SUITER & THURSTON
Polk County - Dallas
January 1, 1900: "The Big Saw Mill. ---Probably the largest manufacturing enterprise that Dallas supports is the large sawmilling plant of Suiter & Thurston. This large establishment employs in the mill and around the yard about twenty-five men, and a like number is employed in the woods getting out the logs. Their supply of logs comes from the mountain forests about fifteen miles up the La Creole creek and they are floated down this stream to their mill when needed. The daily capacity of their mill exceeds 30,000 feet, and the lumber is furnished in any quantities desired. They have in the past year many improvements, to their plant, the increased trade demanding it. Among the improvements may be noted a large dry kiln with a daily capacity of 10,000 feet. This has become essential, as their large shipping trade could not wait for the required dry lumber. They have also placed their planer in a separate building from their sawmill, having built for this purpose a new building eighty feet long and thirty feet wide. They also have a large lumber shed for stacking dry lumber, which is 120 feet long by 24 feet wide, with an eighty foot awning. Their Eastern business has increased largely in the past year, and they have just completed a switch from the railroad, one-third of a mile in length, so that now the mill is directly connected with the railroad, and the cars will be loaded in the yards. They carry besides lumber, shingles and builder's materials. Their principal shipping trade is in California, New Mexico and Arizona. Their lumber is first-class in every respect, which has given them a reliable reputation, and mail orders given them will receive close attention. Messrs. Thurston & Suiter are men that are highly respected at Dallas, and they are always among the leaders in any public enterprise looking to the welfare of the city." (The Oregon Statesman)