Hungry Horse news., 1954-12-17
81 Area Lumber Output Sets Record

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Growing lumber mills and am
4 aluminium plant under constructors
results in Columbia Falls being the
top shipping point on the Great
Northern railroad between Havra
and the Spokane area for 1854.
The Great Northern depot in
this Flathead city of 1900 residents
dispatched 2,540 carloads Of lurn-
Der during the first 1115 months
of 1854 compared to 1893 freigAt
carloads outbound during 1888,
the previous record year. Present
figures compare with the year 1947
which was a record with 779 cars.
FOR ALUMINIUM PLANT
Building the Anaconda Alumni
um Co. plant resulted in 1854 in
coming freight cars totaling 1,909
for the year through Dec. is. This
compares with last years total OF
578, and the 1852 figure of 55.
Most Of the 1858 and 1854 cars
brought materials and equipment
to build the new AAC plant.
These figures on carloadings
were obtained from A. E. McKane,
Columbia Falls Great Northern
agent by way of H. NJ. Shapleigh,
Whitefish, division superintendent
for the railroad.
Columbia Falls present lumber
manufacture is viewed as about
85,000,000 board feet including ran
and truck shipments. This is suf-
ficient to build $500 average sized
American homes.
JOBS AND PAYROLLs
Logging, hauling and milling
lumber shipped through Columbia
Falls provided over 100000 man
days of employment, and payrolls
exceeding $3,000,000 a year. The
new aluminium plant payroll dur
ing construction peaked at 81, ,000,-
600 a month with over 1900 en-
ployed. During operations it is 10
be about $2,000,000 a year vita
450 employed.
Columbia Falls is presently
challenging Missoula as Montana's
second largest lumber shipping
point. First is Libby.
The postwar years have seea
the growing Flathead lumber in
dustry shift to the northern por-
ton of the county closer to un-
tapped forest reserves. Colunlbia
Falls, Martin City and Coram have
more than tripled as lumber CEN
ters. Whitefish likewise reflects
lumber growth.
q In terms of jobs it requires about
man a day in the woods ana "
man days in the mill and planer
to convert 1000 board feet of luna
Der into a product for shipping.
Thus Columbia Falls shipments of
85,000,000 board feet is indicated
as providing 100000 man days OF
employment or 800 men working
$50 days year.
EXPANDING MILLS
Each of the local mills has ex-
panded during 1854, and reflects
markets, and the age
Of trucks and improved timber ac-
cess roads.
Largest mill in Flathead county
is Plum Creek, which operates
year around, and employs 125 at
the mill with another 100 in log
ging, hauling and supply opera
ions. Plum Creek was established
n Columbia Falls in 1945. Expan-
;ion this year included two planer
additions and a new office build
ng.
Rocky Mountain Lumber Co.,
vas located in Columbia Falls In
948, and is presently completing
double unit dry kiln, and pre-
,aring to start complete remodel
ng of the sawnil. Employment
las been up to 20.
Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. at
Iearby Half Moon has los men at
he mill, and through the years
vas largest mill in the upper Flat
cad.
Superior Buildings Co. expan-
ion this year included a new
urner, new sawmill and Sawmlu
uilding. Fifty men are employed.
Largest new mill expansion in
ne Flathead this year is consid-
red to be Rex Brown at Coram
recting a completely new sawmin,
urner and heated pond. Among
.her mills in the Coram- Martin
ity area include F, K and L Lum-
er Co., the Martin City Lumber
o. planer, and Glacier-Coram
umber Co.
These operations that employ
yer 125 men have had a growing
sar represented by new buildings,
w machinery and larger opera
0ns. Shipments are made through
oram and Columbia Falls.