| Equipment: | 1906: six locomotives and forty cars over twenty-two miles of narrow gauge tracks.
After 1906: two regular locomotives, three Shay locomotives, thirty-five log cars, and sixteen miles of narrow gauge tram lines. Standard gauge tram roads were later constructed by Thompson Bros. to replace Emporia's narrow gauge ones.
1910: six locomotives, fifty-seven logging cars, nine miles of tram, one steam loader, and one steam skidder.
1928: Fidelity was operating fourteen miles of tramroads existed. Keeling: seven geared and twelve rod locomotives |
| History: | The owners of Emporia Lumber Company (S.F. Carter, J.P. Carter, and M.T. Jones, the latter being bought out by the Carters no later than 1900) built a Doucette mill sometime between 1900 and 1902. Unverified manuscripts also allege Emporia bought out the Nebraska Lumber Company mill as well. Emporia operated it under the name of Sunset Lumber Company, which was incorporated on September 16, 1902. Possibly, it was constructed on Pete Doucette's old Nebraska site. The new operation soon prospered. For a time, the company entertained plans of enlarging the plant to a double band rig in 1904. Emporia failed to sell the mill in January 1905 to the Pickering Lumber Company of Kansas City. S.F. Carter, president of the Emporia and Sunset companies, did, however, find a buyer in 1906, and sold the mill and milling operations to the Thompson lumbering family for at least $500,000.
Thompson Bros evolved from Thompson and Tucker Lumber Company. The mill burned on August 4, 1908, and a 25,000-feet circular rig operated until the new 100,000 double band mill started operations several months later. By 1909 the entire plant had been enlarged and improved, including construction of a log pond to store four million feet of logs. After an unsatisfactory alliance with the Long-Bell Lumber Company from 1910 to 1912, the Thompsons sold the Doucette mill to Long-Bell (Robert A. Long and George S. Hays) in July 1912. Long-Bell, operating under the name of Fidelity Lbr Co, operated the mill until sometime in the early 30's when the timber was cut out
In 1906, according to the American Lumberman, Thompson Brothers were running what must have been old Emporia Lumber Company stock: six locomotives and forty cars over twenty-two miles of narrow gauge tracks. Under Thompson Brothers, rail operations included two regular locomotives, three Shay locomotives, thirty-five log cars, and sixteen miles of narrow gauge tram lines. Standard gauge tram roads were later constructed by Thompson Bros. to replace Emporia's narrow gauge ones. Operating equipment in 1910 consisted of six locomotives, fifty-seven logging cars, nine miles of tram, one steam loader, and one steam skidder. In 1928, Fidelity was operating fourteen miles of tramroads existed. Keeling noted that the company used seven geared and twelve rod locomotives. |