Morris tribune., 1880-07-22
THE BONANZA KINGS.
Sketches OF Mackay, Flood and O'Brien-The
Enormous Wealth Of the Consolidated
Mines. 4te.


Sketches OF Mackay, Flood and O'Brien-The
Enormous Wealth Of the Consolidated
Mines.
A Virginia City (Nev) correspondent
OF the Chicago Tribune writes: I'm
doubtedly John w. Mackay is the wealth.
lest gentleman on the Pacific slope. His
wealth is variously estimated at from
$15,OOO,O0O to $25,O0O,OOO. He came
from San Francisco, and for several years
remained comparatively poor. He is
now the largest owner in the Nevada
bank, and In the Consolidated Virginia
mines. He spends most of his time at
Virginia City, Nevada. His Office is in
the branch of the Nevada bank, estab-
lished in that city, although he spends
much of his time about the mines, con-
corning which he knows every detail. A
thousand men in Virginia City wear bet
ter clothes and put On more airs than Mr..
Mackay does. Everybody speaks to HIM
and he speaks to everybody. l believe
he could be elected senator OF Nevada by
merely announcing his desire Of an cleo
ton. He keeps an open house and goes
around with an open heart. His recent in
dividual contribution of $4,000 and the
contribution Of 5000 from the bank
in which he is chief owner, for the re-
lief of the poor in ireland, are only
tri6e compared, with his donations for
charitable purposes during the past two
years. There is an orphan establishment
in Virginia City, caring for and educat-
ing the orphans of that section of Ne
vada, to which he has for years been a
constant contributor On his return
to Nevada, some weeks ago, one of the
sisters in charge came to him and told
him of their necessities, and the poverty
to which they were reduced. He was in
a hurry, but, without ceasing his work,
directed his manager to Immediately send
the institution ton of flour and ten tons
of coal, saying the moment he got
little leisure he would go down and see
what else they needed.
Colonel Fair, like Mackay, lives main
~ in Nevada near the mines. giving his
personal attention to their development.
He is quiet, unostentatious man who
says but little, but does a great deal of
thinking. The outside world has not
heard as much of Colonel Fair as of the
other bonanza kings, but his ability is
appreciated by the people of the Pacific
slope, and his Judgment and executive
ability are recognized by the other men,
bers of his firm. 49,.
O'Brien is dead. He is the Mark Tap
ley of the big bonanza, and no man ever
found him out of patience. have never
heard his name spoken except with evil
dent affection. He left over $10,000,000
at his death. ..
The remaining member of the firm,
Flood, has generally lived at San Francis
CO, with headquarters at Nevada bank,
and tbs to his genius that much of the
success of the capitalists of the bank is
due. He is really the financial man OF the
consolidation, and with powers that
would place him in the front rank as a
fnancier had he lived in New York in
stead of San Francisco. He has much of
that reserve Of manner which thoughtful
men usually possess. He is calculated to
be much more popular in San francisco
than In Virginia City, where the branch
bank is located. His ways are just suited
tie read and match the shrewd men of the
city, but not to meet the rough, busting,
hail-fellow crowd he would meet at the
Nevada. mines. @
From the men whose money is behind
the Nevada bank in San Francisco and
its branches elsewhere, and whose hearts
have never been hardened by success,
comes $25, 900 In addition to the 1O,O0O
which Mackay had already sent for the
relief of the Irish poor. ..
The Nevada bank is one of the great
institutions of the world. In consequence
of the excessive taxation on banking cap
ltal under the new constitution of CALI
tornia, it reduced its capital on January
1, to $3,000,000 which leaves on its hands
reserve surplus of $3,50O,OOO invested
in government bonds. In addition, there
stands on the books of the treasury de-
partment at Washington, in United States
stocks, property Of shareholders, and
registered in three names OF the bank,
$40, 500, 900, the aggregate of the United
States securities held by the Nevada
banks and its shareholders.
And now the question arises in the
minds of your readers, from whence has
all this wealth comet This same bonan-
"a firm has tor years owned controlling
influence in the Consolidated Virginia
mine, and several Others on the Comstock
lode. During the past four years over
$i18,000,000 In gold and silver has
been taken from the Consolidated Virgl-
MIA mine. and $sO,OOO,OOO of it paid out
In dividends to stockholders. 1t paid
the expenses of working after the ex-
penditure of the first $70O 900. ..s..