The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-12-05
JAMES G. FAIR.
ketch Of tho Coming MilliOnair,
Senator.

sketch OF tho Coming millionaire
Senator.
A San Francisco correspondent sends the
following about the coming bonanza Senator from
Nevada:
There can DO scarcely question that should James
g. Fair live TIL the meeting OF tho Legislature he Will
v %s %as
North Of Ireland In tho year 1891, and came with his
parents to the United States In 1919, hts parents set
tng In Illinois. In 1919, on tho breaking out OF the
California gold foyer, Fair, then lad Of eighteen,
Joined the adventurous throng, and wended his way
It. Immediately on his arrival In California he
entered upon the pursuit OF mining following It with
the varying success attendant upon gold mining until
$780, In that year occurred the great Washoe silver
mining excitement, when large portion Of the pOpl-
aton or California stampeded over the Sierra Nevada
mountains to the new fnd The Comstock lode hal
been discovered the previous year. but tile excitement
reached Its height In 1860. Mining. as followed In
California up to that year; was but crude process,
requiring no special skin or scientific knowledge.
Not 10 with siIver-mlning, however. To mine
properly and successfully for silver requires the best
Of engineering talent. Fair had no education
cheering, and he at once saw that Nevada was field
for the development and exercise OF the talents he
knew he possessed On his arrival on the COnstock
he at first engaged In prospecting and mining but 1t
not long before e assumed prominent position
as the architect and builder an o, gar1 mills r sa
out the then Territory MS rst-c class mechanical and
mining engineer. In 1864 Col. Fair assumed the
SUPPLEMENTARY Of mine on tho CnmstOck, and since
that time has superintendent nearly every prominent
mine on the lode.
In 1867 ho became associated In partnership with
James o. Flood and W. s. o. Brien, OF San FRAN
cisco, and John w. Mackay, Of Virginia City, and
In that year the Arm obtained control Of the Hale and
NOrcrOss mine. which was the beginning Of career
OF good fortune which has placed Its members among
the richest men In the world big mud IN the Hale
| and Narcross, attended with some Fortunate and
| we-planned stock manipulatiOns, gave the frm a
capital which enabled 1t TO purchase other mines,
among which was the ground now known ~ the Con-
s0latcd Virginia and California, In which con-
taned tho ''Big BOanza.n The history Of this great
chimney Of gold and silver ore has already been written
10 d0a AMI II Is only ecessaryto say here that Its
discovery WAN due moro To tic untiring energy aud
engineering know ledge Of Col Fair than tn any other
cause. Fair Is probably to-day the greatest miner IN
the world. There is not detail connected with the
great industry u mining with which he IL not ler.
fecily familiar both In theory and ~ practice. lfacl
day finds him In his miners rlg, moving about
through the drifts aud levels, 500 To o. 900 eet under
ground, making critical Inspection OF All tho work
ings, noting the PROGRESS made since Ills last visit.
ming laying out and giving orders for further exor.
alton and new work. Mining has been the study o
his life, and when no takes his scat in The Senate IL
may have to 60 10 tho COnkngs ts IIlaines, and thu
Edniundses for lessons In staecraft, hut they vii
have TO walt on him for Instruction In practical scien
entlnc mining.
Col. Fair stands vo feet oght IN his stockings,
weighs 227 pounds, which, taken In connection will
his financial standing. makes him In every respect
| solid man. Ito wears long, flowing beard, black n
the ravens wing, except whee tingsd With gray AM
his head Is surmounied by heavy growth of blacl
| hair, also streaked with gray Ills complexion
norld, which IN doubt caused by Ills frequent visit
TO the heated lower levels OF tho Mines where III
wafer would scaid man 70 death IN two minutes an
tho air reaches temperature Of 1860 Faonhot. III
eyes are brown and sparkling. tie wns married Il
duhforpa IN 1861, and has family OF four children
two boys and two girls, tho edest, james, nineec
years old having accompanied him IN his trip aronn
tlie world. Mrs. Fair Is . kindly faced, sonewha
stout lady, on tho shady sido of forty. She III dstin
gusled IN this city for her pleasant manners, aGab
temper. and open-hahded charities. sho viii do II
discredit to Washington society. In manner Col
Fair IL genial and free, having smile aud pleasaI
word for esoryb0ly. whetera miner IN search OF
job or distinguished visitor from tho last or froi
| over the lie Is the same to all. While he wi
be- elected 10 the Senate ms Democrat, hc Is not
partisan IN any sense lilo Is conservative and inde
pondent In tho sirictesi VI ho.o terms, and Ia
| Democratic constituents will not 10 wonder struc
should o vote With Tho Republicans on some gre'
national question. Iieing man OF sound, hard son'
and excellent Judgment, no will no doubt have u ,is,
full career In tho Senate. lilo VIII not clectrify u
| country with great speech. but VIII be % worker
, committee and win vote right every time. lhe
are orators enough In the Senate now, and Neyad
docs not propose 10 nict on tho country an addtlo
to tho number Of spouters, but Will give II usef
man.