The Lumber Industry Consolidation at Port Hadlock

B. Kendrick, resident manager of the Washington Mill Company, Mr. Davis, late foreman in the Seabeek mill, and Mr. Harlow, master mechanic of the Washington Mill Company, left Seabeek on the steamer Louise, Thursday evening for Port Hadlock, for the purpose, as stated, of taking charge of the Port Hadlock mill property near Port Townsend. In speaking of the purchase of this mill by the Washington Mill Company, a man well posted in such matters said: 'The Port Hadlock Company have lost at least one dollar per thousand on all the lumber they have cut, and are at its mercy to sell the property. W. J. Adams can take the mill and make money with it.' Captain Edwards, of the barkentine G. M. Griffith, who is a confidential friend of Mr. Adams, and has sailed in his employ for fifteen or twenty years, in speaking of the matter last evening, said: 'I have just received a letter from Mr. Adams, in which he states that his object in buying the Port Hadlock mill is to enable the Washington Company to cut its own lumber; that as long as they are compelled to buy cargoes they stand in the position of middlemen; that with the Port Hadlock mill, the Seabeek mill can be built at leisure, and at a saving of at least $10,000; that the Washington Company is in the lumber business to stay, and a company so situated cannot own too many sawmills in this latitude.' The Captain further stated that while it was Mr. Adams’ intention to rebuild the Seabeek mill, he will not be in such great haste to have it completed, and may not commence cutting lumber there again before the middle of next summer.