Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-04-09
CHAPTER ~.

Bryce's boyhood his father continued
TO enlarge and improve his sawmill
20 build more schooners, and to ac-
quire more redwood timber. Lands,
the purchase Of which by Cardigan q
decade before had caused his neigh
bors to impugn his judgment, now
developed strategIcaI Importance. As
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
cling 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 1t has a very definite
bearing on the story, the necessity for
explaining II is paramount.
Contiguous to Cardigan's logging
operations to the east and north OF
Scquoia, and comparatively close In,
lay block of two thousand acres
of splendid timber, the natural, feas-
ible and inexpensive outlet for which,
when II should be logged, was the
Valley of the Giants. For thirty
years John Cardigan had played
waiting game with the owner OF that
timber for the latter was as fully
obsessed with the belief that he was
going to sell II to John Cardigan at a
dollar and half per thousand feet
stumpage as Cardigan was certain he
was going TO buy II for a 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 hero. Bill, isn't II time we
got together on that timber of yours:
You know you've been holding II to
block me and force me TO buy at your
figure. I'll give you dollar thous-
and stumpage for your timber, Bill"
81 want dollar and half"
"a dollar is my absolute limit"
"Then I'll keep my timber"
"And 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
II through my land-and I'm not GO
ing to log that Quarter.sectlon In the
valley. Hence there will be no outlet
for your timber In back"
"Not going to log III Why, what
are you going to do with it?"
"Tm just going to let II stay there
until die. When my will is filed for
probate, your curiosity will be salts
hed--but not until then. Better take
dollar, Bill. It's good, fair price
as the market on redwood timber 1,
now, and you'll be making an even
hundred per cent on your investment
Remember, Bill, II don't buy you
timber. youll never log II yourself
and neither will anybody else. You'll
be stuck with II for the next fort!
years-Rnd taxes aren't getting an!
lower"
"I'll hang on little longer
~ think"
w think so, too" John Cardigan re
piled. And that night. as was hl!
wont, even though he realized that 1
was not possible for Bryce to gain {
profound understanding Of the business
problems 10 which he was heir Johr
Cardigan discussed the Squaw creel
timber with his son. relating TO hin
the details OF his conversation will
the owner
Bryce pondered. but isn't I
cheaper to give him his price on Squav
creek timber than 20 logging In TIT
San Hedrin and have to build twent!
miles OF logging railroad to get you
logs to the mlllr'
at would be. son, II had to buil'
the railroad. Fortunately. ! do not
I'll Just shoot the logs down the hill
side to the San Hedrin river AM
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 your
crnzy--llke fox. Now ] know VIII.
you've been picking up claims In tn
San Hedrin watershed"
mo, you don't, Bryce. I've nsve
told you, but I'll tell you now tht
real reason. Humboldt county has m
rail connection with the outside world
80 we are forced to ship our lumbe
by water. But some day a railroa'
will be built In from the south-fron
San Francisco; and when II comes, tn
only route for II TO travel is through
our timber in the San Hedrin valley
I've accumulated that ten THOUSAND
acres for you, my son, for the railroa
VIII never be built In my day.
doesn't matter. son. You will stu b
logging there fifty years from now
And when the railroad people come I
you for right OF way, my boy, Civ
II 10 them. Don't charge them cent
IL has always been my policy 10 en-