EASTERN LUMBER COMPANY
Portland
November 1899: “The new mill being erected by the Eastern Lumber Co., of which W. B. Ayer is president, M. F. Henderson vice-president and Philip Buchner treasurer and manager, on a tract of land in Sherlock's addition, will be in operation about the first of the year. The mill site consists of 14 acres, with a river frontage of 817 feet.
The plant is equipped with two Allis band mills, and have a capacity of 125,000 feet of lumber in ten hours. It will have everything of the latest and most approved style, and will be one of the finest on the coast, capable of cutting timbers 130 feet long. It is located on a deep water frontage and connected with the railroad tracks in the terminal grounds, and will thus have every facility for exporting lumber by ship or rail.
The main mill building is 52 x 300, two stories. The planer room covers 180 x200 feet. The mill will be furnished with three dry kilns, each 20 x 110. It took 48,000 lineal feet of one inch pipe to pipe the dry kilns, which will have a capacity of 75,000 feet of lumber daily.
The fire-room is supplied by six boilers of the most modern type, each 66 inches in diameter and 16 feet long.
The main engine is an upright twin engine of 650 horsepower; working pressure, 140 pounds steam, making 110 revolutions per minute; cylinders, 22 inches diameter by 28 inch stroke. The steam inlet, ports and exhaust are very large, as is also every part of the engine. The crank shaft is of steel, 10 inches diameter at the bearings and 11 inches diameter at the center. Its length is 11 feet 1 inch and its weight about 3000 pounds. The main bearings are 10 x 24 inches. The cranks pins are all steel, 6 ½ inches diameter by 7 inches long. The driving pulley is 11 feet in diameter and has a 48-inch face. It is made in two sections bolted together and weighs about 18,000 pounds. The main frame is built around the flywheel, is made in sections bolted together and weighs about 20,000 pounds. The engine and pulley complete weighs about 68,000 pounds.
The feed engine is an upright twin engine with 14 x 18-inch cylinder. No gearing is used, the engine working direct on the cable. The rope pulley is keyed on the crank shaft. Piston valves are used in steam chest as well as in controlling cylinder. These engines were manufactured by the Wolff & Zwicker Iron Works of Portland.
All the larger sizes of belting will be made endless on the pulleys. The main belt will be extra heavy double leather 48 inches wide and 102 feet in length, and will weigh 34 ounces to the square foot. This will be the largest belt in use in Oregon and one of the largest in the northwest. It is now in the course of construction by Graton & Knight Manufacturing Co. of Worcester, Mass. This belt, as well as all the belting used in this mill, will be the well-known Heart Brand leather belting.
Everything in the mill is as complete as money and brains can make it. The mill will be able to surface lumber up to 36 x 36 inches. A steam hoist mounted on a track for loading the cars with lumber will be among one of the many labor saving devices employed about the mill. Adequate fire protection has been provided, so that on a moment's notice the mill can be flooded with water. Aside from being connected with the city water system, suitable storage tanks will be erected and kept filled for emergency purposes and to supply the boilers with water.
This mill is a credit to Portland and its promoters and builders are to be congratulated on the success of their undertaking. The completion of this plant will give Portland four large export mills.
Mr. Ayer is also president and Mr. Henderson vice-president of the Western Lumber Company. Mr. Buchner, manager of the Eastern, was formerly connected with Wolff, Zwicker & Buchner, and has been engaged in the lumber business in the East.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
The plant is equipped with two Allis band mills, and have a capacity of 125,000 feet of lumber in ten hours. It will have everything of the latest and most approved style, and will be one of the finest on the coast, capable of cutting timbers 130 feet long. It is located on a deep water frontage and connected with the railroad tracks in the terminal grounds, and will thus have every facility for exporting lumber by ship or rail.
The main mill building is 52 x 300, two stories. The planer room covers 180 x200 feet. The mill will be furnished with three dry kilns, each 20 x 110. It took 48,000 lineal feet of one inch pipe to pipe the dry kilns, which will have a capacity of 75,000 feet of lumber daily.
The fire-room is supplied by six boilers of the most modern type, each 66 inches in diameter and 16 feet long.
The main engine is an upright twin engine of 650 horsepower; working pressure, 140 pounds steam, making 110 revolutions per minute; cylinders, 22 inches diameter by 28 inch stroke. The steam inlet, ports and exhaust are very large, as is also every part of the engine. The crank shaft is of steel, 10 inches diameter at the bearings and 11 inches diameter at the center. Its length is 11 feet 1 inch and its weight about 3000 pounds. The main bearings are 10 x 24 inches. The cranks pins are all steel, 6 ½ inches diameter by 7 inches long. The driving pulley is 11 feet in diameter and has a 48-inch face. It is made in two sections bolted together and weighs about 18,000 pounds. The main frame is built around the flywheel, is made in sections bolted together and weighs about 20,000 pounds. The engine and pulley complete weighs about 68,000 pounds.
The feed engine is an upright twin engine with 14 x 18-inch cylinder. No gearing is used, the engine working direct on the cable. The rope pulley is keyed on the crank shaft. Piston valves are used in steam chest as well as in controlling cylinder. These engines were manufactured by the Wolff & Zwicker Iron Works of Portland.
All the larger sizes of belting will be made endless on the pulleys. The main belt will be extra heavy double leather 48 inches wide and 102 feet in length, and will weigh 34 ounces to the square foot. This will be the largest belt in use in Oregon and one of the largest in the northwest. It is now in the course of construction by Graton & Knight Manufacturing Co. of Worcester, Mass. This belt, as well as all the belting used in this mill, will be the well-known Heart Brand leather belting.
Everything in the mill is as complete as money and brains can make it. The mill will be able to surface lumber up to 36 x 36 inches. A steam hoist mounted on a track for loading the cars with lumber will be among one of the many labor saving devices employed about the mill. Adequate fire protection has been provided, so that on a moment's notice the mill can be flooded with water. Aside from being connected with the city water system, suitable storage tanks will be erected and kept filled for emergency purposes and to supply the boilers with water.
This mill is a credit to Portland and its promoters and builders are to be congratulated on the success of their undertaking. The completion of this plant will give Portland four large export mills.
Mr. Ayer is also president and Mr. Henderson vice-president of the Western Lumber Company. Mr. Buchner, manager of the Eastern, was formerly connected with Wolff, Zwicker & Buchner, and has been engaged in the lumber business in the East.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
December 1899: “Work on the Eastern mill is progressing rapidly, and probably soon after the new year it will begin to make itself felt.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
January 1900: “Work on the Eastern mill is moving along as rapidly as the arrival of the machinery will admit. About March 1 the mill will probably be about ready to run.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
February 26, 1900: "The completion of the Eastern Lumber company's extensive mill and plant has been delayed by the failure of the steel carriage fixtures to arrive, but these indispensable articles came to hand a day or two ago, and are now being put in place as rapidly as possible. The mill will be ready to start up soon. Parts of the machinery are already being operated to get the bearings worn smooth, and the finishing touches are being given the other parts. About such an extensive and complicated a concern there is no end of things requiring to be adjusted, so that the whole will run smoothly as a harmonious whole, but it is probable that the mill will be turning out lumber within the next two weeks.
So far the company has been a large purchaser of lumber, and has laid out a large amount of money, but it has a magnificent mill and will soon have the balance of trade in its favor. The delay in completing the mill has given ample time for the perfecting of all details. The buildings are roofed with galvanized iron and painted, and the inside whitewashed throughout, which, besides giving a clean appearance, preserves the timbers, and is also a protection against fires. The mills when completed will include all the latest improvements in every department and will probably be the best on the coast. The company will use band saws, the same as have been in use in the mill of the Western Lumber Company, and which have been found capable of cutting the largest logs of yellow fir. Ample drying rooms and thoroughly equipped planing mills are connected with the establishment, and a railroad switch runs alongside the north end of the property, which will enable lumber to be loaded for shipment cheaply and conveniently." (Morning Oregonian)
So far the company has been a large purchaser of lumber, and has laid out a large amount of money, but it has a magnificent mill and will soon have the balance of trade in its favor. The delay in completing the mill has given ample time for the perfecting of all details. The buildings are roofed with galvanized iron and painted, and the inside whitewashed throughout, which, besides giving a clean appearance, preserves the timbers, and is also a protection against fires. The mills when completed will include all the latest improvements in every department and will probably be the best on the coast. The company will use band saws, the same as have been in use in the mill of the Western Lumber Company, and which have been found capable of cutting the largest logs of yellow fir. Ample drying rooms and thoroughly equipped planing mills are connected with the establishment, and a railroad switch runs alongside the north end of the property, which will enable lumber to be loaded for shipment cheaply and conveniently." (Morning Oregonian)
March 1900: “Manager Beuhner of the Eastern Lumber Company, has seemed several million feet of logs, ready for immediate delivery, when he starts up his big mill to grinding.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)