The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-03-05
Immense Wealth.
From the Chicago Tribune !

Immense Wealth.
From the Chicago Tnbunel
VIRGINIA Cry, Men, February 20
The tourist on first setting foot down
in this strange city, is struck by tn,
marvellous phases Of character whcl
meet him on every hand. Every nation
under the sun has its representatives en-
tered here in the race for gold, and ev
cry situation in life be encountered
Englishmen of character, and English
men with mo character to speak of
Prussian and Frenchmen, forgetting
tiravelot and Sedan in the more engross
ing fight for wealth; the universe
Yankee Nation with its representative
from every State in the Union ploddml
for fortune by the side Of the Mongo
liam A babel of nationalities and sin
gle purpose. With u gross population
Of 10000 souls, Virginia City supports
not less than twenty gambling hells 2OC
saloons, and houses of prostitution stare
at the passerby at every turn the chini
of gold and silver resomds everywhere
from early dawn till long after mid
night,
THE MAD PURSUIT OF WEALTH,
never halts, and the burning desire ia
spend it once ii is secured knows nc
cessation. Tho are men here with in
comes of $500 GOO per month, on the
one hand and shiverng wretches with
out iarthing on the other Here, more
sharply than in any other American
town. are the two extremes of poverty
and wealth eXemplihed; yet the starv-
ing wretch Of to-day may be the million.
are of tomorrow. Instances are plenty
when this truth has been fully proven.
The American press of late has given Il
good deal of attention to the wonder
iul developments constantly being made
in the mines here, and not inirequently
have correspondents treated their read
ers to highly imaginative sketches OF
some Of the leading mines owners and
operators After "a sojourn Of more than
two months in the midst of this mining
district and an earnest study of the
personnel of the Bonanza Kings" as
some or the leading miners here are
called, may be permitted to advance
an unbiased opinion of the men, and an
mbought judgment of the mineral re-
sources of this wonderful country. 1t
would perhaps be premature on the part
of any one to hazard the affirmatinn
that
THE CoMST0CK LODE
is the richest mining region in America.
That it is the richest yet discovered
there can be no manner of doubt. Dis
coverd in 1859, it has since yielded not
less than $50, 1000, and this with very
imperfect machinery for the greater
part of the time Many men have be-
come rich beyond their most sanguine
hopes. but, imposed of the ability to
stand prosperity, have succumbed to
the passion for gambling in stocks; 9th
ers, more prudent, have saved their
money and, more honorable(O, have
bought their way into the United States
Senate
But the most startling illustration of
the wonderful opportunities of the
country, has been the expedience of
what is popularity known as the "Bo-
nanza crowd" composed of four men
John w. Mackay, James g. Fair, James
C. Flood and VIM O'Brien. Three
years ago, Flood and G Brien kept a re-
tail grog-shop in San Franciseo-a sam
pie room, where the thirsty might inn
bibe bad rum and worse headache at
any hour of the day or night Mackay,
a few years ago, ran steam-englne at
one of the mines he has also worked in
the mines with pick and shovel. James
&. Fair is a mining expert-the best in
the region; he has been mining SUI
perintendent for many years, 1t hap
pened that
MACKAY AND FAIR
became cognizant of the fact that GER
tain mine. the stock of which was at n
very low ebb, contained some exceed
ingly rich ore. Having saved few hun
cred dollars, they induced the proprle-
tors of the San Francisco grog-shop to
Join them in purchasing a controlling
interest in the stock. Instead OF levy
ing an assessment on the stock, as the
rule had been under the former manage
ment, they declared dividend, and
were not long in proving the souiidness
of their Judgment by the developments
which they brought to hesurface. From
that time they prospered Their next
venture was the purchase of the Consol
idated Virginia Mine, aproperty which
had hung like dead weight around the
necks of its stockholders. They sunk
the shaft deeper and still deeper until
they reached the depth of 800 feet, and
not only proved the existence of rich
ore, but had the satisfaction of recogniz
in the deposits which they opened up
unlimited wealth for themselves, ant
generous dividends for their stockhold
ers. For more than year past this
mine has been yielding S2,O00,000 {
month, and paying dividends of $40 PEI
share per month.