The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-07-26

fashionab to thus support foreign capitals"
the home builders can laugh at the returning
travellers who inevitably are losers in wealth,
flesh aud health. If such as refer to would
only spend their time and money in developing
the resources of this more than wonderful min
Ing region, they would add to instead of SUBJ
tracing from their wealth, and it would Ger
tainly be more sensible, business-like and
patriotic.
Within the past twenty years have been in
terested. one way or the other, directly or other
wise, IN mining matters. / have "sluiced" on
the Snowy river. "cradled" near the Old Ophir
on the Turon, held at one time interests in Bal
larat Bendigo, Castlemaine, Creswick, Climes,
the Dunstan. Lake and Thames fields in New
Zealand; went a thousand miles one time to
view t. rough mere curiosity the richest copper
mines in the world. namely, the Burra Burra IL,
south Australia: lost forty th0u>and dollars
another time hunting for diamonds IN South
Africa and didn't get for my outlay as many
diamonds as would buv single paste board card
called, in game of "Forty-ive,' the earl Of
Cork, but better known as the "- ee of Dia-
monds;" but though have made many a
stake and lost it and am not disheartened,
though I am now down to "bed rock" and
without cent.
I do not believe that an instance is known of
unvarying luck or good fortune on the part of
any person long engaged in mining pursuits.
Six years ago after getting "burst" on Comstock
deals" heard encouraging accounts of some
of the Arizona mining sections. went there.
advised California mining speculator to invest
in what was then known as the Centennial
Mine, in the Tombstone district. The cautious
touching everything in Arizona. I could have
got it for two thousand dollars. 1t was only
'hen lately opened, in TACT, it was not opened
far enough to show forth what might be in it.
The surface indications have often promised
vastly more tran ever was realized, as most
mining men know to their cost. l tried hard to
get the money to buy that mine as fancied
the ground, but luck was against me and could
not "raise the wind" SIX months after left
the vicinity, Walter Dean, Secretary Of the Po-
tosi, Imperial, Challow mining and their COM
panies bought that Contention without seeing
it for a few thousand dollars consideration,
erected mill at point about nine miles from
it where there was water. In two weeks that
mill produced bullion that paid for the entire
cost of mine and mill. Since that time it has
turned into Its owners over quarter Of mill
ion every three months regularly, and IS now
known as one of the great mines of the country
under the name of the Western. Such was my
luck!
of p,,ttA ND nf ha
ask your friendship and patronage in the hour
of my adversely. l want "show'' here in the
best mining camp I've yet seen on this slope.
Rich beyond all comparison, beyond the Ell Do.
ra of California, Nevada, Ariz ma or Idaho
know Butte will be, and to make this known to
the world, to present your resources, to point
out the fact that the young, vigorous. premier
city of NJ, ntana is veined and surrounded with
untold treasures of mineral wealth as yet unde-
yeloped to enable me to mine for fortune,
must for time write or work for living-for
mere bread and butter--and in time to describe
mines and miners lives shall be the aim and OBJ
ject-the specially Of the writer. have no
Jealousies of Localities no favored nine to puff
up" Blu te is in the midst of mining region
the wealth of which her own citizens or the
world cannot as yet comprehend. A future of
un. qnalled prosperity is before your city-if the
science of geology is not lie.
In this bright hope and confidenc I am in.
spired to reach beyond Butte. I shall work for
your city, county, Territory and journa', with
the selfish purpose of gaining success. and that
success will endeavor to merit. Will you give
me show" then? If not. why not? Don't you
think will strike bonanza yet in Montana as
well as my fellow couutrymen Fair and Mackay
did in Nevada. Their partners Flood and
O'brien. knew nothing about mining, but they
were well posted in that paying game-the sa-
loon business. Now, II you don't think I'll
strike it rich yet, do. Do you imagine for
moment that have waded through ice cold
waters, scaled rugged mountains, carried the
course of Cod on my back in the shape of
blankets, provisions, ETC., in the Occur d'Alene
country, tramped from Thompson's Falls to
Helena and Butte, giving my stomach many
holiday, only that was inspired by the example
of U. S. Senator James G. Fair and John Mackay
who had their reverses too as prelude to their
success. To an encouragement to some of your
Young mining readers, propose to give
truthful sketch of these "ROnanza Kings
which you can accept as reliable. never write
lies voluntarily. may add that never asked
the slightest favor of either of those men, but
had correspondence with Fair years ago when
was in Mexico and his letters to me testified
that like Mackay he is an educated and cult
waited 6 ntleman.
Fair was born In Tyrone among the Bushes"
Ireland, over half century ago. He came with
his parents to Illinois. In 1880, when only so1ae
eighteen years of age he was ''rustling" harder
Than older miners among the boulders at Long s
Bar, Butte county, California, on Feather river,
called "rl Rio de las P!umas"-the river Of
feathers. Placer mining in those days was an
up and down game. in bononza for day. in
porasca Tor ten OF TWEEN days. This did not
suit the y, ung Tyrone miner. He always be-
lieved that his good luck or fortune would be
found in quartz He pounded away day and
night at quartz veins shile mining at Angels
Camp in Calaveras county. His knowledge of
croppinks and indications got him employment
as superintendent Of quartz mines III other parts
Of California. On the discovery of the Com
stock he moved to that camp. His California
experience proved valuable and in q short time
he was made superintendent of the Ophir mine,
and In 1857 of the Hale ana Norcross. In this
latter mine he first became associated with
John Mackay, and they got Flood and O'Brien
to join them in that and other mining enter
prises. Fair, Mackay, Flood, O Brien and Walker
composed the firm. With the profits made by
their contract in developing the Hale & Norcross,
the firm managed to get possession Of some
5000 feet Of the Comstock vein north of the
Hale and Norcross, and along that property
they sent an exploring drift. Mr.. Walker be-
coming discouraged, sold his interest to Mackay.
and thus Mackay got two-dfths interest In the
arm.
Naekay and Fair are good samples OF those
1riahmsn who, leaving Europe without capital