Kalama Progresses Despite Mill Loss
Insurance Companies Lose Suit and Now Plan to Appeal Case
New Bank in Operation
County Seat of Cowlitz County Moves
Along as Though Business Reverses
Were Trifles and Prosperity
Will Be Hers.

The Morning Oregonian
April 5, 1916
By Addison Bennett

When the big sawmill of the Mountain Lumber Company at this place burned on July 24, 1914, it was more insured for than $250,000. The loss was practically total and the mill owners and citizens supposed that as soon as the insurance companies paid the loss the mill would be rebuilt. It was supposed, also, that these losses would be promptly adjusted, but the companies would make no reasonable offer for the adjustment, so the mill company, through President Robert G. Drake, brought suit. It now seems that all of the companies joined in fighting this suit.

The trial was held last Fall and lasted three months. It was held before the judge of this district and he decided that the full loss should be paid. And there is where the matter now stands, but, it is said, the insurance companies will appeal the case, though on what grounds they expect reversal of the judge's decision is not known. Now, the loss of that mill was a great blow to Kalama, a terrible blow. But in spite of it the town has gone slowly ahead. 

Then, on the fourth of January of this year, there was a bank failure here that hit the little city mighty hard. This matter, of course, has not been adjusted, but another bank was organized and began operations on February 10th. This is called the Kalama State Bank and already has deposits of $59,000. C. C. Ruckles is president, George N. Campbell cashier and C. L. Buland, a capitalist of Castle Rock, who is the cashier of the bank at that place, and is chairman of the board of directors. So the bank has strong backing and doubtless will become a powerful institution. 

But the bank failure did not have a depressing effect upon the Kalama people and, as in the case of the loss of the mill, it did not stop the onward march of the town. Indeed, the place prospers, seemingly, on adversity, and now the clouds have cleared and the people here are of such an optimistic nature that they look into the future with the faith that this is to be a. large and prosperous city.

Kalama is County Seat

Kalama is the seat of Cowlitz county and promises to remain so as long as the county lines remain unchanged. I say that for the reason that various attempts in the past have been made to change it, strong campaigns have been made in the interest of other places, but Kalama always has won with many votes to spare. It is, indeed, a fine little city. It lies on the east bank of the Columbia river, which here flows nearly north, and is the old crossing point of the Northern Pacific train ferry, Goble, Or., being just across the river. It is about 42 miles to Portland. 

There are two good weekly newspapers here, the Bulletin and the Cowlitz News. The Bulletin was founded by the Imus boys nearly 30 years ago and ever since has remained in the family, little Imus, the present owner and editor, wrote the salutatory for the Bulletin when the first number was issued and since then has been more or less intimately connected with it. The News is a younger paper, being some seven years old. R. H. Mitchell is the owner and publisher. 

The Bulletin has a linotype cylinder press and large job plant. The News office is not so well equipped, but does a good business and both papers enjoy a good local advertising patronage. There are two good hotels here, the Hotel Kockritz, managed by H. W. Kockritz, and the Kalama Hotel, managed by M. J. Scott. There is an active Commercial Club. Its president is George N. Campbell and William Moffatt is secretary. There are a goodly number of mercantile establishments with large stocks of goods. The streets are well paved and the city has a cleanly, attractive and prosperous appearance in every way.

Two Meetings Are Held.

"Farmer" Smith held two meetings here yesterday. The morning meeting was held at the theater and a large audience was present, mostly farmers. Mr. Smith made his usual interesting and instructive talk and was followed by J. B. Mitchell, who is the superintendent of manual training in the Tacoma schools. The afternoon meeting was held at the schoolhouse at 2:00 o'clock and was attended largely by pupils, parents and farmers. 

Farmer Smith and Professor Mitchell also did the speaking there. After both meetings the farmers gathered about Farmer Smith and told him their troubles and sought his advice. That is usually the rule and no doubt their heart-to-heart talks are of as much benefit as the regular speeches perhaps more. There was a big demand for seed corn here, for it has been demonstrated that this is a good corn country and therefore a good dairy country. 

In fact, all of Cowlitz county is admirably adapted to dairying and that industry is developing rapidly in every part of it. It is the same across the Columbia in Columbia county and quite a number of the progressive citizens came over to hear "Farmer" Smith and get seed corn. All were supplied and the area of corn over there will be greater by far this year than ever before.