In the early 1900s, whenever Red River Lumber Company’s founder, T.B. Walker, made an appearance in California it drew widespread attention. This was especially the case as he acquired more and more timber land and speculation was rampant. In 1909, on a visit to Redding , Walker visited with the local press. He stressed one of biggest obstacles he faced was the lack of railroad access to his vast holdings. However, he provided the following insight of his future intent:
“I will make my timber a perpetual resource of Shasta County, and I want to have the people with me. When I begin to manufacture lumber, my saws will cut timber only as fast as nature reproduces it.” This, of course, raised the question, why he did not take the same kind of action in Minnesota. Walker explained, “Conditions are far different in Minnesota. There the excessive taxation forced me to cut the timber as fast as possible. Minnesota land is worth considerable for agricultural purposes after the timber has been cut off, though it is not so valuable as was first estimated. In Shasta County the timber land is not worth 50 cents an acre after the timber is cut off. It is really more valuable for grazing purposes with timber than it would be without timber.” In conclusion, Walker noted that he can conserve the timber supply better than the government.