CLATSOP MILL COMPANY
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Clatsop County - Astoria
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Continued from: George W. Hume Sawmill
September 5, 1883: “Since the burning of the Clatsop Mill Co.'s property, the location of a new sawmill has been a matter of selection by the several members of the company. Alderbrook and Brookfield had been proposed, but it is probable that the site of the new mill will be that portion of the water front between Water street and Kinney's cannery, the building to face east. Plans are now being drawn and work will begin by the 25th inst.” (The Morning Astorian)
December 9, 1883: “It will take about 600 piles for the foundation of the Clatsop Mill Company's new building. Gill & Clinton have about 200 in place, and are driving the remainder at the rate of 35 a day.” (The Morning Astorian)
January 22, 1885: “The Clatsop mill company lost about $4000 worth of lumber at Astoria a few nights since. Their wharf broke down during a storm and the lumber went to sea.” (The Coast Mail)
December 24, 1885: “The Clatsop Mill company of Astoria shipped eight car loads of clear lumber to Salt Lake city last week. Low rates over the Oregon Short Line make it possible for Astorians to compete for the Salt Lake trade.” (The Coast Mail)
November 1899: “The Clatsop Mills at Astoria have just let the contract for the erection of a large warehouse on their yards for drying lumber. Since Manager Butzer has taken charge of the concern it has resulted in a steady increase of business and an enlarged output. Mr. Butzer is one of the most capable mill men in Oregon.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
November 1899: “The Clatsop Mills of Astoria are running ten hours a day and cutting about 75,000 feet, about one-half of which is spruce. The mill has a box factory in connection, which is operated night and day, and turns out 8000 boxes in twenty-four hours, and employs 175 men. The salmon and fruit-box business of this concern has always been a prominent feature of its business. Two new planers, furnished by the well known Berlin Machine Works, of Beloit, Wisconsin, have been installed this month. Quite a number of new improvements are being made, including a new shipping shed, where the lumber from the planers will be stored, prior to being loaded on the cars. A new switch is being built from the railroad track right into the yards to facilitate shipments. Alterations and changes are now being made to the dry kilns, which, when completed, will give the mill a dry kiln capacity of 60,000 feet per day. The box stuff is all put through the dry house, as the demand for boxes has been so great that it ha been impossible to keep seasoned material on hand.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
December 1899: “The Clatsop mill is running steadily and turning out as fine a product as any mill on the coast. During the past two months extensive additions have been contemplated and are now in process of completion, including a new railroad switch, planer sheds and the the installing of two Berlin planers of the most approved type. A shingle mill has been added to the plant. The shingles find a ready local market, and are also a valuable addition in filling mixed car lot orders.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
February 1900: “The Clatsop mill at Astoria, which manufactures more spruce lumber than any other mill on the Columbia river, reports business as excellent. This mill controls the second largest body of spruce on the Columbia, which places it at a decided advantage over mills less favorably situated. A brief visit to their mill by The Timberman recently disclosed the fact that their Eastern trade is growing steadily. They are filling orders at present for eight car loads of bevel spruce siding and a nice order for car siding for Swift & Co., Chicago. Spruce wagon-box material cut just the right length and width to fit an ordinary wagon bed; a lot of 4 x 4 40-foot dressed spruce scantling for windmills, and a lot of spruce porch columns, in addition to a smart little shingle mill, is among some of the specialties that this modernized plant is kept busy filling orders from.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
January 1, 1904: "Clatsop Mill Company, Astoria, capacity, 85,000 feet per day; completed a year ago." (Morning Oregonian)
December 13, 1917: “The Clatsop Mill company, whose plant has been closed since a portion of it was destroyed by fire a year ago, has disposed of its holdings to a syndicate, composed of western and eastern capitalists. The new owners will remodel the plant, erect large sash and door and box factories and be ready to begin active operations early in 1918.” (The Glendale News)
July 10, 1919: “Astoria.---The old Clatsop mill resumed operations Saturday morning after a shut-down of several months and will engage in the cutting of fir. The plant will employ about 180 men.” (The Glendale News)