The creation of a huge industrial operation at such an isolated place was an enormous undertaking. The only flat areas of land were cleared to build the pulp mill, while the town wound its way up the hillside across the river. A dam was constructed to supply crucial water and a water-powered electric plant with large Pelton waterwheels was put into operation. Although the first pulp was manufactured in 1912, the early years were troubled and it was not until the plant was rebuilt in 1917 and paper began rolling off a new paper machine on June 1, 1917, at 180 metres per minute, that successful production began.