Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-09-09
uture of Lumber
Industry In Polk
County Is Assured

Monmouth, Or. Sept. with
the largest lumber mills and log
ging camps in south Polk county
in operation, an era of activity
which seems certain to continue
steadily for many years has be-
gun. The largest concerns have
purchased supplies to last SO
years, have constructed logging
railroads and equipped small-sized
cities in preparation for long
period of active operation.
The present inactive period In
the Pacific coast lumber industry
is held to be only temporary, and
while the period OF readjustment is
under way no time is lost in prep
arations for efficient manufacture.
Lumbermen in south Polk county
assert that a reimbursement of rail
rates is most urgently needed and
are confident that ultimately re-
ductions will be made so as to en-
able the manufacturer Of Douglas
fir to compete with the products
put out by the southern pine mills.
Valsetz Mill in Operation.
One of the largest and best
equipped lumber mills la the state
is in operation at valsetz, in the
heart OF the siletz basin. The
plant is owned by the Cobbs &
Mitchell company Operations
we're begun in October, 12O. The
average daily cut is 10000 feet.
Approximately $50 men are en-
ployed in the mill and about 200
In logging operations. Wages paid
range from the minimum of $500
day for common laborer 20 as
high as 5000 for sawyers The
eight-hour day is In effect at the
mill and in the logging camp.
The company's logging camp
has an average cut of 5000. 900
feet month, and supplies both
the mill at Valsetz and the mill OF
the Falls City Lumber & Logging
company at Falls City.
Timber for so Years.
Officials OF the Cobbs & Mitchell
company stated that sufficient
timber is owned to supply both
mills, at a maximum running ca
pacity, for period of SO years.
Logging equipment consists of I3
donkey engines.
The mill at Valsetz, which fs in
the heart Of one of the worlds
largest bodies of Douglas fir tim
ber, Is reached by the Valley q
Siletz Railroad company, a sub
sidiary corporation. The line CON
sists Of 39 miles of standard guage
track.
Every effort has been made TO
provide the best OF living accom-
modations for employees. Bunk
houses 10x40 feet are divided In
70 three rooms, with three men to
a room.
The company employs modern
lodging sanitation. House heds,
with white linen, are used. A
chambermaid service is employed.
There is running water In every
house, and all are electrically
lighted. There Is a large recrea-
tion hall and general merchen-
disc store at vaIsetz, which has
sprung up actively since opera
tfons In the lumber and logging
industry began last fall.
Faith in Future Shown.
The Cobbs & Mitchell COM
pany's plant, railroad aud timber
are pointed to by leading lumber
men in the Willamette valley an |
evidence of large operators faith I
In the future Of the industry on
the Pacific coast.
Another large operator which
has constructed a modern plant
In south Polk county Is the Fos-
ter Lumber company OF Nebraska.
The concern has erected plant at
Ritner, and has begun active log
ging and lumber operations The
company owns large body of
Douglas fir timber IN south Polk |
county. and plans to ship rhe lum-
her TO Nebraska for distribution
through its retail yards.
With steady operations now oe-
ing carried on, the citv of Mon
mouth, situated In open country
20 miles southwest Of Salem. and
which is primarily farming as:i
livestock country. at times has The
appearance OF a logging town.
frainloads of the finest SHetz
Douglas fir logs pass through Mon
mouth on their way to the mill at
Falls City. The logs are routed
over the Southern Pacific line by
way OF Dallas.
Ia addition to the large con-
Germs there are many smaller mills
from 1900 to so. 400 feet
daily capacity. which add eon-l
siderable quantity TO the total
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