The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-07-18
Fiattering Reports from Adjacent
Mining Districts.
An Interview With j. w. Whit
latch.

AAo"A w VuO AOAlAAAo1O OuCS Ill Iue
good old days of gulch mining. But
few, if any instances can be cited
where a boy of his years, alone and
unattended, had the hardihood ia
cross the plains and On arrival at the
Mecca of his hopes, with only the re-
mains of his last dollar in his pocket,
seek the region of the mines, and
taking his pick and shovel as his
only helpmates, proceed to develop
whatina short time proved to be one
OF the best paying claims in the State.
The modern Schools of Mines may
have their advantages and theoreti.
cally help to aid the *'climber to the
top" but the practical school in
which Jim Whitlatch educated him.
self is in the end the only true one,
and the majority of good and expert
enced miners are ever found gradu-
ates therefrom, whose knowledge is
derived from personal observation,
and the hard work that ever accom-
panies the labor of the hopeful pros
pector.
The energy of young Whitlatch
was we'll rewarded, for at the end of
his first season he found himself the
possessor of several thousand dollars,
and an insight into the great art of
mining that laid the foundation for
the further accumulation of wealth,
which he afterwards acquired to such
a remarkable degree.
From Colorado he went to Austin,
Nevada, where he organized and
developed the famous "Whitlatch
Union" and "Yankee Blade" mines
which are still ranked among the
best producers of that camp. Success
crowned all his efforts and he became
a wealthy man. Theglowing reports
from Alder Gulch, Montana, attract
ed his attention and he determined
to visit that locality. He did not
stay long, however, in the gulch
mining region, but proceeded to the
new town of Helena, and at once
commenced prospecting. He was
not long in discovering near that
town the great mine afterwards
noted throughout the land as the
"Whitlatch Union" and from which
he took out over three millions of
dollars.
The people of Helena owe a debt
of gratitude to J. w. Whitlatch for
he assisted in a great measure to
build up the fortunes, of that town,
while his name and purse were ever
associated with all the enterprises
that helped to advance its interests.
In 1870 he closed up his business in
Helena and returned to Nevada
where his first operation was in the
celebrated "Starr King" mine in
Humboldt county. Subsequently he
was one of the first operators in the
Panamint district California.
He afterwards visited Bolivia and
New Granada, and after ex-
aiming the mineral balts of that
country, concluded that although ex-
ceedingly rich in gold and silver,
the difficulties of reduction and eli
matte disadvantages were insupera-
BILE obstacles to successful mining op-
erations. Upon his return from
South America he made a critical
and exhaustive examination of the
mineral sections of Virginia, Geor-
gia, North and South Carolina, i'm
the interest of New York capitalists.
His next operations were in Califor-
MIA and Arizona, and for several
years he was a conspicuous figure in
the mining operations of those Sec
tons. More recently he has oper-
ated In Colorado, the extensive
character of his business being
such as to thoroughly familiarize
him with the characteristics of every
camp in that state. He is at present
interested there, being a large owner
in tho Kansas mine and mill in
Montgomery district, Colorado; but
attracted by the favorable reports and
steady returns from Summit Valley,
he came here two months ago at the
instance Of prominent eastern capt.
~talists, with a view to investing in
the mines of this district. Negotia-
tions for n OF our leading properties
resulted in MI. Whitlatch and his
friends agreeing to take the property
at 100000, but an examination of the
title developed fatal complications
and the sale fell through. During
the past two months Mr.. Whitlatch
has examined a large number of
properties in this and adjacent dis
and with a view to obtaining
the valuable opinion of an operator
and expert of such wide and varied
experience, a MINER reporter yester-
day called upon the gentleman at his
with the following result:
Reporter-Mr. Whit!atch, you
have examined a good many of our
properties; what are yourimpressions
of the camp?
MI. Whitlatch- Butte possesses as
many attractions for the legitimate
miner as our own Leadville. Like
all large camps, you have some great
properties, and a good many
prospects, which are Of but
little value to the owners, who are
unable to provide machinery for
working the mines and reducing the
ore. Your great mines are equipped
with the finest machinery in the