New Lumber Mill Will Open Soon
February 15th, 1947
The new mill at the Paul Bunyan Lumber Co., purchased by the Walker interests in Louisiana to replace the mill burned last May, is scheduled to begin operations soon, according to Manager R. L. Kemp. The plant will employ about 30 men and the whole operation, including logging, about 120.
Capacity of the mill is estimated at about 65,000 feet of lumber per day. It is an eight-foot band mill, compared to the former six-foot diameter band.
A modern, all electric mill, it is housed in a well ventilated building, windowless and lighted with fluorescent lights. It features an electric operated log slip, instead of the well. Capacity of the deck is about five million feet of timber.
An automated draw saw cuts the logs into 16-foot lengths on the deck after they have been hoisted on bull chains.
Logs are moved on a “live deck” by chains instead of the former gravity rolled arrangement to the carriage. More modern trimmer saws are lowered by compressed air.
The filing room is on the main sawing floor, An automatic sprinkler system is to be installed for fire safety. The mill is heated with six large blower-type units. Sufficient logs are said to be on hand to operate until the woods open next April.
