Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1880-12-09
g. AIRS ~ tag ri l 'Naq@7 Fl. .s-.-.
WHOLE No" 2897

rode had been discovered the previous year.
but the excitement reached its height in 1850.
Mining as followed in California ND to that
year, was but crude process, requiring no
special skill or scientific knowledge. Not 30
with silver mining, however. To mine prop.
erly and successfully for silver requires the
best of engineering talent. Fair had no ed
ucation as an engineer hut natural bent for
mechanics and engineering, and he at once
saw that Nevada was field for the develop
ment and exercise of the talents he knew he
possessed. On his arrival on the Comstock
he at first engaged in prospecting and mining,
but it was not long before he assumed prom
inent position as the architect and builder of
quartz mills and chlorinizing furnaces, being
recognized throughout the then Territory as q
f1rst.class mechanical and mining engineer.
In 1854 Col. Fair assumed the superintendent
cy of o mine on the Comstock, and since that
time has superintendent nearly every pronii-
nent mine on the lode. - f''" ''f'79..i'
h In 1867 he became associated in partner.
ship with James @. Flood and w. s. O'Brien,
of San Francisco and John w Mackay, Of
Virginia City, and that year the firm obtained
control of the Hale and Norcross mine which
was the beginning of a career of good fortune
that has placed its members among the richest
men id the world. A big find in the Hale and
Norcross, attended with some fortunate and
well planned stock manipulations, gave the
firm capital which enabled it to purchase
other mines, among which was the ground
now known as the Consolidated Virginia and
California, in which was contained the "Big
Bonanza" The history of this great chimney
of geld and silver ore has already been written
TO death, and it is only necessary to say here
that its discovery was due more to the untir-
ing energy and engineering knowledge of Col.
Fair than to any other cause. Fair is probab-
ly to-day the greatest miner IN the world.
There is not detail connected with the great
industry of mining with which he is not per-
fectly familiar, both in theory and in practice.
Each day finds him in his miners rig moving
about through the drifts and levels, 1850 to
1900 feet under ground, making critical in
spection of all the workings, noting the prog
ress made since his last visit, examining the
changes In the formation, and planning, lay.
Ing out. and giving orders for further explora-
ton and new work. Mining has been the
study of his life, and, when he takes his seat
In the Senate, be may have to GO to the Conk.
lings, the Blaines, and the Edmundses for
lessons in statecraft, but they will have to
wait on him for instruction in practical, scien-
tif1c mining. b rE2 D., I.. - .s..f :,a-.
Col Fair stands feet 8 inches in his stock
ings, and weighs 227 pounds, which, taken in
connection with his financial standing, makes
him in every respect ssolidman, He wears a
long, flowing beard, black as the ravens wing,
except where tinged with gray, and his head
is surmountedl by a heavy growth of black
hair, also streaked with gray. His complex ?,
Ion is horid, which is no doubt caused by his
frequent visits to the heated lower levels Of
the mines, where the water would scald alnan
to death in two minutes and the air reaches
o temperature of 145 Fahrenheit. His eyes
are brown and sparkling He was married. in
California in 1861 and has family of four
children, two boys and two girls, the oldest,
James, 10 years DID, having accompanied him
in his trip around the world. : Mrs. Fair is
kindly faced, somewhat stout lady, on the
shady side of 40. She Is distinguished in this
city for her pleasant manner, affable temper,
and open-handed charities She will do no
discredit to Washington society In man
ner Col. Fair isa genial and free, having
smile and pleasant word for everybody,
whether miner in search of q Job or dis
tinguished visitor from the East or from over
the sea. He Is the same to all. While he
will be elected to the Senate as Democrat,
he is not partisan in any sense. He is con.
sentative and independent in the strictest
sense of those terms, and his Democratic con-
stituents will not be wonder-struck should he
vote with the Republicans on some great nat
ional question:. Being o insn of sound, hard
sense and excellent judgment, he will no
doubt have useful career in the Senate. He
will not electrify the country with great
speech. but will be worker in committee,
and will vote right every time There are
orators enough in the Senate now, and Neva-
da does not propose to lnflict on the country
an addition to the number. of spouters, but
will give it useful man. ~