Ffood Closes Three Mills of Pordand Shingle Company

the worst, as well as to make the best of the enforced. mill idleness by oiling and checking the machines in preparation for quick resumption, once the waters had receded suffi_ ciently.

Everywhere, ofificials and workers alike pitched in to help Al Schmidt and the Portland Shingle Company in this battle with the Columbia river.

When piles of shakes and shingles tumbled into the swirling waters, men took ofi in rowboats after the floating bundles, and corraled virtually all of them.

The company carried on through the crisis at its main office, 9036 N. Denver Avenue, Portland, which is only a ferv hundred yards from flooded Vanport. The offiice staff ' obtained permission from the authorities to go to work, since travel in the flood area was closed to the public.

"Thanks to the fine cooperation of all the people in our company in meeting this emergency, the damage to our equipment has been negligible," said Al Schmidt, ,,and our losses in logs, blocks, shakes, and shingles have been small. We can assure our customers that we have an ample supply of blocks on hand, and that just as soon as the waters go down we'll resume full and unhampered production.,'

Portland, Oregon, June 5-The Columbia river flood, which forced down three of the four mills of the Portland Shingle Company, large shingle manufacturer concern of the Pacific Northwest, is just another episode in the career of this l3-year-old firm and its resourceful o.ivner, Al Schmidt.

Back in 1937, two years after establishment of the company, fire struck the Portland mill, on the banks of the Columbia, the only mill which the company operated at that time. While the smoke was still rolling up, Schmidt was ordering lumber with which to build a nerv plant. Scarcely had the ashes cooled when reconstruction was begun.

When the Old Man River of the West started to act up in a threatening manner a short time ago, Al Schmidt was not caught off guard. He ordered removal of motors and other equipment menaced by the rising water. When the flood forced down the Portland mill and the two Washington operations at Ridgefield and Kelso, all located along the Columbia, he put the Quinault plant, up on the Olympic peninsula in Washington, on three shifts. He traveled from mill to mill. He mobilized the cre\\,s to prepare for

California Pacific Lumber Co.

California Pacific Lumber Co., whose wholesale distribu_ tion yard and remanufacturing plant are located at SI4 Ballona Street, Inglewood, Calif., has been established about a year. This company handles fir, pine, and redwood lumber, and has been granted in transit privileges for its mill. The plant is mainly engaged in remanufacturing the company's own material, but a limited amount of custom vvork is taken on. The telephone number is ORegon 8-3421.

The equipment of the mill includes a new. Stetson-Ross matcher, a 54-inch resaw, and a Yates sticker. A Ross car_ rier and a Gerlinger lift truck are used for handling lumber.

A truck and trailer service to and from Northern California has been established, and is working out very well.

Mrs. Louise Lee Voye is president of the company. She is the rvidow of the late A. J. Voye, former president of the Big Lake Box Co., Klamath Falls, Oregon. J. D. Henry is vice president and general manager. He has an excellent background of sawmill and sales experience.

George Myers is the salesman who calls on the retail yards. Ifenry l\{yers is yard superintendent. J. L. Roe is office manager.