MsSC 203

ROBERTS, Robert R., diaries. 10 v.

Abstract: Robert R. Roberts was superintendent of the Manley-Moore Lumber Company operations in Fairfax, WA, 1919-1932.

Biography: Robert R. Roberts (1888-1982), was born in Waupaca, WI. He attended Lawrence University (Appleton, WI), and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He came West in 1908 and became superintendent of the Manley-Moore Lumber Company operations in Fairfax, WA in 1919.

Scope and content: The collection consists of seven diary/daybooks, 1926-1932, and three volumes of what appear to be personal financial records, 1927-1929

The diary/daybooks contain daily entries relating to both personal and company matters. As superintendent, he would record the daily gross and net scale, number of logs received, loads of logs received, and loads of lumber produced. He also notes information regarding all aspects of the operation—railroad and other accidents, roadbed condition, quality of timber received, forest fires, railroad spikes in trees, and construction, etc. Roberts includes a daily weather report and comment. On the personal side, he mentions trips, fishing, and anything he thought worthy of recording.

The diaries contain enough detail to provide an interesting insight into the management and problems of a western Washington lumber mill and the daily life of its superintendent. To provide a flavor of the entries, random quotes are included in the folder descriptions.

Inclusive dates: 1926-1932.

Restrictions: None

Volume: 10 v.

Accession number: 2007.86

Box 1

Folder Contents

1 Diary/Daybook, 1926. “Die Walkure on KFI tonight—reception very good.”

“Large fir logs contain very little clear & are usually hard—afflicted with pitch….” “First baseball game of the season in Fairfax—locals beaten by Redmen of Tacoma.” “Prince, faithful horse, died tonight about 9 o’clock.” “…Engine went to pieces at 7:10 tonight—reduced to mere junk in hundreds of pieces. One piece went thru the roof….”

2 Diary/Daybook, 1927. “Still short of logs & sawing everything that comes in.”

“Parker & Pond in wreck of the former’s new car back of Hollister’s house this morning—both taken to St. Joseph’s hospital this morning.” “H.F.P. died at St. Joseph’s Hospital this morning. Had been in worse condition, I think, than any of us realized. His death a very great blow to the company and community.” “Beautiful day for work. Still sawing straight fir. Broke the former record today with 118,900’”

3 Diary/Daybook, 1928. “Flume from Carbon river to pond was completed

today. I think a very great & valuable improvement.” “Ladies of camp holding a picnic at Lake 12 tonight.” “Hard wind blew last night & sparks from slab fire lodged in wood pile by conveyer, setting on fire. Big whistle was blown & by opening up the pile and pouring lots of water on it we managed to extinguish all flames by 11:30.”

4 Diary/Daybook, 1929. “Logging is very sluggish—quality low. Chiefly

hemlock & very small scrubby stuff.” “Tonight is Rolf’s oyster supper. The women are included for first time.” “Clear as a bell. This is the worst yet. Mercury rose to 23 at noon. Very hard getting logs into the mill because of ice and congestion. Necessary to saw all kinds of timber. Shingle mill idle today. Too cold to make shingles.”

5 Diary/Daybook, 1930. “Bad accident at Carbonado: 17 men killet at 6:15 P.M.

by explosion of gas in the mill.” “4L picnic at school in the gym in the evening.” “Unbelievably poor logs these days—along with the good. Many not fit for ties or wood.” “Out of logs! Shut down all day.”

Box 2

1 Diary/Daybook, 1931. ‘Still dumping logs & pond is full—more so than any time before in a long while, which will necessitate running a part of next week.” “Deaths from Eastern heat wave number nearly 600 now. This is about the only section of the country that is comfortable at this time.” “Business continues to grow more dull. Only the Lindburghs are well off. They’re on a vacation air trip to Tokio. At present up in the Arctic Circle.”

2 Diary/Daybook, 1932. “Incessant rains of last two days moved a mass of

logging debris in Evans Creek against the County bridge & and later on our railroad crossing—washing out both of them. Unhappily, a truck of lumber driven by a 19 yr. old boy of Aulrens [?] went through the country bridge-- turned upside down killing the poor lad.”

3 Diary/Daybook, 1927. Few entries, most appear to be personal.

4 Diary/Daybook, 1928. Few entries, all appear to be personal accounts.

5 Diary/Daybook, 1929. Few entries, all appear to be personal accounts.