Lumber wanted!

Reprint of this story from the January 12, 1900 issue of The Grand Encampment Herald brought to you courtesy of Grandma’s Cabin, Encampment, Wyoming. Preserving History - Serving the Community.

Crowded with Orders for Months Ahead. Good Opening for Large Sawmills. A Building Boom Imminent.

The past few weeks of spring like weather have been very favorable for building- operations and it is needless to say that the time has been well improved. The only restraint upon constructing buildings in Grand Encampment is the inability of the mills in the district to furnish the desired lumber. Three sawmills in the district find it impossible to supply the demand for mining timbers and building material although running to their fullest capacity continually.

This being the case it was particularly unfortunate that Rittersbacher’s mill was compelled to shut down temporarily last week on account of an accident to their engine - the blowing out of a cylinder head. Necessary repairs have been telegraphed for and it is hoped that the enforced idleness will be of short duration.

The owners of two of the mills claim that they have orders ahead for more lumber than they can cut for the next three months by running night and day. This does not take into contemplation the large number of buildings which reliable persons have promised to erect with the opening of spring.

These facts indicate great activity in the town and throughout the district and presages a lumber famine in the near future unless new milling enterprises shall promptly appear to relieve the pressure. Our present mill men cannot possibly supply the demand.

Two or three large or several small sawmills could find no better field for profitable business than in the Grand Encampment district at once. Teams and teamsters to transfer lumber are also needed.

In this connection we will state that the surrounding hills will furnish an inexhaustible supply of fine timber. All that is wanted is sufficient mills to transform it into mining and building material.

Shingle Mill Leased

Work Will be Started at Once to Meet Pressing Demands.

E. E. Quinby, one of our hustling contractors and builders, has leased the old Wagoner shingle mill and is arranging to put it into operation as soon as possible. This is a very commendable move as the mill has been idle for the past year and at present there is not a shingle in the country that can be bought. Mr. Quinby is an old hand at the business, having operated a similar .plant in Michigan, and promises to turn out a fine grade of quarter sawed shingles, the native timber being excellent for that purpose. The mill will be running in two or three weeks.

Hardware Moved from Doggett to Grand Encampment

Wm. J. Wernli has purchased the entire hardware stock and business of J. A. Fairchild of Doggett and moved the stock into his new building at Grand Encampment. A hardware store is a business that this place has felt the need of for some time and Mr. Wernli will doubtless receive a good patronage. The stock purchased includes a supply of miners’ hardware besides doors, windows, etc. Additions will be made to the new store as business demands Mr. Fairchild, the former Doggett merchant, intends to spend a few months visiting relatives abroad.