PILOT BUTTE DEVELOPMENT CO.
Bend
January 2, 1901: "An up-to-date saw mill, with modern appliances for the manufacture of commercial lumber of all kinds that are in demand in that section, is now under construction, an electric plant, general store, hotel, and school, will be erected within a short time." (Crook County Journal)
November 1909: "Pilot Butte Development Co.'s sawmill, at Bend, has resumed operations after a shut down of nearly a year." (The Timberman, Vol. 11, 1909-10)
April 27, 1910: "On Saturday morning the lumber mill of the Pilot Butte Development Company was destroyed by fire. The mill itself was a total loss, nothing being rescued except some office papers and property. All the lumber in the yards, however, approximating some 300,000 feet, was saved, as was the dry kiln, which had been installed the preceding week.
The blaze started in the engine room at about 9:30 a. m. and before it was possible even to give the alarm the flames had licked up the inflammable dust and dry timbers and the whole structure was afire. The alarm immediately was sent to the Bend office by telephone, but long before help arrived the working force of 40 men had been forced to abandon the mill, which in 10 minutes practically was destroyed.
In a remarkably short time a hundred and more men gathered to fight fire, all of whom turned to, ripping up the wooden tramways which connected the burning structure with the lumber piled in the yards, the dry kiln and sheds. Even with the big force removing these tramways at the double quick the fire would probably have spread to the piled lumber before the trams could have been removed had not the strong westerly breeze backed the flames towards the river, lessening the danger to the yards. With the exception of perhaps 20,000 feet of lumber piled close to the mill, every bit in the yards was saved, as was the dry kiln.
It is estimated that the loss of property was about $10,000, nearly half being covered by insurance. No blame whatever is attached to the disaster, and great credit is due to those energy and head work saved so much valuable property. The fire originated from one of those unexplained accidents which at all times are likely to occur in milling, while everything within the power of those present was done to check it.
Entirely contrary to a report which was found its way into one of the Portland papers, the destruction of the mill, while of course hampering somewhat local building, will not seriously affect construction activity in Bend. In addition to the big supply of lumber saved, the Pilot Butte company has arranged with the Hightower-Smith mill to receive from the latter ample lumber to meet all local demands. It is understood that the H.-S. company has been most generous in their willingness to offset and difficulty to Bend builders which might arise from the loss of the mill, supplying the needs of the moment at no small sacrifice to their own trade.
That Bend will be without a mill but for a very brief period is the announcement made by the Pilot Butte Development Co. It is authoritatively stated that within 30 days another mill will be cutting lumber on the site of the old. Definite milling plans, however, will not be forthcoming until next week and in the meantime ample supply to meet the entire local demand is assured.
A. M. Drake, at the head of the Pilot Butte Development Company, is the owner of the destroyed mill, which he built six years ago. Immediately after the fire, Mr. Drake, who is in Pasadena, California, was notified by wire, and it is expected that he will return to Bend by the end of the week. During the last month the mill has been operated under the direction of C. I. Bozell, a Portland mill man, and extensive repairs and improvements in it equipment affected. Its daily cutting capacity was about 30,000 feet. Many of the force of men temporarily thrown out of work have been employed by the Bend Townsite Company in clearing up the streets and lots of the townsite additions and making other improvements." (The Bend Bulletin)
The blaze started in the engine room at about 9:30 a. m. and before it was possible even to give the alarm the flames had licked up the inflammable dust and dry timbers and the whole structure was afire. The alarm immediately was sent to the Bend office by telephone, but long before help arrived the working force of 40 men had been forced to abandon the mill, which in 10 minutes practically was destroyed.
In a remarkably short time a hundred and more men gathered to fight fire, all of whom turned to, ripping up the wooden tramways which connected the burning structure with the lumber piled in the yards, the dry kiln and sheds. Even with the big force removing these tramways at the double quick the fire would probably have spread to the piled lumber before the trams could have been removed had not the strong westerly breeze backed the flames towards the river, lessening the danger to the yards. With the exception of perhaps 20,000 feet of lumber piled close to the mill, every bit in the yards was saved, as was the dry kiln.
It is estimated that the loss of property was about $10,000, nearly half being covered by insurance. No blame whatever is attached to the disaster, and great credit is due to those energy and head work saved so much valuable property. The fire originated from one of those unexplained accidents which at all times are likely to occur in milling, while everything within the power of those present was done to check it.
Entirely contrary to a report which was found its way into one of the Portland papers, the destruction of the mill, while of course hampering somewhat local building, will not seriously affect construction activity in Bend. In addition to the big supply of lumber saved, the Pilot Butte company has arranged with the Hightower-Smith mill to receive from the latter ample lumber to meet all local demands. It is understood that the H.-S. company has been most generous in their willingness to offset and difficulty to Bend builders which might arise from the loss of the mill, supplying the needs of the moment at no small sacrifice to their own trade.
That Bend will be without a mill but for a very brief period is the announcement made by the Pilot Butte Development Co. It is authoritatively stated that within 30 days another mill will be cutting lumber on the site of the old. Definite milling plans, however, will not be forthcoming until next week and in the meantime ample supply to meet the entire local demand is assured.
A. M. Drake, at the head of the Pilot Butte Development Company, is the owner of the destroyed mill, which he built six years ago. Immediately after the fire, Mr. Drake, who is in Pasadena, California, was notified by wire, and it is expected that he will return to Bend by the end of the week. During the last month the mill has been operated under the direction of C. I. Bozell, a Portland mill man, and extensive repairs and improvements in it equipment affected. Its daily cutting capacity was about 30,000 feet. Many of the force of men temporarily thrown out of work have been employed by the Bend Townsite Company in clearing up the streets and lots of the townsite additions and making other improvements." (The Bend Bulletin)
August 6, 1910: "The sawmill of the Pilot Butte Development company, located here is now cutting lumber, the old mill having been destroyed by fire on April 23. The new plant erected since then is much better and has a capacity of 30,000 feet daily. The company recently built a dry kiln, which is operated in connection with the sawmill. The destruction of the old plant came at a time when there was a brisk demand for lumber, as a building boom of no mean proportion was in progress at that time. While the loss of the mill temporarily halted some of this activity, it did not stop it entirely, and the buildings under construction at the time of the fire and a few others have been completed since the mill burned. It is understood that a number of buildings both in the town and in the surrounding country have been waiting for the plant to resume operations, and construction on these will be started at once." (East Oregonian)