From Lane Co Oregon

Daily Eugene Guard 1900

Contents 1 January 2 February 3 March 4 April 5 May 6 June 7 July 8 August 9 September 10 October 11 November 12 December

[edit] January

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 1-3-1900

MOHAWK BRANCH RAILROAD About 20 men arrived at Springfield Sunday to work on the branch railroad grade. One-half of them were negroes. The Southern Pacific pile driver arrived at Springfield Monday night, and has been sent to the front, and will be at work in a few days. D. McCarty, of San Francisco, came in on yesterday's train to commence work on the McKenzie bridge at Hayden's. THE MOHAWK CASE; LEWIS NOT DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED Dr. W. L. Cheshire arrived home this afternoon from Mohawk, where he was called to attend Alec Lewis, who was stabbed yesterday by Marcellus Arnel, in a fight resulting from some past trouble. Dr. Cheshire reports Mr. Lewis's condition quite bad, but the wounds are not considered dangerous. On the right shoulder is a cut six inches long, on the left arm across the elbow is a cut four inches long, and in the back, on the left side, in a stab between two ribs which fortunately failed to reach any vital part. Mr. Lewis is now resting easily and will get along all right. Sheriff Withers arrived yesterday with Mr. Arnel and the examination will be held before Justice Wintemeier. The advance stories about the trouble differ somewhat, Arnel claiming he did the cutting in self defence and Lewis claiming he was attacked by Arnel and his,father. As only the three were present, the examination may not result in much satisfaction in clearing up the matter. The fight evidently resulted from trouble over a beef contract held by Arnel with the Booth Kelly Company.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 1-25-1900

COBURG, Jan. 24, 1900 We had a railroad wreck right in town last week. The engine was pulling loaded cars out of the lumber yard when, on reaching a slight curve on the switch, a box car, which was loaded too heavily on one side toppled over, leaving the wheels on the track. The section men with the very efficient aid of the pile driver, now at work at the McKenzie bridge, righted the car during the day and reloaded the lumber. We may be a false prophet, but we believe what we say, when we give our opinion that it in going to snow. The walks are icy and the pumps are freezing. A little snow and we would call it winter today.

[edit] February

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 2-15-1900

COBURG IDEAS

The train was wrecked for the third time in the last few weeks, last Wednesday night. No one was injured. Workmen have been repairing the breakwater at the wagon bridge across the McKenzie, but have suspended the job until the road settles a little. The body of John DeLaney, who died in the Philippines will be shipped to his mother who lives in Coburg. Teams are now hauling the timbers for a new boom to be constructed on scientific principles by the Booth Kelly Co. Nearly a ton of iron has already been used in the structure. It is built in such a manner as to do away with the guy ropes formerly used. The timbers are put out by the mill here, and hauled across the wagon bridge and under the trestle of the railroad bridge across the McKenzie to an open space on the other side of the river, where the frame work will be put together, and when all in completed it will be floated down stream to its permanent location.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 2-19-1900

SAGINAW SQUIBS Saginaw is a station on the O & C R. R., 2 1/2 miles north of Cottage Grove and 18 miles south of Eugene. This is the terminus of the lumber flume of the Booth Kelly Lumber Company, which dumps the lumber from their saw mills on the railroad track, the mills being situated five miles back in the mountains. With the exception of two residences the entire town and townsite is owned by the B. K. L. Co., who employ about 200 men here at the docks and at the two mills. The wages paid run from $1.50 to $2.00 for common labor. The population of Saginaw I would estimate to be 250 souls. The only place of business consists of one store owned by the Booth Kelly Co., The only public building is the school house which does duty for all public meetings and church purposes. It is at present accommodating both democratic and republican clubs, two separate literary and debating societies as well as the church and public school. We are sadly in need of hotel accommodations and a public hall. This town would support two or more fraternal societies as well as several social clubs if only we had a suitable place to hold the same.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 2-20-1900

FROM SAGINAW The Booth Kelly Company shipped 105 car loads of lumber from here for the month of January, and about 90 up to the 16th of February. These car loads ran from 10,000 feet and upwards to the car.

A source of curiosity to the visitor here, among other things, is the Booth Kelly Company's pack train, which delivers supplies to the sawmills four miles up in the mountains. A string of horses are packed with provisions, beef, machinery, wire cable, or any old thing used in a logging camp or saw mill. They are then tied in a string, each to the other's tail, and are skillfully piloted by a gentleman who leads them through the straight and crooked way, through mud holes and brush, where no wagon could follow. They make a trip every day, and a worse mud bespattered outfit than these old steeds and said gentleman could nowhere be found. Miss Ethel Menton, of mill 2, had the misfortune to lose her purse here near the depot a few days ago, containing $11. It was found by Frank Kennedy and returned intact. That's right Frank, you will receive your reward in heaven for that!

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 2-27-1900

THE COBURG MILL The Coburg mill of the Booth Kelly Lbr. Co. is shut down for a few days, waiting for the arrival of logs. In the meantime the new boom is being placed in position. It is 1900 feet long and is fastened with steel cables. It is expected that this boom will prove to be reliable and adequate for the needs of the mill. The boom is strengthened and protected by wings.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 2-27-1900

SAGINAW SQUIBS There in a movement on foot to erect a two story building here for public purposes, the ground floor for a city hall and the upper story for a lodge room for fraternal societies. It is a laudable enterprise and should receive the support of our citizens. Vern Hines of mill 2, had the misfortune to sever two toes from his right foot with an axe while sniping the end of a log today. He took the south bound local for medical attention.

[edit] March

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 3-1-1900

WENDLING MILL WILL START UP IN THE NEXT 15 DAYS R. A. Booth arrived here today from the Booth Kelly mill at Wendling. Mr. Booth states the mill will start up about March 12, cutting 80,000 feet per day, on a new contract of 10,000,000 feet, just signed by them. He has trade a contract with the Southern Pacific for a telephone line connecting Coburg, Wendling, Springfield, Saginaw and Cottage Grove with their new main office to be established in this city. It will be a private line. When the Mohawk railroad in finished the Wendling mill will cut 150,000 feet per day. Mr. Booth unreservedly states this mill is the best in the state.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 3-23-1900

COBURG ITEMS

Many improvements are being made on the mill property here. A new blacksmith shop and a dry kiln are being erected. The old planer is being torn down. The millpond is being cleared of rubbish, and will be enlarged to meet the demands of the growing business of the Booth Kelly Company. Frank Taylor had a narrow escape last week while hauling logs from the pond. A lever gave way throwing him about eight feet against a timber. He sustained quite severe injury by the fall, but is able to be about now.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 3-31-1900

MOHAWK VALLEY RAILROAD John Bays, the well known contractor, who has been superintending the construction of : railroad up the Mohawk valley from- Springfield to the Booth Kelly mills, a distance of 16 1\\2 miles, is in the city on a short visit. Mr. Bays has been on this work since last fall, and is as full of pluck and go as ever. His son has the contract for the road, and he is superintending the construction. He has the track laid from Springfield to Smith's bluff, a distance of five miles, and two miles more graded, and intends to have the road completed by the middle of June. In addition to this he has built a county road along the hillside to take the place of one destroyed by the construction of the railroad. The Mohawk valley road is to be connected with the Southern Pacific at Henderson's station, which will necessitate the building of a bridge across the Willamette and some heavy rock cutting on one side and a big fill on the other. The plant of Mr. Bays is now under attachment and work on the road suspended.

[edit] April

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 4-2-1900

MOHAWK ROAD WORKMEN ARE WITHOUT FUNDS AND DESTITUTE The men who have been working for contractor Bays on the Mohawk branch of the Southern Pacific, deserve the greatest sympathy. Without money, after working all winter in the mud and wet, actually suffering in some instances for food, which they are compelled to get by asking for handouts, these honest toilers are in need of anything which can be given them. Contractor Bays has returned to Portland, and made practically no payments while here. It is most unfortunate, as Bays has unquestionably lost money on the contract, and even the workmen do not question his honesty, or willingness to pay, if he could secure the money. Virtually everything has been attached. Attorneys Thompson and Hardy and L. Biyeu have over $1000 for collection, and are doing a work for charity in trying to get something for the men. The Southern Pacific should see that these laborers receive their pay. It is a duty the company owes to the men who have built their road. It is believed that this will be brought about, and that the men will receive what is justly due them. It has been reported that Mr. Bays has given up the work, having sank all he had in this job, every phase of which has been disastrous to him. About 20 of the men went to Portland today, their passage being furnished by the Southern Pacific. The rest of

the laborers will remain here in the hope of securing work of some kind, and will also be on hand to give what aid they can in the collection of claims.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 4-14-1900

WORK WILL BEGIN ON NEW GRADING CONTRACT MONDAY Last Thursday the contract to finish the grading of the Mohawk Railroad was re-let to contractor Mason of Portland. Mr. Mason has just finished a contract on the Columbia and Southern and will at once move his supplies here, including 100 teams. He expects to complete the work in 60 working days, beginning Monday.

PORTLAND, April 14- The grading contract on the Mohawk railroad has been let to Archie Mason of this city, who will commence on the work at once. Mr. Mason shipped and carload of flour yesterday from Albany to his Mohawk supply camp. His outfit will arrive in Springfield today or Monday-Shipment of material for the steel bridge across the McKenzie is expected any day. Work on the steel bridge at Springfield will not commence until the branch between Springfield and Wendling is nearly completed.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 4-17-1900

CONTRACTOR MASON PUSHING WORK RAPIDLY ON MOHAWK RAILROAD Archie Mason, of Portland, the new contractor in charge of the grading of the Mohawk branch of the S. P. has commenced active work. Four car loads of horses, scrapers, etc, arrived Saturday night and were at once sent to the front. Three more carloads of horses and material arrived and were sent to the front last night. The road has an appearance of activity more evident than at any previous time since work began, and the grading will be pushed with all possible speed. The material for the railroad bridge across the McKenzie is expected to arrive at any time. The first shipment consisting of nine carloads of steel has left the Sacramento shops and is on the road. The bridge complete will amount to 20 carloads.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 4-18-1900

JOHN HIGGINS STRUCK BY FALLING TREE AT WENDLING About 11 o'clock yesterday morning John Higgins, who has been in the employ of the Booth Kelly Lumber Company felling logs near the Wendling mill, was struck by the limbs of a tree and injured, so that he died at 7 O'clock this morning. In company with another man Higgins was working about two miles above the mill, and stopped on a log to await the falling of a tree which they had just chopped down. Turning he saw that the limbs would strike him, and started to run along the log out of danger, but he was too late. The limbs hit the man between the shoulders, knocking him down, and an ax which was sticking in the log cut his arm quite severely.

Higgins was about 40 years old, and so far as is known at the mill, held no family. He came out from the east several months ago.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 4-21-1900

IRON FOR THE MCKENZIE BRIDGE ALREADY RECEIVED

SPRINGFIELD Ore. April 21- The first installment of the steel bridge for the McKenzie river arrived at Springfield yesterday, consisting of three car loads. The balance of the bridge will follow rapidly. The piers are nearly completed and in 10 days active work will begin on putting the bridge together. The bridge has been removed from the Central Pacific railroad, being shipped from Corrineya station, 20 miles went of Ogden Utah.

Archie Mason the contractor received another carload of horses today. It is reported that he expects to receive 60 Japanese, to arrive by this evening's train, to be turned loose on construction work.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 4-30-1900

WENDLING SAW MILL The Booth Kelly Co. has a contract for 10,000,000 feet of ties, for the S. P. R. R. The large mill at Wendling is at work on the contract now. Put out 90,000 feet Saturday easily and expects to cut from now on 100,000 feet each day. A platform, 700 feet long has been laid near the mill to load cars from; twenty cars can thus be loaded at one time.

[edit] May

THE DAILY GUARD 5-3-1900

MEN KILLED IN SAGINAW BOILER EXPLOSION Dr. W. L. Cheshire, coroner arrived home today from Booth Kelly mill No. 1, above Saginaw seven miles, where he went to investigate the boiler explosion, which occurred yesterday. Dr.Cheshire reports the affair to have been very disastrous, but one to which no blame can be attached, unless to the men who were attending the boiler, as they were all experienced engineers.

The boiler which exploded had not been used for about three weeks, and the water gage had become stopped up. The men built a fire under the boiler and went about some other work. The result was that enough steam was generated to blow the boiler sky high, which it did literally. The boiler was one used to haul logs to the mill and was across the lake from the mill about 500 feet distant. When the explosion occurred the boiler was lifted into the air, carried across the lake and lit on the roof of the mill, falling from there to the platform, where it now rests. The other boiler alongside was not injured. The men were terribly injured. Frederickson, the man killed outright, received a large fracture on the skull, and beside was virtually mashed all over. Anlauf, who died about 2 o'clock this morning, was badly injured on the head, and had his right am and left thigh fractured. Rudolph, who is alive and probably recovering was injured in the chest and burned over various parts of the body, besides having his right arm fractured.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 5-3-1900

CONCLUSION OF SAGINAW BOILER EXPLOSION AND CORONER'S JURY AT 8 O'clock this morning Coroner Cheshire empaneled a jury, composed of workmen from mill No. 2, and examined into the causes of the explosion and the death of the two men, concluding this duty about 10:30. He then came to Saginaw and arrived home on the 1:08 train.

REPORT OF THE CORONER'S JURY We, the coroner's jury, having been summoned to investigate the boiler explosion, deaths and injuries occurring at the Booth Kelly mill No. 1, find that said explosion occurred about 10 a. m., and was probably due to overpressure; and that Otto Fredrickson was killed outright by a fracture of the skull. Otto Anlauf was injured by a stroke on the head, from the effects of which he died about 14 hours later, and Herman Rudolph was injured on chest, burned on various parts of body, and received a fracture of the right am, all due to said explosion. M. J. Bridge (Foreman) Ed Crawford Bona Patten S. A. Benson Clark Lewis J. L. Planter Coroner Cheshire reports a hard trip, and states that the work was gruesome. When he arrived yesterday afternoon, he found Drs. Wall and Job, of Cottage Grove, already on the field, doing all that was possible to alleviate the suffering of the injured men. Last evening Dr. Kuykendall was sent for and he went up on the night train, walking the entire distance to the mill over the rough roads, and back to Saginaw in the morning. Mr. Anlauf was about 30 years of age, and Mr. Fredrickson about 45. Mr. Rudolph was a younger man and unmarried. Not since the explosion of the boiler in a harvest field in the west and of the county in the summer of 1896, has a disaster of such proportions occurred in Lane Co. and the sad accident has cast a gloom over all who know the unfortunate men.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 5-5-1900

MORE PARTICULARS CONCERNING SAGINAW EXPLOSION (Cottage Grove Leader, 5-4) The boiler that blew up was an old boiler, but was considered safe and had been fired up for putting another one out of the way, which had been condemned. It was stationed at the opposite end of the mill pond from the mill, about 450 feet distant and when the explosion occurred the boiler which weighs about 5,000 pounds, was blown across the mill pond in the direction of the mill, a distance of 330 feet before it struck, then bounded 100 feet further up the hill, and now lay in the mill.

The cause of the explosion in practically unknown. There were four men working around the boilers, all engineers, and the only one who escaped uninjured was Mr. Harry Wynne, of this city, who says the last time he noticed, the gage registered 60 pounds of steam. The machinery in the engine room is a complete wreck and was valued at about $3,000. However the Booth Kelly Company, we understand, had expended about $10,000 experimenting on this log pulling station, before they got it so that it could be successfully operated. At last report the unfortunate Mr. Rudolph was resting as easy as could be expected and there is some hope for his recovery.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 5-8-1900 (Brownsville Times)

GRAWFORDSVILLE HAS COUGARS E. S. Marsters, who resides on his farm near Crawfordsville, heard his chickens making a horrible noise Thursday morning at 1 O'clock, and thinking a "varmint" of some kind was after another mess of foul, took his dogs and gun and gave chase. The dogs soon had something treed, and soon a chicken came tumbling from the tree. Mr. Marsters remained under the trees with his dogs until daylight, when he took deliberate aim and brought down a yearling cougar. A little later he fired another shot into a tree nearby and brought down another cougar, about the same size. They measured about five feet. Mr Marsters prizes these young fellows very highly; says it has, cost him about $20 worth of chickens and turkeys to raise them. SAGINAW HAS SMALLPOX Judge Potter and Dr. L. A. Paine returned from Saginaw this morning and report the smallpox at that place, of a mild type and the patients fast recovering. The doctor fumigated the places thoroughly and left instructions for disinfecting. The gentlemen went from here to Cottage Grove by train, and from there to Saginaw by wheel. On the road down to Saginaw the doctor had the misfortune to break his wheel which compelled him to walk to Creswell.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 5-14-1900

MOHAWK EXTENSION S. P. R. R. BRIDGE The great depth of the McKenzie river, 50 feet at the point where the Southern Pacific railroad bridge will be built on the Mohawk extension precludes the use of framework on which to rest the structure while it is in the process of construction. Wire cables from pier to pier will be supported with pontoons moored in the river by steel cables fastened to the banks on either side above. Work will be commenced on the bridge Thursday of this week. The material, nine carloads, has already been delivered in the Springfield railroad yards.

The first bridge across the Mohawk, a span of 100 feet, is also at Springfield loaded on three cars. It Is a combination wood and iron bridge and came from Corinne Utah.

[edit] June

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 6-9-1900

THE MOHAWK RAILROAD Archie Mason is crowding, work on the Mohawk railroad and has now raised the wages of common laborers to $2 per day. It is stated that the steel rails will probably not be laid before the 15th of September. the grade will not be completed for several weeks yet. The track will be ballasted with gravel taken from the river at the Amitage place. The workman on the McKenzie bridge are now building the pontoons for the false work to rest upon. It will take several weeks to complete the structure. The poles for the telegraph line from Eugene to Coburg have all been delivered and they are in position from the Eugene bridge to the Calef place. They have also been hauled and distributed from Springfield to Wendling by the contractor, Merchant Cole of Mohawk. The mill at Wendling is cutting about 80,000 feet of ties daily. The railroad company this week accepted 40,000 of the ties. They will all be shipped to Sacramento, California. It is now thought that the bridge across the Willamette river at Springfield will not be built until next summer.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 6-28-1900

McKENZIE BRIDGE ABOUT FINISHED The McKenzie bridge on the Southern Pacific Mohawk branch was swung from the false work Wednesday, and will be ready for trains in a few days - This bridge is a single span steel bridge, being the only one of its kind on the Southern Pacific lines in Oregon. The grading on the road is nearing completion, it being estimated that about 15 days work will complete it. The track laying gang, consisting of about 100 men, will arrive and commence work in a few days. it is thought that trains will be in operation to Wendling by August 15th. A report is current that the Natron terminal will be abandoned, not using track east of the Mohawk Junction. Instead, the trains will make their terminal at Wendling. There is no news concerning a railroad bridge across the river at Springfield, but general opinion is to the effect that it will be several years before this bridge will be built.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 6-30-1900

THE MOHAWK BRANCH RAILROAD The grading of the Mohawk River branch of the Southern Pacific in Lane County will be finished next week, according to Archie Mason, the contractor, now in this city. The company is erecting a $50,000 steel bridge, and several stout wooden

structures along the line, and when these are done, track laying will be put through with vigor. The town of Wendling at the terminus of the branch, has already become quite an important point, Mr. Mason said yesterday, and the way lumber is being, made and piled up is a sight to behold. The Booth Kelly mill is putting out lumber at the rate of 150,000 feet a day, and as the produce cannot be shipped until the road is completed, the woods are just full of new lumber. A post office has been established at Wendling and a daily stage from Springfield supplies the town with mail. When the cars get to running, the stage will give Way to a daily train service, and Wendling will then be within a few hours of Portland by rail. There are now 250 men and about the same number of teams engaged in finishing the grade near Wendling, but as most of the men are located in the neighborhood, their services will be needed in harvesting the crops, so very few of them will have to hunt jobs when the road is completed.

[edit] July

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 7-10-1900

OFFICES OF THE BOOTH KELLY CO. TO BE LOCATED IN EUGENE Hon. R. A. Booth, manager of the Booth Kelly Co. is in the city looking for suitable rooms for head offices of this company. He informs us they will be located in Eugene prior to August 1st. The private telephone lines will then be connected up from the head offices to the Wendling, Saginaw, and Coburg mills and all the business of the company will be directed from this city.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 7-11-1900

TRACK WILL BE LAID TO WENDLING BEFORE AUGUST 5th

SPRINGFIELD, July 11.- Track laying on the new steel bridge across the McKenzie river will be completed today. The construction train in charge of W. R. Bullis, will commence work Thursday, the 12th, and surfacing the roadbed and track laying will be rushed. The intention of the track laying outfit is to complete one-half mile of track a day. If this is done the track will be laid to Wendling before August 5th.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 7-19-1900

NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TRACKLAYERS FOR MOHAWK RAILROAD Mr. Gillette Of San Francisco, of the S P R R, is here looking after the Mohawk branch of the railroad. He says it in nearly impossible to procure tracklayers, hence the delay in putting down the rails on the branch line. The company has a large force of tracklayers on their coast extension but cannot get enough to send men here. The company is advertising for 40 men at $2 per day to help in the work, but have thus far been unable to procure them. The pile driving machine is now working full time east of the Mohawk bridge.

The Mohawk bridge is now done excepting the painting, and a crew of painters are now at work on the same. A work train is now being employed on the branch, surfacing. Work will be commenced on the first Mohawk bridge soon. All the timbers are now framed.

[edit] August

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 8-1-1900

DAVID KAUBLE WOUND AROUND SHAFT AT COBURG David Kauble, an employee of the Booth Kelly Lumber Co. in their planing mill at Coburg, met with a horrible death this morning. He was caught by a belt while trying to throw it off a wheel, and literally crushed to pieces. A moment after swinging around the shaft, A. C. Wheeler saw him and immediately signaled to W. T. Hawthorn to stop the engine. Together with their employee they rushed to where the unfortunate man was, but found life extinct. According to testimony of Dr. Cheshire, who went with coroner G.W. Griffen to the scene of the accident, the injuries were terrible. All the bones of the cheat were broken, and the sternum mashed in several pieces. All the ribs were crushed in. The right arm was torn off at the elbow and badly mangled. The left arm was almost severed at the shoulder, the bone above the elbow was broken in two places and the forearm badly crushed and mangled. The right thigh was broken in two places, and the right leg broken in several places. The left leg was broken in several places and the foot crushed. A small fracture of the left temple was found and the neck was broken. Aside from Dr. Cheshire the following witnesses were examined, all being employee of the company, and working near Kauble when the accident occurred: A. C. Wheeler, W. T. Hawthorne, Carp Gray, Herbert Jones, Geo. W. Catching. Their statement is that Kauble must have gone below to throw a belt to save stopping the engine, and was caught on the belt. It was done so quickly that no one saw him drawn around the shaft. Kauble had been cautioned several times to not throw a belt in this manner, and was not required to do so. It was evidently a case of carelessness on his part, made so by long use of machinery. Mr Kauble had been working in the mill at Coburg for about fifteen years for Mr. Goodale, and for the Booth Kelly Company since they purchased the property. He was a good workman and considered careful and competent. He was well liked among the employee and associates and had no enemies. David Kauble was about 41 years old, unmarried, and leaves a father, mother and two sisters, Mrs, Wesley Beeson and Mrs. James Tillman. He was a member of Coburg lodge No.263, Woodmen of the World, West Point lodge No 62 I.O.O.F. and Diamond Rebekah lodge No.

89. In the Woodman he carried $2000 insurance. It is a singular coincidence that Mr. Kauble was killed within 10 feet of the place where a sister , Mrs. Sam Skinner, was killed about 15 years ago when the sawmill was owned by Hiram Smith. The following is the coroners Jury report: We, the undersigned jury called to investigate the death and cause of death of David Kauble, find that the body before us in the remains of the said David Kauble and that he came to his death by being caught and crushed on a counter shaft on the lower floor of the planing mill belonging to the B. K. Lbr. Co. at Coburg Ore. on the morning of Aug 1. 1900. We hold no one responsible for the accident. W. M. VanDuyn (Foreman) H. A. Macey E. P. Coleman H. C. Owen M. L. Hendricks Benjamin Feeder

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 8-7-1900

CHARLES HOLT KILLED A telephone message to the head office of the Booth Kelly Lumber Co. in this city about noon today from the mill at Wendling brought the news of the accidental death of Charles Holt, a 15 year old boy in the employ of the company, and a request for the coroner. Coroner G. W. Griffin started for the scene of the accident at once, accompanied by Dr. W. L. Cheshire. From information received at the head office of the company it is learned that Holt was found dead a distance from the mill lying under a sled with which he was using to haul water. Holt had been away much longer than usual and some of the other workmen started to look after him. The boy had been in the habit of riding on the front of the sled, and it is presumed that the horse started suddenly, the boy slipped and fell, the sled ran onto his body in which condition it was found.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 8-15-1900

THE MOHAWK BRANCH RAILROAD Reports from the Mohawk branch are, as usual, not encouraging. On account of lack of rails no steel has, been laid during the past few days, but nine carloads of heavy steel rails arrived last night and were taken to the front at once. Twenty-six carloads of rails are expected to arrive this week. The fencing crew will commence building the fence along the right of way this week and will finish the work on the.. Mohawk line before quitting. There are 17 miles of road to fence yet. Mr. Freeland the engineer in charge says the road to Wendling will be ready to turn over to the operating department about September 25. This means that the road will be graveled and in first class condition at that time. NEAR WENDLING 8-23-1900 Lumber will be hauled out on railroad car by September 1st. The tracklayers on the Southern Pacific branch railroad from Springfield to Wendling are now within two and one-half miles of the latter place. Track-laying has been delayed by a strike. Forty men of the experienced track-laying gang went on a strike last Saturday and quit the company employ. The remaining force lack experience in this line, delaying the work to a considerable extent.

The Southern Pacific give out that the lumber output will be hauled out as soon as the track is completed to Wendling but passenger and mail trains will not be put on until the roadbed has been surfaced and graveled.

Roadmaster Walt has assumed charge of the Branch road and has been examining, the same during the past few days in order to get an intelligent understanding as to the needs thereof. Conductor Bullis has been superseded by Conductor LaForest, recently promoted.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 8-28-1900

LUMBER CAPITALISTS ARE HERE Messrs G. X. Wendling, of San Francisco, and F. R. Buck, of Vacaville, California, arrived here this morning and will spend a week inspecting the properties of the Booth Kelly Lbr. Co., of which they are stockholders. Since their last visit the company has greatly expanded its production properties, and the output of its mills is more than tripled. The Coburg mill has been taken possession of and the big mill at Wendling has been erected since then. This afternoon Messrs Wendling and Buck, in company with R. A. Booth, general manager, left for Coburg to inspect the mill there. They will also visit the mill at Saginaw and the new one at Wendling, looking over these properties as well as the various flumes, dams and other adjuncts of their property.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 8-29-1900

ACCIDENT AT WENDLING Glen Anderson, who has been engaged in felling trees for the Booth Kelly mill at Wendling, met with an accident this morning, about two miles from the mill. A large tree which he had felled struck a smaller one, breaking the top of it off. This tree struck Anderson on the head, knocking him down and badly bruising him. On examination it was found that the nose was broken, and he was otherwise disfigured. Anderson was unconscious for some time after the accident. Dr. Cheshire left to attend the injured man, in response to a telephone message to him.

[edit] September

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 9-21-1900 The Southern Pacific Company expects to have regular train service to Wendling, the terminus of the Mohawk branch, by November 1st. The train has been used in hauling ties, rails, act, and has now been converted into a gravel train, and last Wednesday commenced hauling gravel to ballast the road with. The gravel is obtained at the Armitage gravel pit, three miles south of Coburg. This train also hauls out to Springfield the lumber shipments from Wendling. The heaviest shipment yet made of lumber from Wendling, was shipped last Thursday, consisting of ten carloads.

Early in the spring a bridge will connect the line between Springfield and Henderson, and the lumber from Coburg and Wendling will then go via this connection. All California shipment south of Tallman will go via Eugene instead of Albany as at present.

[edit] October

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 10-9-1900

CARS FOR COBURG AND WENDLING COBURG ORE, Oct 9.- The mills here and at Wendling are temporarily happy again. Friday, Saturday and Sunday no cars arrived for loading. The yard here was completely cleared of cars on Saturday, but last night's train brought eight for Wendling and six for Coburg. This will relieve matters for a day. The railroad company is now furnishing coal cars of the Gondola type. These are hard to load and can be used for ties only, and even they are a scarcity. It is reported that the Wendling, train has not arrived at Springfield for several days on account of replacing the false work of bridges with permanent structures.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 10-22-1900

THE RAILROAD OVER THE RIVER DOING BIG LUMBER BUSINESS The Booth Kelly sawmills at Coburg and Wendling, are well supplied with cars for the shipment of lumber these days. The Wendling mills have 26 cars on hand and they seldom ship more than 10 cars a day. The Coburg mills keep about ten cars on hand, and they seldom ship more than five cars a day. The Springfield branch of the Southern Pacific railroad is a busy one, bringing up about 15 empty car daily and returning with the same number loaded. Saturday morning the train picked up 11 cars at Springfield and 5 at Coburg, all lumber. And this is a good daily average. The car famine lasted but a few days, not as long as the annual car famine, and no further trouble is anticipated about cars. Apart from lumber shipments there is practically no freight moving on the across-the-river road.

THE DAILY GUARD 10-30-1900

ACCIDENT AT WENDLING Sam O'Brien, an employee of the Booth kelly Lbr. Co. at Wendling, met with an accident about 8 o'clock this morning. While working near the cutoff saw he slipped against it, and the left arm was pushed against the saw. A portion of the muscle of the upper arm was sawed away. He was brought to Springfield on the train this morning and arrived in Eugene about noon. Drs. Paine and Kuykendall attended the injured man.

[edit] November

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 11-10-1900

THE MOHAWK BRANCH RAILROAD The Mohawk branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad from Springfield to Wendling, in Lane County, will shortly be turned over to the operating department. the ballasting, or graveling of the roadbed will not be done until spring. No regular train service will be had this winter, nor anything except lumber shipments. Civil engineer Freeland, who had charge of the work will return to California as soon as the road is turned over to the operating department.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 11-19-1900

ACCIDENT AT SAGINAW James Miller, an employee of the Booth Kelly Lumber Company was the victim of an accident today near mill No 1, about five miles from Saginaw. Mr. Miller was felling a tree and in falling it struck a sapling which rebounded back, the top striking Mr. Miller across the spine. Information received at the head office of the company in this city, states that the unfortunate man is paralyzed from the hips down, indicating that his spine received a severe strain or a break. He is about 35 years of age, and has been employed by the company for some time.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 11-23-1900 THE MOHAWK BRANCH The Mohawk branch of the S P R R between Springfield and Wendling will be turned over to the operating district about December let. The operating department of the road will probably withdraw the construction train now in use on the Mohawk branch, hauling out lumber, etc.. The present train service to Natron is to be discontinued and ran to Wendling. This arrangement will give the main line an additional engine. The company has been extremely short of motive power all summer and fall, and since the Roseburg accident they have been badly crippled for motive power. A special recently went over the Mohawk branch and from observations Messrs Kosher and Fields think, by slow running, the road will be all right for regular trains. On the 15th the pay car also went over the new branch. The filling of the high trestle east of Springfield and at Coburg has been indefinitely postponed on account of lack of motive power. But as soon as motive power is available, this work will be attended to.

[edit] December

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 12-8-1900

THE BOOTH KELLY HOSPITAL Complete arrangement to have been made for the establishment of the Booth Kelly company's Hospital in Eugene. At a conference between a delegation of employees from the various mills and the company held this morning, an agreement was reached in the matter and the hospital will be open and ready to receive patients by January 1, 1901.

The plan decided on is this in brief Each employee of the company is to pay a stipulated sum monthly for the maintenance of the hospital and when one becomes ill or injured he receives medical and surgical treatment free. A board of managers to be selected jointly by the company and employees will have entire control of the hospital and will handle all sums contributed by the men for its maintenance. Aside from the central hospital to be located in Eugene, it is probable that branches will be established at the different mill sites. Drs. Paine and Kuykendall have the contract for a year to furnish all drugs and medical and surgical attendances, but have not decided on a location as yet, but everything will be satisfactorily arranged by the time set for the opening of the institution.

THE DAILY EUGENE GUARD 12-20-1900

THE MOHAWK BRANCH TURNED OVER TO THE OPERATING DEPT. OF THE ROAD

Manager Koehler and superintendent Fields, accompanied by other S P R R officials, returned to this city early this morning after an inspection of the new Mohawk branch. It was formally decided that the road would be accepted by the operating department. It was also decided that for the present the Natron mail train will not run to Wendling as the track is not in fit condition for Passenger coaches to run over. The operating department will ballast this road, commencing at once, and as soon as the roadbed is in proper condition the terminus of the mail train will be Wendling instead of Natron. The company has experienced considerable trouble in finding gravel to ballast the road, but for this fact the road would have been in proper shape some time ago. This difficulty has now been overcome as the company has now found a good gravel bed on high dry ground, about a mile north of Coburg and this will be used in ballasting the Mohawk branch.

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