A Lumber Company Builds the Ferry

At a meeting held this afternoon of the local Free Ferry committee with President Willis, Messrs. Torreson and Jacobson, of the Fidelity Lumber Co., details of construction plans for the ferry across the Pend Oreille were practically completed. The local committee reported cash donations and labor promised to the extent of about $1,000.

The Fidelity Company agreed at the request of the committee to undertake the work of construction and furnish the balance of the money required, which will probably run considerably in excess of the amount put up by our citizens. The original estimate of the cost was $2,300 and the committee expected to raise one-half that amount.

The Fidelity people are owners of a pile driver and other equipment necessary in the work of construction and are doubtless in better shape to do the work than the local committee. It is to the interest of the company to get the best possible equipment for the ferry and President Willis expressed their intention of putting in the best obtainable.

Ranchers living across the river have donated a considerable amount in labor to be extended upon the construction of the ferry, and their work will also be under the direction of the Fidelity company.

Messrs. Jacobson, for the company, and Mr. Ankerson, for the committee, were appointed to go to Sandpoint to attend the next meeting of commissioners of Bonner county to arrange regarding the matter of maintaining and operating the ferry.

Messrs. F. C. Krause and F. L. Wolf were appointed to take up further with the Blackwell interests the matter of the approach from this side.

During the meeting President Willis stated that the mill would doubtless be in operation by the last of May, and that it was the expectation of the company to run both day and night shifts. Also that the company would not, for the present at least, erect any houses for employees, and that practically all of them would reside on this side.