said. Dan says you're
clazy-like q fox. Now / know why
you've been picking up claims in the
San Hedrin watershed"
mo, you don't, Bryce. I've never
told you, but I'll tell you now the
real reason. Humboldt county has no
rail connection with the outside world,
so we are forced to ship our lumber
by water. But some day a railroad
will be built in from the south-from
San Francisco; and when it comes, the
only route for 1t to travel is through
our timber in the San Hedrin valley.
I've accumulated that ten thousand
acres for you, my son, for the railroad
will never be built in my day. 1t
doesn't matter, son. You will still be
logging there fifty years from now.
And when the railroad people come to
you for right of way, my boy, give
it to them. Don't charge them a cent.
1t has always been my policy to en-
courage the development Of this
county, and want you to be for
ward-looking, public-spirited citizen.
That's why I'm sending you East to
college. You've been born and raised
in this town. and you must see more
of the world. Listen to me, SON.
You're only boy. and you can't UNI
derstand everything tell you, but
some day understanding viii come to
you. You mustn't fail the people who
work for you-who are dependent upon
your strength and brains and enter
prise to furnish them with an oppor-
tunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness. When you are the boss
of Cardigan'S mill you muSt keen the
wheels turning; you must never shut
down the mill or the logging camps
in dull times just to avoid loss you
can stand better than your employees"
His hard. trembling old hand closed
over the boys. II want you to be a