At the turn of the 20th century, the logging in

At the turn of the 20th century, the logging industry in the Upper Midwest was almost mystical. Where stories of the likes of Paul Bunyan were born. Pictures of the era depict a booming industry in the North Woods. Lumberjacks are shown clearing huge old growth forests with simply an ax and the sweat of their brow. Many are drawn into this mystique when viewing pictures of proud men standing atop huge towering piles of freshly cut logs. Recently, memories of the North Wood’s glory days were revisited with the discovery and salvaging of submerged ancient timbers from the depths of Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay. These huge timbers became waterlogged and sank, while being floated to sawmills.

In Brazil, the growing charcoal, furniture and home construction industries are placing mounting demands on the Brazilian logging industry. And there is a lot of wood under the water brought by three hydroelectric power dams that flooded 2,000 square miles of Amazon forest in the 1980's. Demands for high quality rare and exotic woods is also evident in North America, Asia, and Europe as well.

However, a keen eye can see a bridge between supply and demand visible in the depths of these lakes; underwater cemeteries peopled by millions of gray, leafless tree trunks. The wood cut from these submerged forests are of the highest quality old growth timber. Most of these forests grew during the twilight era when ancient forests grew so thick they crowded out the sun, preventing sunlight from reaching the forest floor. The trees resulting from these conditions grew slower and stronger, and produced a grain structure unique to only this era. This wood is the prize. Old growth timber cut from submerged forests sell for ten times the rate of contemporary wood, and this is the wood that Hollund Industrial Marine is after.

By the second week of July (just a week or two away) Hollund should secure its first concession. The news of this first of many such concessions will launch HIMR, and its shareholders, on a journey like no other. We still don't know the how or even the when, but the journey begins this first half of July. May the company prosper, and bring all of us with it.