BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-06-05
4 Man OF Millions.
From Miner To Magnate.
Story OF A Wondrous Career.

Senator w. A. CLARK of Montana bids
fair to become the weslthiest man in the
world if the good luck which seems alacays
to have attended him continues
La 1860 the man who is Eow a member
of the u. s. ser ate was q nameleSs mi
ner and prospector in the then territory
of Utah and worked in the sdiggins" at
the daily wage paid to the laborer in the
sluices. He was frugal and industrious and
in short time had saved enough to pur
chase pack train with which he lourneyed
into the ''Grasshopper" country where were
some ne,cly discovered mines within the
region which is now Montana. He sold a
train load of supplies at high prices to the
miners who we're cut off from all connection
with the world in that distant country and
| from the profits realized he made several
more trips to and from the markets each
time adding to his outfit until he had accu-
mulated considerable sum of money.
| With the capital thus gained he opened
bank at Virginia City, small frontier
town, then the principal entropot of the
mines, and by careful BUSINESS mana cement
soon vas enabled to secure some very valua
BILE holdings of mineral property.
L
poets for both silver and gold ores at place
called Butte Mr.. Clark visited that camp,
which wars then only known for its small
yield of placer gold and obtained control Of
some of the best properties. The ores were
little understood by the miners and rather
than trust to the judgment of the local as
sayers Mr.. Clsrk gathered large number
Of specimens and with these went to Paris
where he took a through course in metalurgy
and upon coming back was thoroughly
equipped to ascertain for himself the true
value of the miGeS of the district in which
he had become now heavily interested. Thus
this remarkable man was in position TO
iuow more than any one else the wonderful
richness of the pl .ce and with his exclusive
knowledge so gained he began to purchase
all the ground he could obtain.
In few months he aud his associates
had acquired immense holdings of mineral
surface properties of fabulous value. They
crested works for the treatment of the ores
and in few years were the largest oper-
ators in the world. Mr.. Clark after wards
acquired the United Verde properties in
!, Arizona and other mires in New Mexico,
Mexico, Australia, California, Alaska and
many other parts of the world. TleSe made
of the unknown miner Of few years before
the greatest mineral operator on earth and
placed him among the richest individual
living.
Marcus DAILY, who lately died in NeaC
York, and who had also been common
laborer of the mines came into the manag.
ement Of the great Anaconda mine and
allied properties at Butte and Anaconda and
became rival of Clark. For time they
had been associated in business together
and ,chlle so associated they differed on
some transactions. This led to feud which
only ended with Days death. The latter
pursued bis rival to the better end, placing
all sorts of obstacles in the path way of his
political ambitions and at last carrying the
fight into the very senate itself where he
proved that Clark had secured his election
by bribery and fraud The committee OF
the Senate on Privileges and Elections
reported against Clark'S right to his seat
and the latter resigned. In the absence OF
the governor of Montana from the state
! the lieutenant governor appointed Clark.
The case went against CLARK again and
then he appealed once more to his state lag
stature. He was here reelected by good
majority and at this time DAILY died so there
seems now a clear path before this marvel
ouSly successful if utterly corrupt man.
The newspapers have just announced that
CLARK has acquired the sole rights to a new
process by means of which the processes OF
copper reduction and manufacture into the
articles of commerce can be carried On at a
greatly reduced cost, SO great indeed as to
revolutionize the industry. With this ad.
| ran No Vul ha in q 10 Jnf
the copper miners of the world.
Estimated to be worth 100000 600, sew
eral years ago, it is probable that w. A.
Clark to day can count his wealth at not
far from 5000 10000.
L Il