The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-30
1t II I only had Something to smoke I'm
feeling bad today and I'd like some to-

discharge thos6itVte men. They are not
working they're smoking"
Inc next morning the discharged miners
called at Mr.. Fatrs office and told him
that they had been discharged.
well, WE'LL SAID Mr.. Fair. THAT fore
man will be the ruin of me. He's discharg-
ing all my best men,
Then we can go back to work." said one
of the miners.
What would be the use of that9,, said
Fair THAT mani VIII discharge you as
often as you go back, SO what can do for
your
Fair was never society man. and al
ways avoided 1t, but rather preferred going
70 bed at o'clock and getting up at s. In
ms contest with Sharon for his seat in the
United States senate the assistance of
Mackay was invaluable to him. After this
his residence was practically given up in
Nevada.
THE QUARREL WITH MACKAY.
Before his term in the senate ended the
difference between him and Mackay oc-
Cured AS they had never been strong
personal friends, each was bitter toward
the other. The cause of the trouble is to
tnis DAY a mystery. On this point were
divers theories. One was that Mackay was
thoroughly dspleased with Fairs action in
the matter of his wife's divorce obtained in
Judge Rlslngs chambers, at which evil
dence of the husbands misconduct was
shown.
II Fair had had any desire for reelection
MackayS opposition would have defeat ted
them. 1t was during these differences that
flOod became their mediator in business
matters Each would so to him with their
personal grievances and Flood would attend
TO the business of both and managed to re-
tam the confidence of both. Fairs rail-
road business was never a source of pleas
ure to him, notwithstanding the enormous
pronts 1T brought him. Although he sold
10 the southern Pacific company the mar
row guage railroad from San Francisco to
Santa Cruz and his street railroad in Oak
land, Cal, for about $2,0O0O0O more than
they cost him, he was glad to get rid of
them.
There are too many thieves in the rail-
road business to watch, and l am glad |
I'M out of it, said he after he had com
pleted the sale.
Notwithstanding all his wealth Senator
Fair was wretchedly lonesome old man.
Inc conduct and death of his idolized son.
James g., Jr., was a heavy blow to him
At the Lick House, San Francisco, one of
his many buildings, he lived alone in his
rooms. He spent the business hours of
the day in his office on Montgomery street
ana the evenings in his rooms From di-
sease of the kidneys and dropsy he had
been slowly dying for months before the
end came
H. Rooney, who was associated with him
at Angles Camp and on the Comstock
lode, gives some interesting "reminiscences
regarding the millionare's career
Mr. Fair was married to my sister,
Theresa Rooney" says he, "at Carson Hill,
near Angles, Dec. 80, 1860 At the time Mr.
Fair was with Irwin, the owner of the old
and rich Utica mine at Angles, now owned
by Hobart & Hayward. 1t was Fair who
first developed ana made this mine paw.
1t is at Carson Hill that the rich Morgan
NINE, owned by Mr. Fair is located, and
which for % years, has. been tied up by liti-
cation A milliop dollars was taken out
of it once at one bfast, and l remember
walking around ihutifNe hills after rain
and picking up $3.50 and $40 in nuggets.
AN ALL-BOTND WINNER
Mr. Fair. he arrived in Calveras
county. had little (lnoney. He had made
some $4,000 or $4o,Go0yat Shaw's Flat, Tue
lone county, but It vas about all used up
Fair was the hartiiest all-round mining
man | ever saw. aridI don't believe there
ever was a more thofbugh one on the Pa
cifc coast
In those days herdid all the blacksmith
ing, paid attentiopto all the details, person.
ally directing the mining and taking part
with pick and shovel. Fair was then per-
feet specimen of physical manhood and
very handsome fellow. He wore short
beard and his complexion was clear. He
was an athlete, as strong as any in the
country, and also very jovial and witty.
Every dance these days found Fair in it, so
totally was he unlike what he became in
after years. 1t was his experience at Nir-
glnla City that began to steady him.
His selling the Utica and going on the
Comstock was a lucky hit. When ques-
ton arose between Sharon and Fair and the
other stockholders of the Hale and Nor
cross and Fair stepped out for Idaho, the
subterfuge disarmed Sharon, who allowed
Flood & O'Brien, Fairs partners, to get
hold of the stock. Then Fair again appear
ed at Virginia. Sharon held $4,000 mort
gage on the Bacon mill, which Fair got.
Sharon was surprised, but asked him what
he would do with it.
think I'll work little Hale and Nor
cross ore replied Mr.. Fair and that was
the first inkling Mr.. Sharon had that the
property had gone from him. After this,
along with Mackay, O'Brien and Flood,
Fair got hold of many other claims He
began working from the Curry through
the Best and Belcher to the Consolidated
Virginia the 1,2OO-foot level
While work was progressing, he went
East. One day Mackay came down and
said to the foreman, wish this mine
would sink in - The foreman agreed
with him that that was probably the best
place for it. They had so little faith in it
that they were not raising the dirt, but
were throwing it back in the drifts. In
the dilemma some Of the stockholders sent
for Fair. When he got there and went
down and saw how things were, he said:
Clean out all this dirt and rock and
drive straight ahead into the Virginia.
They did SO and strucnk the greatest bo-
nanza ever known in mining. Had it not
been for him it would not have been done
though he has not had the credit for it,
but 1t is fact. l the third man
down there who saw the wonderful strike.
This is the true story of the discovery OF
the great Consolidated Virginia bonanza
Mr.. Fair had no hobbies, was never in
terested in literature or art but was
wholly absorbed with business. In finance
he never made a losing. His fortunes in
creased, whether he dealt in railroads.
mines or ranches.
Fair never worked with a pick at Vir-
glnia. / have heard it said he did. but |
know better. He was always occupied
with affairs of such Importance as to take
his whole attention. l first became ac-
quainted with him through his coming to
me for water to run MILL which Fair and
Davis owned. The firm. afterward changed
to Fair, Mackay, Flood & O'Brien grow
ing powerful with their great discoveries
To my mind Fair was the brains of the
bonanza firm. AZ 81
If the milkmaln understands the cow
she will look up to HIM as her friend, and
yields up her milk with pleasure, because
the distension of the udder is painful to
certain extent. But when a COW becomes
troublesome, tries tol}kick over the pail.
won't give down her milk, and SO on.
there is cause for It., and the cause will
generally be found outside the cow-she
has not been properly; treated and she re-