Fernie & Elk Valley Culture Guide Issue 6 - Fall 2017 | Page 32

Lumbering Alongside Coal Mines This image was taken by JF Spalding and shows the richness of lumber in the Elk Valley in the early 1900’s. By 1907 there were 15 sawmills operating in the valley, each capable of 40,000 feet of lumber per day. A couple thousand men were employed in these mills. The mills cut, floated, hauled, dressed and shipped wood products as far away as Manitoba. tourismfernie.com