A second generation of the pioneer yellow pine lumbermen is in the saddle. These men are developing the business in a way undreamed of by the real pioneers of our section, the men of the seventies and early eighties.

This thought has led us to give publicity to the records and faces of some of those who have succeeded in late years to the empire created and dominated by such men as Thompson, Cameron, Lutcher, Moore, Gilbert, Gilmer, Jones, Weiss, Lock, Charlie Moore, Campbell, the Carters, Bancroft, Smyth, Fletcher, Ragley and many others. Our first selection is: Robert Withrow Wier, Houston.

The career of Robert W. Wier has been one of consistency. This element is the keynote of his success. Of him the American Lumberman once said, "Success Founded on Achievement." That was a very high but just compliment for a young man who had been building unobtrusively and consistently for several years and who had attracted attention at home and abroad by his work.

In 1905 Mr. Wier organized the Central Lumber Company, with yards in Houston and Beaumont. It was a retail concern with $25,000 capital. In 1907 he was the prime factor in the organization of the R.W. Wier Lumber Company. This was a manufacturing enterprise to look out for the future and was capitalized at $200,000. Mr. Wier was made president, which office he holds today. In addition to this he incorporated the Wier Long Leaf Lumber Company in 1917, of which he is also president.

The R.W. Wier Lumber Company operated in short leaf pine at first, with mills at Texla, Texas. Its timber in short leaf was practically cut out by 1917 but the company continued actively in the marketing of the product of the Wier Long Leaf Lumber Company. This company was the owner of large timber bodies purchased from the Lutcher, Stark and Brown interests of Orange. The timber was all located in Newton, Jasper and Sabine Counties and a point was selected in this timber for the erection of a mammoth saw milling property of 60,000,000 feet annual capacity, with complete dry kilns and planers. The site of the mill was called Wiergate. The mill itself is the largest in Texas. It has a chartered railroad connected with the Gulf Coast Lines and the Santa Fe. The mill equipment includes two double-cutting band saws and a circular saw, cutting from the smallest sizes to timbers 60 feet in length and dressing them up to 24 x 30 inches; complete dry kilns, planers, railroad logging equipment and everything pertaining to this work.

The Wier Companies are under control of men in mill and office who are thoroughly equipped with knowledge of the needs of lumbermen and of the general building trade. These officers are:

R.W. Wier Lumber Company: R.W. Wier, president, B.F. Bonner, vice-president, T.P. Wier secretary and treasurer.

Wier Long Leaf Lumber Company: R.W. Wier, president; C.P. Myer, vice-president and general manager; T.P. Wier, secretary and treasurer.

"Bob" Wier, as he is popularly known in lumberdom, in club life, among his intimates and in Texas generally, has accomplished much in his life. He retains his pristine modesty and will not talk for publication. That he is still unmarried, however, he admits with a broad smile. He is young yet. As president of the Houston Chamber of Commerce he recently did efficient work for his city and section. He has before him a great future in the pine forest.