The evening times., 1899-02-14
SENAToR-ELECT CLARK.
An Expert on Mining and n Man of
Enormous Wealth.

W cain.
To the Editor OF Tie Times
In reporting what Mr.. Hartman, OF Mon
tana, said of Senator elect Clark of that
-State, you say Mr.. Clark is worth $50 900 =
600. 1t is difficult to put an estimate upon
Mr.. Clark's wealth, but it is probably
greater than that sum. He has wealth
which few know anything about, but he
was offered sol, 600, 900 for the United Verde
Mine in Arizona, and he refused f6e offer.
Few persons would estimate his property
in Montana at less than 81, 900 600 and some
would put it as high as so. 600, 0O0
In Montana, ii is understood that he has
put the United Verde Mine and the rail-
road connecting it with the outer world,
which cost over million dollars, in trust.
so it can never be sold. 1t will be known
as the Clark Mine. 1t is undoubtedly the
greatest mine in the world, the lode prob
ably being larger and richer than the great
| Comstock lode near Virginia City, New,
| and while that lode was owned by
several companies. Mr.. Clark is almost
the sole owner of the United Verde
The mine was examined by many experts
who reported against it. When it was
| offered to Mr.. Clark, he himself sampled
4 Ii thoroughly and purchased the mine first
| buying up the stock of private parties,
which was not included in the purchase,
though he had a controlling interest in the
company. He finally purchased all but a
few hundred shares, which the owners
refused to part with at any price.
But little is known of the mine except
| by the management. but it has been stated
| that the vein is 500 feet wide and that IL
| has some very rich shoots of ore the
length Of which has not been determined,
| but the total width of which has been
| shown by several crosscuts to be about
| 300 feet, which runs 10 per cent of copper
| and $15 gold per ton of ore. The length
| of some of these shoots had been traced
over 300 feet three years ago. The ore is
carbonate of copper, which Is easily re-
| duced. AS depth is reached it is expected
the ore will change 10 a suphuret. There
| is very little ore in the vein that will not
pay 10 break, and the waste is inconsid-
cradle compared with the ore. 1t is esti-
| mated that the ore in sight is worth more
than 100000, Geo. after all expenses OF
mining, reducing, and shipping to market
are said.
Mr.. Clark is a man of affairs Few men
| have more information about mines than
| he and his knowledge has been acquired
| almost entirely under ground He is ca
| pabie of experimenting a smelling plant,
and he knows how to prepare and mix
| ores. He could sink a shaft, or drive Il
| tunnel, or make an upraise, as well as the
| best mining engineer He has a good
| knowledge of government and government
| affairs, and while conducting his great
| business and being engaged in politics in
every campaign he has learned the French
| language so as to be able to speak it
| fluently and read it almost as well as he
| does his native tongue.
| He is silver man. but has not been
| considered as devoted to the cause as many
other public men of his State. Before the
! Chicago Convention he was understood not
TO be in favor of that platform, but when
| the convention spoke, he accepted the full
silver doctrine. He contributed literally
to the expenses of the National Democratic
| Committee in 1896, but not so literally as
| his opponent Mr.. Marcus Daily, who, it is
| said donated nearly, if not quite, as much
as was received from all other sources.
Mr.. Clark is considered close man in
| business affairs, but liberal in politics.
| have no personal knowledge of his cam
paign for the Senate. If he should fail
to secure seat on the plea that he used
! money to influence members Of the Legis-
| lature of his State. the Senate would have
| to purge itself until, probably, not a quo
| rum would be left to do business. If the
| scandals arising from the purchase oi
| votes of members of Legislatures, by the
| friends of candidates for Senatorships
| leads to the election of Senators by the
people, great forward movement in the
direction of popular government will have
| been made H. NJ. BEADLE.