Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-05
Depended Upon For Democratic
Maj0ritieS.
FAIRY TALE OF FORTUNE
Utah Millionaire Made a Stake on q
Wood Contract-WantS to be
Senator.

THE glory of McCune'S wood camp,
once known as the democratic strong
hold of this section of Montana, has de-
parted said a gentleman who visited
part of the county a few days ago.
I'm the oldsn days, when h democratic
feud in this state was only in its incipi-
ency, McCune's camp with its 1,500 DEM
ocratic voters, had a prestige equal to
hat of Woolley's ranch, Wilder's landing
or Precinct "a. McCune's could always
be depended upon to roll up a handsome
majority for the. democratic ticket, n
the returns were never sent in until the
democratic managers learned just how
many votes were needed. While the
nominal business Of the camp was the
supplying of wood to Butte and Anacon-
da the real business was the manufac-
turing of democratic votes. Now every
thing is changer and the old camp is
practically deserted.
THE father of McCune's wood camp"
continued the narrator, was A. w. Nc
Cune, who was a prominent candidate
for United States senator from Utah a.
year ago. McCune is now a very rich
man, but when he struck Montana in
1881, his worldly possessions consisted of
a small roll of bills which he had accum-
ulated by hard work in executing a con-
tract for the Utah Northern which en-
tered Butte that year. Mr.. McCune was
not a dreamer, but a practical man Of
affairs, and he Immediately set about to
lay the foundation of his present great
fortune.
Hills first contract here was with the
Alice company in Wa1kerviaae. Owing
to the excessive transportation charges
coal could not be purchased and wood
was the only fuel used in Butte. Mr..
Mcclure agreed to supply the Alice with
all the fuel needed and after establish
, ing McCune's wood camp near Gregson
, Springs, entered into partnership with
John Caplice and started q store in
Walkerville. The partnership was very
successful while it lasted.
when the Anaconda smelters started
MnCune put in a bid to supply the plant
/ with wood. Previous to this the wood
had been hauled by mules from the can
! yon at McCune's camp to railroad near
Gregson. Mr.. McCune's bid was accept
ed but the contract made no reference to
when all the wood should be delivered.
Mr.. McCune at once constructed q big
flume down the canyon and within q
short time had an enormous quantity OF
wood at the point of delivery. The Ana
conda company notified him not to send
any more wood but McCune replied 'tnat
he held a crltract for the delivery OF sou, :
900 cords at So per cord and that the con-
I tract WOutu Ue cOlipICCeu tut AcAL WSCA.
Mr.. Mcclure further intimated that he
would hold the company to the strict
letter of the contract and Mr.. McCune
pocketed about 100000 profits.
"Mr. McCune's first mining venture
was in the Poorman, now consolidated
with the Tiger. He purchased a large
block of stock which he later sold to Pat
sy Clark at a profit of about 100000. A
few years later he bought a quarter In
terest in the Payne group of mines in
British Columbia. He still retains con-
troll Of that property which is paying
enormous dividends each month.
MIR. McCune was born in Bombay, In
dia. His father was a British officer
stationed there. but early in life young
McCune journeyed to America and his
rise to affluence since then reads like a
fairy tale. He is a self-made man In
every sense ofthe word, n has a won
derful knowledge of the history of his
adopted country. He is gifted with q
splendid memory and his friends believe
that the day is not far distant when hi
will occupy a seat in the United States
senate"