Union Lumber Company Redwood O

Trail breaking, port finding, railroad building were just part of the day's work in the early years of the Union Lumber Company, redwood pioneers, whose colorful history covers over half a century.

On the occasion of his 77th birthday, February 14, C. R. Johnson, President of the company, in reminiscing about the old days with members of his firm, ran across an old picture of the company's first sawmill. Mr. Johnson operated this sawmill himself in 1883-84.

It was located on Mill Creek, tributary of the North Fork of Ten Mile, in which watershed, logging operations are now carried on to supply the modern plant located at Fort Bragg. Actual logging is still being carried on not more than two or three miles distant from its location.

In contrast to its first operation, the Union Lumber Company now operates two big and modern sawmill plants, manufacturing Redwood in California. These two mills are located at Fort Bragg and Mendocino.

The chief milling unit operated by this concern is now at Fort Bragg, which is one of the most modern and efficient mills in the Redwood belt, producing over 80 million feet of Redwood annually. This plant is served by rail, water and truck. Vessel shipment is made to California and export markets. Rail and truck service is available in California, while Eastern markets are served bv rail and intercoastal shipment.

The view of the present plant at Fort Bragg offers a real contrast to the early-day mill. It is modern in every detail and includes every facility for efficient production. The sawmill itself is equipped with three band. head rigs. The dry kiln equipment is of the most modern type, recently supplemented with 11 new units. This plant is strictly a sawmill and planer operation and not a remanufacturing proposition. The planing mill, one of the largest ut