CENTRAL SAWMILL COMPANY
St. Johns
September 3, 1903: "The wind whistles through the unoccupied electric sawmill of the Central Sawmill Company at St. Johns, and the hum of the motors and roar of the saws as they tear their way through the big logs are not heard. Indeed, it has been nearly a month since smoke was seen coming from the smokestack of the powerhouse. Soon after the electric motors were placed in position, a test run was made and some big logs, that had been discarded by Portland mills, were worked up into lumber. Apparently the electric sawmill, the only one of the sort in the world, was a success. It only needed a few changes and improvements to become perfect. The mill was operated off and on for a few weeks, and then all hands were discharged, and since then nothing has been done with it.
The impression in St. Johns is that it is not a success, and that it will not be operated. Councilman C. D. Hughes said yesterday that M. B. Rankin, president of the Central Sawmill Company, had intimated to him that the site of the mill would be a good place for a smelter.
The St. Johns Council vacated some streets without reservation for the use of the company. The streets are vacated whether the mill is operated or not. The people of St. Johns want to encourage manufacturers, but in this case a good many seem to think they have received a gold brick. The concessions made in the vacation of streets are valuable as water front land is held in St. Johns. All old sawmill men who have examined the electric plant always shook their heads and said it would not work, but the company showed its confidence by spending about $20,000 in the erection of the mill. This will not be a total loss in case the mill is not a success, but the people of St. Johns would like to know what the owners intend to do with the plant." (Morning Oregonian)
The impression in St. Johns is that it is not a success, and that it will not be operated. Councilman C. D. Hughes said yesterday that M. B. Rankin, president of the Central Sawmill Company, had intimated to him that the site of the mill would be a good place for a smelter.
The St. Johns Council vacated some streets without reservation for the use of the company. The streets are vacated whether the mill is operated or not. The people of St. Johns want to encourage manufacturers, but in this case a good many seem to think they have received a gold brick. The concessions made in the vacation of streets are valuable as water front land is held in St. Johns. All old sawmill men who have examined the electric plant always shook their heads and said it would not work, but the company showed its confidence by spending about $20,000 in the erection of the mill. This will not be a total loss in case the mill is not a success, but the people of St. Johns would like to know what the owners intend to do with the plant." (Morning Oregonian)