O. W. HURD
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Lane County - Florence
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February 5, 1900: "O W Hurd is considering the question of investing in a mill. Should he decide to engage in this business, he proposes to erect a new mill near his creamery where he already owns a site. This will make a still greater demand for timber and will mean more business of all kinds on the river." (The Eugene Guard)
March 21, 1900: O. W. Hurd, of Florence, is erecting a sawmill just above the creamery at Acme. This mill will be of about 35,000 feet capacity daily." (Morning Oregonian)
April 1900: “O. W. Hurd, of Florence, Ore., is erecting a sawmill at Acme. The mill will have 35,000 capacity.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
October 1900: "O.W. Hurd, of Florence, expects to have his new mill running by the 1st of the New Year. The building is 50x22 feet. The mill is calculated to cut 50,000 per day." (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
March 1901: “O. W. Hurd, of Florence, is getting his mill in shape to commence operations at once.” (The Columbia River and Oregon Timberman)
January 16, 1903: “O. W. Hurd, who is erecting a big sawmill on the Siuslaw near Florence, Lane county, has been in the city placing a big order with the Albany Iron Works for machinery.---Albany Democrat.” (The West)
February 20, 1903: “For over a year past it has been reported that O. W. Hurd intended moving to Florence the building which he erected below Acme about three years ago for a saw mill, and further that he would then put in machinery and engage in the manufacture of lumber.
Mr. Hurd returned a few days after an absence of several weeks, during which he made arrangements to carry out these plans. He has placed orders for the machinery for a large mill, and will immediately commence work of moving the building to his property in Florence. In an Interview Mr. Hurd stated that he would like to have the mill finished by July 1, or at least during that month.” (The West)
Mr. Hurd returned a few days after an absence of several weeks, during which he made arrangements to carry out these plans. He has placed orders for the machinery for a large mill, and will immediately commence work of moving the building to his property in Florence. In an Interview Mr. Hurd stated that he would like to have the mill finished by July 1, or at least during that month.” (The West)
April 3, 1903: “For for some time past there has been a dispute between O. W. Hurd and the Florence Lumber Co. as to the ownership of some tide land in front of Morse's Addition to Florence. About March 17 both parties began driving piles in the disputed tract, one to construct a boom and the other a mill.
Mr. Kyle of the Florence Lumber Co. through his attorneys, then began an injunction suit against O. W. Hurd to prevent him from trespassing on the land, and papers were served on Mr. Hurd Saturday evening.
The court is asked to enjoin Hurd from entering on this land and damages to the amount of $2000 are asked.” (The West)
Mr. Kyle of the Florence Lumber Co. through his attorneys, then began an injunction suit against O. W. Hurd to prevent him from trespassing on the land, and papers were served on Mr. Hurd Saturday evening.
The court is asked to enjoin Hurd from entering on this land and damages to the amount of $2000 are asked.” (The West)
May 22, 1903: “Work on O. W. Hurd's mill is progressing steadily. The piling for the foundation for the mill are nearly all driven and the carpenters are well along with the work of framing the timbers.” (The West)
June 12, 1903: "The new mill being erected by the Hurd Lumber and Navigation Company, which is near completion, will cut 50,000 feet daily." (Bohemia Nugget)
July 10, 1903: “The frame of O. W. Hurd's mill is all up now, and they can commence putting in the machinery as soon as it arrives.” (The West)
July 31, 1903: “O. W. Hurd's pile driver has been at work the past few days putting down piles for a wharf at his mill.” (The West)
August 14, 1903: “O. W. Hurd has a crew of men putting piling and logs from the Fisk place with his pile-driver engine. Judging from the number of logs they are pulling into the water each day they are making this new kind of logging engine a success.” (The West)
September 18, 1903: “The Roscoe brought in a large quantity of machinery and fixtures for O. W. Hurd's mill.” (The West)
October 2, 1903: “Another lot of machinery for O. W. Hurd's big mill arrived this week. The steamer Roscoe returned Tuesday evening from San Francisco with a full cargo, most of it being mill machinery. Among other things were a large engine and one of the boilers.
The steamer will make another trip to San Francisco soon, after the rest of the machinery and another boiler.
A crew of men are at work putting everything in position as fast as possible.” (The West)
The steamer will make another trip to San Francisco soon, after the rest of the machinery and another boiler.
A crew of men are at work putting everything in position as fast as possible.” (The West)
October 30, 1903: “The steamer L. Roscoe arrived here Friday from San Francisco. She brought another boiler and more machinery for Hurd's mill.” (The West)
December 18, 1903: “The smoke stacks on O. W. Hurd's mill are being placed in position.” (The West)
December 25, 1903: “Last Saturday the people of Florence had an opportunity to hear the whistle at Hurd's new mill for the first time. This week it has been heard every day calling the men to and from their labor.” (The West)
January 9, 1904: "For a couple of months past there has been a crew of men at O. W. Hurd's mill steady at work setting up the machinery and putting it in position for use. A large part of the machinery, including the engine and saws, is now ready for service and was started up Wednesday for its first trial.
Everything seemed to start off satisfactorily so some logs were hoisted on the carrier, taken to the saws and manufactured into lumber.
The machinery is not all in position yet, and t will probably be several weeks before the mill will run steady, but preparations for it are going forward rapidly and each step is watched closely as every one means another stride forward in the development of the resources of the Siuslaw." (The Eugene Weekly Guard)
Everything seemed to start off satisfactorily so some logs were hoisted on the carrier, taken to the saws and manufactured into lumber.
The machinery is not all in position yet, and t will probably be several weeks before the mill will run steady, but preparations for it are going forward rapidly and each step is watched closely as every one means another stride forward in the development of the resources of the Siuslaw." (The Eugene Weekly Guard)
February 19, 1904: “Work at O. W. Hurd's mill has been stopped this week, as Superintendent Phillips and several of the crew have gone to Eugene.” (The West)
March 4, 1904: “Work was resumed at O. W. Hurd's mill Tuesday afternoon, after a shut down of two weeks on account of the absence of Superintendent Phillips and a number of his men.” (The West)
March 25, 1904: “Last Sunday O. W. Hurd's boom below Acme opened and a few logs floated out, but most if not all of them were picked up and returned safely, thus occasioning but slight loss.” (The West)
April 1, 1904: “O. W. Hurd's mill has been sawing quite steadily and there is now a good quantity of lumber on the wharf, ready for shipment. A schooner is expected soon to load from this mill.” (The West)
May 6, 1904: “The schooner Albion went to sea last Saturday in tow of the Roscoe, and left for San Francisco with a cargo of lumber from O. W. Hurd's mill. This is the first vessel the Roscoe has towed out over the Siuslaw bar and carries the first cargo shipped from Hurd's mill.” (The West)
April 14, 1905: “The schooner Antelope came in from San Francisco Friday and will take out a cargo of lumber from O. W. Hurd's mill. This is the first arrival of a lumber vessel at this place for 1905.” (The West)
April 21, 1905: “The whistle of O. W. Hurd's mill again announces that work has been resumed in that establishment. Only a few men are employed at present, but a full crew will probably be found there before long.” (The West)
May 26, 1905: “Hurd's mill has not been sawing this week but is expected to start up again soon.” (The West)
September 15, 1905: “Last Saturday evening fire was discovered under the timbers of the boiler room at the Hurd Lumber & Navigation Co's mill. By immediate use of water the fire was put out before any great amount of damage was done, but had it not been noticed for a short time a serious loss would have resulted.” (The West)
September 22, 1905: “Yesterday morning while at work in the Hurd Lumber and Navigation Co's mill, Omar Wisdom met with an accident which might easily have cost him his life.
He was working in front of the edger and had just put a cant through when a piece was caught and thrown back by the machine, the end of the stick striking him on the floating ribs of the left side inflicting a painful injury.
The mill was immediately stopped that the men might assist their wounded comrade. Dr. Edwards was summoned and hastened to the scene to render surgical assistance.
Mr. Wisdom was taken home and his injuries examined. The doctor found no bones broken but there are internal injuries which will lay him up for some time.” (The West)
He was working in front of the edger and had just put a cant through when a piece was caught and thrown back by the machine, the end of the stick striking him on the floating ribs of the left side inflicting a painful injury.
The mill was immediately stopped that the men might assist their wounded comrade. Dr. Edwards was summoned and hastened to the scene to render surgical assistance.
Mr. Wisdom was taken home and his injuries examined. The doctor found no bones broken but there are internal injuries which will lay him up for some time.” (The West)
October 13, 1905: “Omar Wisdom who was badly hurt while working in the Hurd mill about three weeks ago, is able to be around again and will soon be as good as new.” (The West)
November 10, 1905: “The whistle at the Hurd mill began blowing last Friday morning about nine o'clock. Not much was thought about it at first, but as the sound continued people began to wonder what was the matter and quite a number started toward the mill to ascertain the cause. After a time the sound stopped, and in answer to an inquiry, one lady suggested that it was blown to make up for lost time as the 5:30 whistle was omitted that morning.” (The West)
November 17, 1905: “One of the business houses of Florence is now ornamented by a new sign which reads, Hurd Lumber & Nav. Co. General Merchandise.” (The West)
December 1, 1905: “The Hurd Lumber & Navigation Co's. Mill shut down Wednesday evening for an indefinite time. Their wharf is full and they have no room to pile any more lumber at present.” (The West)
December 22, 1905: “Considerable excitement was aroused in Florence Saturday morning by the news that the steamer Robarts, under the direction of Wm. Kyle, was at work pulling up the piling of the boom in which the Hurd Lumber & Navigation Co. hold the logs at their mill. Investigation proved that the report was true and that a considerable part of the boom had been removed, also that O. W. Hurd and some employees were very indignant at what they considered the ruthless destruction of the company's property. Nevertheless the work went on till only a small portion of the boom was left above the mill.
The property where the boom was located has been the scene of difficulty before. In the summer of 1903 a squabble occurred between Messrs. Kyle and Hurd in regard to driving piling thereon, both claiming the land. A suit was commenced by Mr. Kyle in the circuit court to restrain O. W. Hurd from entering on the property or building a boom thereon and to recover damages. A year or so later the case was decided and the court issued a decree finding that Wm. Kyle was rightful owner of the property and forbidding Mr. Hurd to interfere with his possession of the same. About this time a contract between parties was made by which O. W. Hurd agreed to pay Wm. Kyle the sum of $350 for the property. A boom also had been constructed on the land by Hurd to hold logs for the mill.
Mr. Kyle informs us that this purchase money has never been paid, although he requested Mr. Hurd at different times to attend to the matter; also that some two months ago he notified Mr. Hurd to remove his property from that belonging to Kyle. The land has recently been transferred by Wm. Kyle to the Florence Lumber Co.
O. W. Hurd left Sunday for Eugene and we understand he went for the purpose of consulting attorneys and commence legal proceedings. We did not have an opportunity to interview him and obtain his version of the matter.” (The West)
The property where the boom was located has been the scene of difficulty before. In the summer of 1903 a squabble occurred between Messrs. Kyle and Hurd in regard to driving piling thereon, both claiming the land. A suit was commenced by Mr. Kyle in the circuit court to restrain O. W. Hurd from entering on the property or building a boom thereon and to recover damages. A year or so later the case was decided and the court issued a decree finding that Wm. Kyle was rightful owner of the property and forbidding Mr. Hurd to interfere with his possession of the same. About this time a contract between parties was made by which O. W. Hurd agreed to pay Wm. Kyle the sum of $350 for the property. A boom also had been constructed on the land by Hurd to hold logs for the mill.
Mr. Kyle informs us that this purchase money has never been paid, although he requested Mr. Hurd at different times to attend to the matter; also that some two months ago he notified Mr. Hurd to remove his property from that belonging to Kyle. The land has recently been transferred by Wm. Kyle to the Florence Lumber Co.
O. W. Hurd left Sunday for Eugene and we understand he went for the purpose of consulting attorneys and commence legal proceedings. We did not have an opportunity to interview him and obtain his version of the matter.” (The West)
December 29, 1905: “A raft of logs was brought down from Hurd's logging camp, Saturday and stored in the boom above the cannery.” (The West)
January 26, 1906: “Logging operations at the Hurd Lumber & Navigation Co's camp on Hadsall creek have been suspended for a time.” (The West)
February 9, 1906: “The Eugene Register of last Sunday says:
Yesterday there was filed with the county clerk a deed transferring from Hurd Lumber and Navigation company of Florence all their extensive holdings, to the Oregon & California Lumber company. The deal includes a large quantity of land at Florence and at Glenada, besides large acreage in other parts of the county.
The right granted to the Hurd company by the secretary of war to put in piling and booming on the Siuslaw river is specified as a part of the transfer.
The Hurd sawmill at Florence and logging machinery of the company is included. The consideration named is the nominal sum of $10.” (The West)
Yesterday there was filed with the county clerk a deed transferring from Hurd Lumber and Navigation company of Florence all their extensive holdings, to the Oregon & California Lumber company. The deal includes a large quantity of land at Florence and at Glenada, besides large acreage in other parts of the county.
The right granted to the Hurd company by the secretary of war to put in piling and booming on the Siuslaw river is specified as a part of the transfer.
The Hurd sawmill at Florence and logging machinery of the company is included. The consideration named is the nominal sum of $10.” (The West)
September 27, 1906: "The Hurd sawmill at Florence is now the only one in operation on the river." (The Eugene Guard)
June 8, 1907: "The Hurd Lumber and Navigation company has a large force of men at work enlarging the capacity of its mill at this place. When finished the mill will have double its present capacity. This improvement has been made necessary owing to the increased demand for lumber in the past year.
The companies operating mills at Florence have experienced a great deal of trouble the past season in shipping their lumber owing to the shoal condition of the bat at the mouth of the Siuslaw river. At present there are several thousand feet of lumber on the docks awaiting shipment on this account. Several vessels are bar bound there now.
The timber values around Florence have doubled in the past year and at the present time prices eastern firms are buying quite extensively in this district." (The Coos Bay Times)
The companies operating mills at Florence have experienced a great deal of trouble the past season in shipping their lumber owing to the shoal condition of the bat at the mouth of the Siuslaw river. At present there are several thousand feet of lumber on the docks awaiting shipment on this account. Several vessels are bar bound there now.
The timber values around Florence have doubled in the past year and at the present time prices eastern firms are buying quite extensively in this district." (The Coos Bay Times)
Continued to: Oregon & California Lumber Company