The San Francisco call., 1897-02-04
HOEFER IS
HOME AGAIN
A Californian Who Has
Won Fame and Fortune
Abroad.
He TELLS ABOUT SOUTH
AFRICA.
His Story of the Growing In.
terest in Our Mines in France
and in England.
SOMETHING ABOUT OLD. TIME
RESIDENTS.
Hamilton Smiths Sudden Return to
London-Buying of til, Silver Bow
Basin and Tomboy Mines.
SOMETHING ABOUT OLD TIME
RESIDENTS.

Eugene Hoefer OF South Africa, the con-
fideutial lieutenant of Hamilton Smith in
many mining affairs and manager of great
properties on the Dark Continent is at the
Palace, accompanied by Mrs. Hoefer. MIR.
Hoefer is a Californian by long residence
and education. He came here in early
boyhood, attended the Washington Gram
mar School and the Boys High School,
finally grad duating at Berkeley. In 1888 he
left here for South Africa and has not been
back till now. During his absence he has
acquired a comfortable fortune.
He is absent from South Africa on a
six months leave of absence, and will
probably be in California two or three
months. de has not come on mining 2
business, but if there should be any reason
why he should visit any mine or district
here he Will do so. Mr.. Hoefer is general
manager of the TransVaal Gold Mining
Estates, the Glynns Lyenburg Limited
and other companies in the Pilgrims Rest
district, $50 miles east OF Johannesburg
This property is owned by Wehner Belt
d. Co. of London. Mr.. Belt is said to be
the wealthiest of all the men who have
made investments in South Africa.
Mr.. Hoefer when he left here went first
to Johannesburg and then to Damaraland
where he was connected with some i'm
portant copper properties. Then he went
10 Johannesburg and finally went on an
extended trip of exploration through
Matabe leland. He accompanied John
Hays Hammond on part OF his trip
when he set out for Buluwayo. Altogether,
he has had many interesting experiences.
The excitement over South African
mining shares in London and Paris has
died down a good deal, " SAID Mr.. Hoefer
They were too high, of course; but
when / was in Paris l took occasion t.
assure some of the stockholders there that
30 far as the investments in Pilgrims
Rest properties were concerned they were
all right. l told them that they would
come out ali right on them, and they will.
The main REASON why l have been en-
abled to get away to California at this
time Is because of disease among the
cattle where l am engaged in mining
Pilgrims Rest is about sixty miles from
the railroad, and we have to use bullocks
TO haul the freight. AS the cattle IN trav-
cling spread the disease it was deemed
best TO put sort of quarantine on them.
As we could get no freight through, and
therefore could not do much, we con-
Cluded TO close down for little while.
'"While the interest among London min
ing investors has not changed toward
South Africa and Australia it has greatly
increased as regards California. few
years ago, when l first went over there.
almost no attention was paid the Califor-
MIA mines, but now it is very different
The gold mines here stand well in Eng.
land, and much capital will be invested
here | have no doubt.
Thomas Mein is the resident REPRESENT
ative here of the powerful British invest
ors headed by the Rothscnilds. These
people have Lately bought two mining
properties here. One is the Silver Bow
Basin property in Alaska, and the other
Is the Tomboy in Colorado. l have no
doubt they will buy other properties
whenever they are convinced they are
getting good ones.
Hamilton Smith, who has been in the
United States for some time-mainly in
the East-sailed from New York for Lon
don on January 20. l had expected to
come over here in the same boat with
him, and we exchanged some dispatches
regarding 1t, but l could not get ready in
time. l do not know whether he expects
to return and come to the Pacific Coast or
not. Mr. Mein, however, has charge of
everything here"
Mr.. Hoefer looks on California as a
great field foI investment. He has mar
red during his absence, his wife being an
English lady, and she is here for the first
time. Mr.. Hoefer says the improvement
In San Francisco, especially as regards
the erection of great buildings, is very
marked. He says, too, that goods are
sold here very cheaply, much cheaper
than he expected, and some even cheaper
than in Europe.
Mr.. Hoefer's relatives reside here and
he will spend some time in visiting them,
and he will before his return visit different
parts OF the State.
Wehner, Belt d Co., who own the mines
OF which Mr.. Hoefer has the gener al m an
age ment, are part purchasers of the Silver
Bow Basin and Tomboy mines. Mr..
Hoefer. though in South Africa during
the famous Jameson raid and all that led
up to 1t, kept clear of it all. He met John
Hays Hammond frequently in London,
but does not know when ne NAV come 10
this country.