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trucking being done through many feet of snow, they hauled in the niw equipment, and rebuilt that mill so that it started operations in the spring, an achievement unique in California history.

The original mill was equipped with two circular saws. In a few years one of these gave way to a band, and later the other went the same route, and the sawmill kept apace with progress, new and better equipment was constantly addedl until it reached a daily production average of 300,000 feet. The fire previously mentioned wiped out the mill and town. The mill, power house, lumber yard, dormitories, cook house, amusement hall and dwellings were all rebuilt at once that winter.

The new mill is practically a duplicate of the old, with

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The lumber is manufactured, but not dressed or dried, at the mill, but it is flumed in its rough and green state, sixty miles to the yard and planing mill at Madera. So far as known this also is unique, insofar as the fluming of the green lumber is concerned, but it is handled most successfully by a process of an original character as to bundling, handling, etc. When it is considered that 300,000 feet of lumber come by water down that V-shaped trough every working day it will be understood that this transportation itself is a wonderful thing.

After reaching Madera the lumber is taken from the flume in bundles by elevator chains, the packages or bundles are unclamped, and the lumber passes to a spreader which spaces the pieces so that it can be inspected and marked as it passes over a sorting chain. It passes through what they call their lumber "laundry", the only one of its kind in the world, where every piece of the lumber is "washed" under 70 pounds pressure. All bark, dirt and gummy substance is washed away, and the lumber goes to the planer looking as though it has been scrubbed by a wire brush.

Another thought: the Madera Sugar Pine Company lays particular stress on the fact that the immersion of their lumber in running water for trventy-four hours while traveling down the flume, together rvith the "laundering" under pressure, removes not only any loose matter from the surface of the wood, but likewise washes from the grain itself various soluble substances, the removal of which improve the quality and value of the wood. They call attention to the fact that back in the old white pine.days in Wisconsin, the lumber that was left for a long time in water was considered to be of better quality and value than the fresh cut lumber. because much resin and other substances were washed out. They believe the same thing happens in their operation at Madera, and they largely advertise this fact. The lumber at Madera is pulled from the chains, and distributed for drying by two electric transfers. The drying process at Madera is also unique and different in many ways. They pile it for drying so as to insure perfect ventilation, and they call their stock, "water cured, ventilated lumber". Perfect care is taken in the piling to insure plenty of air, and plenty of sunshine reaching the lumber. The piles are arranged to slope considerably. The stickers are exactly in line with one another, insuring straight drying. They believe that their air drying process is second to no other in use for drying California Pine.

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The planing mill, box factory, and remanufacturing plant are ds efficient as they know how to make them' Their box factory is small, and so is the remanufacturing plant. Theirs is what is known as a "plank mill", since they do relatively little refining. The remanufacturing program contemplates merely the utilization of waste incidental to the handling of the lumber in the planer.

They operate a chamber dry kiln at Madera. Sturtevant blowers draw- air through steam heated manifold pipes and force it through a main air duct into the unloading end of each kiln. The kiln is a progressive one. The green lumber is introduced at the far end of the kiln compartment, working its way progressively toward the end from which it is ultimately removed. As the lumber moves toward the end of the kiln the air conditions are less and less humid, the final drying taking place directly in front of the atr duct. The lumber is flat piled.

The logging operations of the company are located about Fish Camp, south of Speckerman Mountain, and have been for twenty-six years. The sawmill itself is in Speckerman Mountain Basin, three miles from Fish Camp. For the next ten years they will be operating in the Chowchilla Unit, in the vicinity of Signal Peak. The timber runs very strongly to Sugar Pine. The main stand has averaged 40 to 50 per cent Sugar Pine, 15 to 20 per cent White Pine, 15 to fr per cent White Fir, and 5 to l0 per cent Incense Cedar.

In its logging the company depends largely upon steam donkeys, high leads and sky lines being used. For short hauls a swing boom skidder is employed. Camp conditions are good, and the majority of their logging men have been rvith them long t€rms of years. The logging camps are about fifteen miles from the mill, and four Shay locomotives do the hauling. They are this year introducing their first caterpillar in their logging operation. It is a caterpillar sixty logging cruiser with Willamette double drum.

So much for the physical facts concerning the Madera Sugar Pine Company. If any great concern is but the lengthened shadow of a man, as has been said, then surely this concern is the lengthened shadow of Mr. Elmer H. Cox. He conceived it, promoted it, for many years operated it directly, and is now its president and general manager and guiding genius. It has always made money, and always been successful. Its product is sold in all the markets that know Sugar and White Pine, and everywhere it stands for the best of quality and satisfaction.

Lee M. Olds is vice-president and Walter F. Peacock is secretary. and treasurer.

Joseph C. Martin

Joseph C. Martin, "Daddy Joe," one of the most beloved characters that ever graced the lumber industry, passed away, on the night of January third. Death rvas caused by injuries received in an automobile accident. earlier in the same day.

Joe Martin was probably one of the best known of California lumbermen, and his passing has caused deep grief to all men engaged in the business.

He was just past seventy years of age, was born in Waterbury, fowa, and entered the retail lumber business in Sioux City, when he rvas twenty. A ferv years later he cane to California, locating in Lemoore.

Twenty-three years ago he took up his residence in Fresno, bought an interest in the Fresno Lumber Company, and to the tinre of his death .lvas the active manager of this concern.

He was a Past President of the Western Retail Lumbermen's Association; past President of the San Joaquin Valley Lumbermen's Club; Past Commander of the Visalia Commandery; was very active in Masonic work, was a Thirty-second Degree Mason and a Shriner; Past President of the Fresno Builders' Exchange, and, at the time of his death, was acting Treasurer of the San Joaquin Valley Lumbermen's Club.

He is survived by his r.vife, Mrs. Grace Martin, ttvo sisters, both residing in California, and a brother.