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Prosper, Oregon.
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The busy little town of Prosper is
located on the south bank of fhe Co
quille river about
miles above
Bandon. It is the principal place
of importance between Bandon and
Coquille Chy. The population is
over 200 and still growing. During
the past two years many people have
built homes and located here.
The place has a good school about
eight months in the year with an
good average daily attendance. At
present there is no church building
but services are held occasionally in
the hall.
With its sawmills, shipyard and
cannery, the name of Prosper is sug
gestive of busy and prosperous
times.
The town of Prosper was founded
by Adam Pershbiier, who first came
to Coos county' in 1867, and having
had a small merchandise store be
queathed to him by a younger
brother, entered his first business
venture at Randolph in 1870. He
gave the business his strict attention
and with many struggles, brightened
with brilliant prospects, he made it
a succes tul undertaking. Randolph
in those days w.as quite a lively place
as it was the supply point for a large
section of country.
For about
twenty-three years Mr. Pershbaker
was engaged in business at this
place and shared in the benefit from
the black sand harvests which made
Randolph a noted place in those
days.
In 1887 he commenced work on
his sawmill and had it in frame. In
1888 the machinery was installed,
and sawing commenced Nov. 18th.
The mill had a capacity of 20,000 ft
daily. Wm. Hammerburg was fore-
man, and T. P. Hanly head sawyer
For several years he conducted the
Iff
from active business, selling the mill
and store to Sudden & Christenson
of San Francisco, which now bears
the name of the. Prosper Mill Co.
Many changes have been made since
the transfer, the capacity of the mill
increased, electric light plant fin-
stalled, wharves and booms en
larged, and various other [improve
ments made.
The Prosper Mill Co. bought the
mill property of A. Pershbaker in
December, 1902. Sudden & Christ
enson of San Francisco are the prin
cipal owners. They are also inter
ested in the Aberdeen Lumber &
known. In 1905 another cannery
was built, which is now being suc
cessfully qjrerated by a stock com
pany, of which R. W. Bullard is
president, Sam Nass manager and
Mrs. S. W. Fahy secretary. I he
'fishing season opens about August
15th and continues until November
20th.
Silverside salmon is the
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principal output. The cannery is
equipped throughout with modern,
up to-date machinery, and is the
means of distributing a large amount
of mon -y to the inhabitants of the
lower river during the fall months.
Steamer Bandon
Capt. C. P. JENSEN, Master.
On the opposite side of the river
from Prosper is the Carman & Crites
saw mill. This mill was built alrout
three years ago by- Messrs. Carman
<& Crites, who came from Cray's
Harlxrr, Wash. The mill is equipped
with a band saw and has a capacity
of 65,000 feet daily.
The latest industry in Prosper is
the general merchandise store of
Pratt
Pershbaker, the two pro
prietors being enterprising young
people who are sure to make a suc
cess of their venture. Both have
had experience in the business and
Mr. Pratt informs
pleased at prospects.
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Coquille River Lighthouae.
Adam Pershbaker.
Shingle Co. of Aberdeen, Wash.,
and the Siler Mill Co. of Raymond,
Wash. When this company came
possession of the mill they im
mediately commenced the work of
remodeling the plant and extending
the wharf and boom. The mill
makes an averages run of over
i,coo,ooo feet monthly, and has lost
very little time during the past four
years—probably' not over a week.
The steamer Elizabeth loads at this
mill. The schooner Ruby’ has been
taking lumber from this mill ever
since she was built. The Lizzie
Regular Trips Between Coquille River
and San Francisco. Carries Freight
and Combustives.
Another branch of the government
service represented here is the light
house at the mouth of the river.
It
is in charge of Keeper O. VViren and
W. H. Cary, 1st assistant.
It is
known to those familliar with intric-
asies of the lighting mechanism as a
light of the fourth older, but it is
kept in first class order.
The lan
tern of this lighthouse is elevated 52
feet above sea level, and casts its
rays, focused through powerful
lenses, for a distance of 12 2-3
miles, giving a brilliant white light
28 seconds, w ith an eclipse of two
seconds.
The lighthouse is also equipped
with a Daboil trumpet fog horn and
A. F. ESTABROOK, CO., San Francisco.
BANDON COMMERCIAL CO., Bandon.
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CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
FROM
Shipyard, ProapCT, Oregon.
store at Randolph and the sawmill
at Prosper, but later combined the
two at Prosper. In 1893 a new
store was built near the mill. The
store building and stock from Ran
dolph was moved on scows to its
present site, and was converted into
a warehouse, while the new one, a
substantial, up-to-date two-story
structure, was occupied on the first
door as the retailing merchandise
department.
In January, 1895,
after a season of excessive rainfall, a
landslide occurred which carried the
building into the river wrecking it
beyond repair. Fissures in the hill
were discovered a week trefore the
landslide occurred, and the stock on
the first Honr and household goods
on the second, were removed to a
place of safety. The loss of the
building was estimated at $3,000.
In 1895 another building was erected
beside the warehouse, in which the
stock was placed ami which still
marks tTie business center. In 1896
Mr. Pershbaker completed a hand-
s»me, inodtWn residence in the west
part of tdwn, where the family at
Prien loads here, and there are during foggy and stormy weather
always front four to six vessels run blasts are blown five seconds, w ith
silent intervals
of twenty-five
ning regularly.
seconds.
The company also have a store in
THE ARCADE SALOON
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JAMIESON & BROWN.
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ESPECIALLY FOR XMAS.
connection with the mill and carry a
complete line of general merchandise
and make a specialty of loggers’
supplies.
Wm. Hicking, the manager of
the Prosper Mill Co., came from
Aberdeen, Wash., to take charge of
the business when the mill changed
hands.
He is an indefatigable
worker, and it is due to his good
management and strict attention to
details that the mill has made such a
good record in cominuous running
and up to the limit output.
A number of vessels have been
built in Prosper, viz.: Prosper,
Mascott, Winchester. Mizpah, Ore
gon and the steam schooners Co
quille River, Aurelia, Raymond,
Wellesley and Bowdion. A jierman-
nent shipyard and dry dock have
been fitted up by E. Heuckendorff,
who came here from Marshfidld
about two years ago
In 1894, the cannery, which was
presewt reside.
b»ilt a few years prior by J. R. Gil
*
In 1903 Mr. Persjjbaker retired strap, was burned, the cause un-
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WEINHARD’S BOTTLED BEERS, J. H.
CUTTER
How to Get to Bandon
SELECT
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There are three ways of getting
to Bandon. You can take the
Steamer Elizabeth from San
Francisco, fare $10; you can take
either the Alliance or Breakw ater
from Portland to Marshfield,
then take train to Coquille at 9
o’clock, connecting with the
Coquille River boat, landing you
at noon the same day in Bandon,
combined fare, not counting
bulgings, is approximately $12;
and over stage from Roseburg,.
Ore., to Myrtle Point, from which
place you tike river boat to Ban
don. as before, fare being $5 for
stage and $1 boat. We recom
mend boat clear through, in the
winter time at least. It is quicker
and pleasanter for those not
attlicted with sea sickneas
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LIQUORS
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AND CIGARS.
WINES,
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LINE OF
WHISKIES.
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AND STEWART
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