Fifty Jobs and a Logging Camp Pull Newport Out of the Panic
A new McInnis Brothers logging contract south of town gives nearly fifty men six months of work and eases a winter of post-panic unemployment.
The McInnis Brothers have contracted to log about 4,000,000 feet of yellow pine, fir and tamarack for the Panhandle Lumber Co. The ground to be logged lies just south of Newport and is known as Section 36. In addition to that section they will log a quarter belonging to John McInnis, Jr., which is in the same locality. The logs will be hauled to the tracks of the Idaho Washington Northern at a point a little east of the trestle over the Great Northern and there loaded. They will then be taken to Spirit Lake to the Panhandle mill for sawing.
About fifty men will be given employment for nearly six months on this work. A camp has been established about two and one-half miles from Newport and John McInnis, Jr., is in charge. Tommy Hall has charge of the cooking arrangements. The opening of this camp has relieved the situation to a considerable extent in this city, as it has given employment to a great many married men who have their families dependent upon them, and who have been unemployed a good share of the time since the financial troubles struck the country. Ellsworth Miller has charge of the sawing contract at this camp.
The Fidelity Lumber Co. is operating two camps on the west branch of Priest River and Pine Creek, about seven miles from Newport, across the Pend d'Oreille river. They are now hauling from the woods to the river.
The Harry Saddler camp is in full blast and is being enlarged every week. The prospects are bright for the continued operation of the Coulter Buttons electric planer in this city. This firm had practically concluded to close down this week. However, they received orders for lumber that will probably carry them to the usual opening of the spring trade. The mill has been running about eight hours daily all of the winter. It would have been operated on full time but for the fact that the power was needed for lighting the city at an early hour on account of the short days. While the mill is a small one it is pleasing to know that it has continued in operation all through the panicky times and that prospects are that it will continue to operate during the winter.
The Fidelity planer started up Thursday morning with a slightly increased force. The company has been cleaning up during the holidays and making a few mouldings and sorts for stock.
The Gildea mill on the opposite side of the river from Newport is being dismantled. It will be removed to a point south of the city and will be operated with more regularity during the coming season.
Taking everything into consideration the condition of affairs in this district has shown a distinct improvement during the past few days. The prospects are that other camps will be opened in the near future, and things will be as lively as usual when spring arrives.
The goose appears to be hanging higher in Newport than for some little time.
“The opening of this camp has relieved the situation to a considerable extent in this city, as it has given employment to a great many married men who have their families dependent upon them.”
Newport's economy still lives with the timber-and-rail boom-bust cycle; when a single camp hires fifty people, it can steady a whole town. The article's relief over married men with dependent families echoes modern debates about rural jobs, seasonal work and the social cost of unemployment.
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