2O REDWOOD LUMBERING. 



unknown future. A dull period in the lumber trade that 

 year was not taken into consideration, fortunately for them ; 

 and these redwoods, to the extent they were willing to gamble, 

 were bought, some six thousand acres, at remarkably low fig- 

 ures. This first purchase is now known as Buffalo Syndicate, 

 Number One. Within six months the California Redwood 

 Company was formed, and David Evans, the present Superin- 

 tendent of this vast lumber concern, was made agent to pur- 

 chase. The amount of money invested by what is known as 

 the " Scotch Syndicate," has been variously estimated. The 

 properties bought, however, consisting of four large mills, three 

 steam tugs, railroads, work cattle, seventy-five thousand acres of 

 of the best forests, ships, schooners, and other equipments for 

 carrying on an extensive lumber trade, are estimated by the 

 shrewdest local observers to have cost upwards of four mil- 

 lions of dollars. Of this company more is to be said further 

 on. While this purchase was being consummated, another 

 syndicate was formed in Buffalo, known as Number Two, and 

 some five thousand acres were purchased on Yager Creek, a 

 tributary of the Van Duzen. The same season (1882) about 

 seven thousand acres on the main Eel River changed hands, 

 owners and purchasers both residents of this coast. This, 

 known a? the " Pacific Lumber Company," was a corporation 

 formed by Ralston in 1868 himself, and the old firm of 

 Wc-thcrbee & McPherson being the principal owners. These 

 large purchases of redwood timber created no little excite- 

 ment, both among San Francisco and eastern capitalists. 

 The fact is, it was the first lime that redwood lumber and 

 timber attracted widespread attention, and its numerous good 



