Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Harris, H. E. May 17, 1867 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com January 17, 2011, 4:06 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 684 - 688 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company H. E. HARRIS. One of Portland's oldest industries is the Harris Ice Machine Works, which has been in continuous operation for nearly forty years and has long been one of the important manufacturing concerns of this locality. To the sagacity and sound management of H. E. Harris is due the splendid growth and the fine record of this company and the prosperity which has come to him is well merited. From an article which was printed in the Portland Daily Journal in 1916, after an interview with Mr. Harris, the following reference to this company is quoted: "Our Harris Ice Machine Works was established on a small scale in 1889 and incorporated in 1913. By close application to business and persistent effort it has grown until, in normal times, we employ from twenty-five to thirty skilled workmen. Our plant is complete in every detail. Our machine shop lacks nothing to make it perfect for all our purposes, a claim which a visit to our place would readily substantiate. For this reason we are able to furnish ice making or refrigerating machines the equal of any made in any factory in the world, and we care not from whence they come. Critical investigation will disclose this fact, and this is exactly what we invite. We would be pleased to have any citizen, in any wise interested in our products, pay us a visit, that he could see for himself that we speak the truth in these assertions. "We build ice making machines in capacities of from one ton per day to one hundred and twenty-five tons, and can make immediate delivery of any from twenty tons per day down. The larger machines are only made to order, but we are so well equipped for speedy construction that small delay is occasioned on any size machine. "Our workmen are all skilled mechanics and are paid the regular scale such employment demands, and every penny of their salaries is spent in Portland for such necessaries as families require. Our payroll would be trebled if all those purchasing ice and refrigerating plants would buy at home instead of sending their money east to help in propagating the prosperity of eastern communities. If an advantage were to be gained by the transaction no blame would lie, but there absolutely is not, either in efficiency or price. "It may not seem reasonable, but it is a fact that seventy-five per cent of the price of an ice machine or refrigerating plant goes to workers. We can demonstrate this to any person making an investigation; therefore those who buy from eastern makers actually remit three-quarters of all the money they pay for the thing purchased, to eastern interests, and it never returns to Portland. This is not good business. It is wrong in principle and is not justice to the home community. To me it is reprehensible, and I am so strenuously opposed to the practice that, for my personal needs, as well as those of my family and this plant, I insist upon Portland-made products and Oregon-made goods in every instance wherein I can procure them. "Sixty per cent of all ice machines and refrigerating plants used in Portland came from eastern factories. I know their location and purchasers, and I can prove this assertion true, and the very men who bought them live by Portland patronage. If their customers followed their example bankruptcy would be their fate. "We have installed refrigerating plants in northern British Columbia, in every city of note in California, old Mexico, in all parts of Washington and interior towns of Oregon, and have actually received more money from the small city of Boise, Idaho, than from all sales made in Portland. What do you think of that? One company alone in Boise has bought five machines from us, and we are at this time installing the last one ordered, and it has a capacity of one hundred and twenty-five tons a day. We also have put in large plants at Grand Junction, Colorado, and Reno, Nevada, in direct competition with eastern bidders. Some Portland business men, prominent in the community, however, are still doing business on the theory that the production of eastern factories are superior to those of the west, seemingly imagining that when a man crosses the Rocky mountains, westward bound, his brains and honor are left behind. I can ascribe their opinions to no other senseless conclusion." In 1925 the Harris Ice Machine Works were moved to a fine, reinforced steel and concrete building, one hundred and fifty by one hundred and eighty- five feet, at 188 Tillamook street, costing seventy-five thousand dollars, where they are better than ever prepared to care for their constantly increasing business. The product of this plant is sold all over the northwestern states and in many distant parts of the country. H. E. Harris was born on the 17th of May, 1867, and is a son of William and Harriet (Bonney) Harris. His father crossed the plains to California in 1849, and two years later came to Portland. Soon afterwards he located at Butteville, Oregon, where he worked at his trade, that of wagonmaker. Later he took a donation land claim near Aurora, and there his death occurred in 1905. His wife, who also was a pioneer of this state, is deceased. H. E. Harris received his education in the public schools and then became a steam engineer, in which capacity he was employed on river boats. Later he was employed as a stationary engineer, and for twelve years worked in various ice plants. During this period he conceived a number of improvements in ice- making machines, for which he made designs, and in 1889 he put his ideas into practical use by establishing the present business. He had had extensive experience and was chief engineer of the first water power ice plant in Oregon, located at Oregon City. The practicability of his ideas has been abundantly demonstrated in the extraordinary success which has accompanied the use of his ice machines and refrigerating plants. Mr. Harris was united in marriage to Miss Susan Jackson, of Markham, Oregon, and to them have been born three children. Wilda, is the wife of Elza Van Way, of Oakland, California; Claude, who is married, is the manager of the St. Johns Ice Works; and Gilbert W., who is associated with his father in business, is married and has three children. Mr. Harris supports the republican party and has at all times shown an active interest in matters concerning the welfare and prosperity of his home community. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Chamber of Commerce and is a director of the Multnomah Anglers and Hunters Club. Mr. Harris is one of the charter members of the National Association of Stationary Engineers, of which he was president several terms and is now vice president of the local chapter of the National Association of Practical Refrigerating Engineers. A man of earnest purpose, sound convictions and loyal to every obligation of citizenship, he has long commanded the confidence and respect of his fellowmen and has many warm friends in the community. 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