Ukiah Daily Journal from Ukiah, California • Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1950 REDWOOD JOURNAL-PRESS-DISPATCH, UTHAH, CALIF. PACE NTNJJ New Andersonia Mill at Full Production TWO VIEWS OF OLD RUINS. As Ihe years passed the magnificent had created a great industry in the midst of a vast forest. achievement of NeH Anderson crumbled in decay and became a heirs of the founder fought over the division of the property, the monumental pile of ruins to the memory of the man whose vision settlement which had sprung up vanished and the forces of the forest which had been invaded by man asserted Where wreckage of time once held sway a new industry now thrives and the forests again ring the old clamor of men al MEN OF THE HOUH. At Ihe left stands Sam Anderson, a son of Ncff Anderson, founder of the original Andersonia mill, and beside him Tom Dimmick, the man who has brought life again where ghosts oi dead hopes of iorty-six years ago hod held swuy.

Uvi) I 'lifiini 'S tliiit niii riDiii Hfiii- Unrboi (m llu' toust to Ihe mill. Miichiii- I'ly liiici U) CDMie in by It wii.s JKiiilfd by pulley up Ilif slcL 'p I to tin- Idifst pi-iniL Sown lliiiti'd StiUi's postolfii-u into i.alk'd Aiult'i- 'I'lip link' vill thiivi-d Hicw wilii jirciil riiiiidity. Only the finisl ol liiiichiiiery used It liaulod ovor the lilllp fiom the coast to thi' mill. Tile stiil, quet air witli the ol' tlie and orders of the mill bosses. Mill hands and Ihcir wives migrated over the mountainous roadbed tr.

make their homes in tlie various clcarinys eallid camps. Fences were qiiicUly raised to 'i slarteil in Kan Kraiiciscii whose eeliii was felt in the uoods III Andersonia! The rails ot Ihe railroad were uprooted and twisted. The stalled wheie ihey were, in tlie lieart ol WCMKI.S one is still then', a tree I'ldUiiU: up through its middle. The buyer Irinhtened. lie never signed the pajiers.

Once more the forest took back its own! Spideis crept over the six boilers which bad never held a drop of water and which later were dynaniiled out to iiiiike room lor a lonijiiu; road. Mold and rust, the insidious effects ol time, look tlieir loll of the half-million dollars worth of machinery. Poison oak crejjl the brick beds that held the boilers without a break out the deer. Gardens siJrann the years AERIAL VIEW OF NEW MILL. It's a far cry from the mill of two score years ago to the new-and plant which is now in operation near the site of the old mill, above the bar on Indian creok where it joins ths Eel river.

A new chapter is beiug written of the industry which'began as the Southern Humboldt Lumber Company, was changed io the Andersonia Lumber Company, then to 'the Indian Creek Lumber Company, and again to Andbrsonia. engraving Now "Humming Beehive of Activity In Majestic Backdrop of Stately Forest" By Marguerite Ross Davy NDER Ihc management of I Tom M. Dimmick, who has leased the property for an indefinite period, the Andersonia Lumber Company is once again ringing its siwmill song to nveryoiie witliii; hearing distance of the largest little mill north of Ukiah and south of Eureka. Situated acro.ss the Eel river from Pierey, it is a lumiming beehive of activity in a majestic backdrop of stately redwoods and slender fir. It will soon become more active when Tom puts in his double shift, as ho iilans on doing, now that he has put in the summer bridge below the mill and the danger of its washing out by high water is past.

This bridge was highly necossaiy in order that the woods boss can bring out the huge old logs from Section 1, which is the part leased by Tom, and which conliiins approximately fee; of purchased limber. Maximum Capacity 80,000 Feet The average output per day now is feet. The is ex- lieclul to reach when tlie night shin is added. The mill force will then between 45 and SO men, some of them local boys, and there will be between 10 and 15 men operating in the woods, inaking about 00 men employed in all. Most of Ihe timber sawed is redwood, but there is a small run ot fir also.

The mill usvs circidar type heatirig with two (iO-inch head saws powered by two caterpillar diosel molors, and has a Miimboldt IVIaehine Works edger. The New Manager Tom M. Dimmick, who born in Centralia, Washington, October IB, 1913, is enthused about the lumber business, thought in college, at the University of Oregon Tom studied journalism. After college he wont witli his father, A. A.

Dimmick, into the lumber business in Coos Bay, Oregon. That was back hi loan. He has been in various phasi-s of the lumber business ever since, and the more he sees of it, the more enthusiastic he beeomes. In 1948 he came to California and was associated with his lather in the Briceland Lumber Comiiany al Rrice- land. Al that time he bought the old Tiffany home Bcnbow and brought his wife and 10-year-old son, John, there.

They completely remodeled and re-landscaped it into the beautiful white house on the hill it is today. Being a neighbor of Stun Anderson, one of the owners of Andersonia Lmnber Company, Tom know of the mill shut-down of over a year's duration and was anxious for it to start again. Says Tom in his own quiet way: "I felt I'd like to see tills mill bMait again, and for that matter so did Sam. So here 1 am." Tom is faithful to his own men and has brought most of them witli him, though ho has hired, and wilt hire, local help as well. W.

C. Bulbs, mill superintendent, was with Tom as mill suporintondent when Tom was in Oregon, and Tom rates him as high quality limber for overseeing the mill work its men. Logging has started with two D-ll tractors and one skagit loader (donkeyi. Tom has his own Music! MusicI Music! The Independent Music Schools are accepting new enrollments in their local studio for beginners and advance students on Hawaiian Steel Guitar, cordion, and Piano. Further information at ROSS'S MUSIC STORE Slalo Cliurdi Sis.

trucking equipment and Kd Nys- Ironi of Picrcy is superintendent of logging opcvulions. The mill employs one wornan, Mrs. Evelyn Hewitt of Picrcy, who ads as tally man. Neff Anderson, Founder The history of the mill, which started out as the Southern Humboldt Lumber Company, changed to Andersonia Lumber Comjiany then to Indian Crock Lumber iiany and finished back to Andersonia Lumber Company, goes way back. Some 40 years ago Neff Anderson, an old-timer with great vision, dreamed ofa mill would open a new city in northern California, a mill thai would bring new life inlQ a iiart of the st.nle asleep in the cradle of forgotten forests.

He bought a strotch of virgin limber lo fulfill this dream. The tract of mighty timber strelched for 17 miles from wluil is now known as the Kcdwond Highway ibut which was not even surveyed as a road at that timei, a mailer of some 12,000 acres. On this stretch of mighty forest Hiowth was an estimated half-billion feet of limiber! Surely this would be the most important mill in the entire counli-y! Was His Dream Mill He nameil his dream mill dersonia. Then lie scouted around for 'suiUible partners to get Khirted. In lOOf) Neff Anderson, a man named Pollard, and the McPhorson brothers got together and amalgamated.

A mill site was chosen just above the bar on Indian creek where it comes into the Kel river. Work was begun. Tlie first tree fell with a mighty crash. Soon the woods rang with the sound ot saws and the falling of iiiighty redwoods. Ncff Anderson cho to build Ills home on a hill-top amidst some Iron Oak trees looking the mill.

There he likeil to sil on liis ljurch iind walch the men below, sawing, liammeriiiy, making the woods ring to the tune of the mill ol" his dretims Kxcept for few ol the largest al the base of the mill, all the liinbi'r lor the cook house, houses and all buildings was cut and hewn out by woodsmen using a very small mill tlial was owned by the pVlcKey brolhors. Camp Was Modern Streets were laid out; camps sprang into existence. Houses wi're built, hewn from the rough timber, some of tiif still standing and being used by tlie and their lamilies. A standard railway with like iTiagic. The once-lonely forest a fairyland of moving, energetic people.

A dam sprang up to hold the huge redwood logs in place. The mill was about ready lo start! Tragic End of Dream Ncff Anderson himself was there, ready to put the first mighty log in place. He stepiied up, raised help arms, then, like a stroke of 'Siilning the and feihr striking Anilerson a glancing blow on the head. Nine days later he was dead! The great behind the dream had stillsd. The mill never Opened! The forest went back to its own! Heirs steiiper in, fought over the went to law.

Litigations and law suits were instigated. The mill hands and their wives and families moved sadly saloon kecjicrs close'd The oflice (lied lor lack of business. Came the winter rains and storms wliicii wasiied out the newly made dam, ami fecn of limber washed down the river and was lost! Earthquake Adds lo Ruins In lUOli a buyer was found to take over the mill. The papers were drawn up, ready to sign. But early in the morning of that fatal day, April IH, I'JOO, an earthquake off to a good 4 Start A sure-firing battery sparks you off to a good start on your vacation or weekend trip.

Before you leave, have your battery and ignition system checked here. In a matter of minutes you're off to a quick, smooth start! WEBER BUICK CO. UKIAH'S MODERN GARAGE State arid Clay Sts. Ukloh. Calif.

Elemenls Take Over The huge iron wheel, weighing lUi tons, sat in its concrete base between the twin engines, silent and still. Deer close oiin- more. Wooel rats and glowworms took Tree barked and scolded over the silent, niaii- niaele invi'iilions. Krogs croaked without fear of disturbance. The moss, din and rust of 40 years lay over Ihe rotting mill and its machinery, when lliree Anderson brothers, the late Kcginalel, Siim niid Harold, grandsons of old Neff, took with a similar droain.

Finally in 1041 the mill once more rang with industry. Mill hands and their families into the olel houses ol 40 years ago. Tliey stayei-l there while new oiiis siJiang up from the newly-milled The i hiinber or cainpeil in tents on the their (loois. lull-tops amidst llu' dust and le of the forest TliL old mill was taken I. Ill and sold lo the United States loi' the scrap Oiiic more the woods rang with the busy sound of axes and saws.

niachiiicvy was installed; a new mill lose on the site ol tin' old. Now Beehive of Industry Once again llie old cook house b' Iched smoke Irom the huge old stove, still standing aiiel in good coiidilion. Showers were in- stalli'd; pipeil Irom the Lali'r elecliicily to Ihe mill and most of li pliimbim; be- (aiiie the A ueu. iiii )di 'iii Aiuii-r: iiiiia hiul iulo liemg, smoke and ure.isional nusl that obsiuied tli hill lop-: the nostrils. Trails made by mighty caterpillars, di huge logs to to yawning mouth ol Ihe I 'ver- iiidl.

ci isscrossed tiirough the The bar loaded with cut luMi 'ier KSHI.V lor use by the U. S. N.iev. tini le Sam was behind the ente'ipri: is The mill yard was and also part ol' the idatl. IJiiilges were laid and built across cre'ek and ri Sv.ing- ing bridges, liigli above the rushing streams, took the children across llie creek to the school house; b.ridges that hav'e stood the 40 years wiih but minor repairs.

These In idge.s cause the uiiw.iiy to waleli Ins or grow II.IPKIII;; below the leaping liiJUt. Gardens Bloom Again Once more sprang into existence. Fences wen; in a vain el fort to kecj) nut the eli-er. were made and Ander- I sonia teemed with activity, when I once again it siuit down to remain I down iiiuil young 1' im Diinniick, tlcppeo in to lease it. Young, anil energelie, 'I 'lim says with a grin: pleased with llie op.iall'nn and )itiii at tlii' oullook, lor It." lor the third time' industry lings fiijin the iiill' ol Andersonia INDIVIDUAL RECORDS Following are the miseellaiieous of Nitional League players who participated in 10 or niori" games in li)4'J.

Ualpii M. Kiner, Pittsburgh, led the league ill slugging percentage with mark of lifiH. Kiner also leel ill with and bases on balls, I 17. F.dwin I). Snider, Brexiklyii, struck out the most times, 92.

Thomas F. Holmes, Boston, struck out the fewest times, 0, for players in 100 or meire games. Andrew Ptifko, Chicago, was hit most often by pitched balls, limes. Conlon, New York, grounded into the most double plays, 24. PHEASANT COMES TO DINNER HKD CLOUD, Neb.

lU.P.i While most Nebraska hunters loaded iheir guns and walkeel miles seaii'hing for pheastints, Mr. and MIS Marshbaiiks stayed at home aiul bagged one 'ithout any efloit. The birel got off the bimm ,111 (1 cnisheel through living room window. EVERY DOG HAS HIS RIGHTS nOXOBEL, N. C.

lU.P.)—J. A. Conyers thought ho was lucky to be up a teli'phemo pole when he needed to call fe.r help. The telephone linesmmi didn't realize he hnel Wolf Boy's favorite pole until he s.iw the big German dog standing guard be'- low him. and the forest is being pushed to make room for the workings of man to be established.

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