davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23

are autograph letters from Doctor Tall
mage and Senator Stewart commencing
him as the most expert stenographer
they had ever employed. In 1894 Mr..
Dunham published a work on stenog
raphy entitled 1.-THE Missing Link in
Shorthand" the text of which was ex-
ecuted by the author on the Remington
typewriter and which has been pro-
nounced by competent critics to be
perfect piece of typewriting.
In August, 1897, Mr.. Durham was ap-
pointed a statistical expert IN the
United States Department of Labor and
commissioner to proceed to the Yukon
goldfields for the purpose of making
report on economic conditions and the
opportunities for labor in Alaska. His
report, which was forwarded from Cir
Gle City, Alaska, in January, 1893, was
published by the Department Of Labor
in May of that year as Bulletin No. 16,
and many editions of 1t were printed
for popular distribution. This bulletin
was translated and published fR Europe
by the Bureaus of Labor of France ano
Italy, and the portions relating to min
ing were quoted in full by the Director
of the Mint in his report on the pro-
duction of gold and silver in the Uniteo
States for the year 1897. The estf-
mate made by Mr.. Dunham in this re-
port of the gold production of the KIon-
dixie for the following season OF 1898
was within 100000 Of the mint returns.
He returned to Washington in August.
1893, and made q second report, which
appeared in Bulletin No. 10 of the De-
partmen tof Labor, and which was also
copied by the Director OF tho Mint in
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23
BEST-KNOWN
TONOPAH MAN
Able Manager of Great Mines
7asker l.. OddIe Plays Important Part in
Pyoposltion of D1agultude.

road for Tonopah, which he advocated
more earnestly than anyone, and OF which
he is a director as well as OF the Tono-
pah and Goldfield Railroad.
II 1t were left to this man to choose a
motto for the State, It would be "Ad-
vance Nevada" for this Is his great
wish. and to further 1t he has been to
the front at every new strike" with
prospectors and money for development
At Goldheld he was one OF the earnest
and heaviest investors, sinking over $40
900 Of his own money before realizing a
dollar. Then he bought into the Kendall
lease, from which $4,000 was extracted in
few days from surface ore. In Dia-
monfield he Is a great believer, and is tho
owner OF nearly twenty valuable claims
Southwest of Golddeld he Is the owner
Of valuable properties and also some good
copper claims south OF Ida Nor was he
slow in becoming interested In BuIlfrog;
by right Of location he Is the owner
OF over thirty valuable claims, and was
one Of the purchasers OF the claims owned
by the Bullfrog Western Mining Company,
OF which he is a director. BY purchase he
has become a large owner IN the BulIfrog
Eclipse. admittedly one OF the best prop
critics IN the camp, and also bought q
big interest In tho Tramp claims. for
which he was offered 100000 profit In
this district with. others he has pur-
=
supply OF /. 900 900 gallons OF water per
day. His interests IN the Funeral Range
and Kawtch Mountains ars also ivalua-
BILE and extensive II must not, how
ever, be thought that Mr.. Oddis has no
other pursuit than mining. A lover OF
1ne horses and cattle, 1t was but an
other step to breed them. To DO this he
purchased q beautiful ranch IN Monitor
Valley, about ninety miles north OF Ton
opah. and has stocked this with thor
oughbred pedigree Hereford cattle, many
OF which are prize winners. making q
herd only eQualed on the Pacific Coast.
Thoroughbred horses are also raised
here. He has since purchased five other
ranches, giving him a range OF $50 miles
over the Monitor Mountains and valley,
and sheep raising and wool growing will
be added to his many interests. The can
yons in the Monitor Mountains yield
abundant water and on ono ranch Mr..
Oddie has supply OF from 4,0O0, 900 to s.
900 900 gallons, which would flow into Ton
opah- He believes the day Is not far dis
tant when enormous mills in Tonopah
for reducing the millions OF tons OF low
grade ores which are being opened up IN
Tonopah and the surrounding districts will
require vast bodies OF water. as viii also
the immense population which will come
10 reside IN Tonopah. He has figured that
this water can be brought to Tonopah
and sold at a price that will make 50
ore bonanza and yet yield him a hand
some profit on the money invested
Last November Mr.. Oddie was elected
State Senator and was instrumental IN
the legislation which changed tho county
seat Of Nye County from Belmont to Ton
opah, as well as other legislation benefi-
cial to the State. A young man. fun OF
energy and ambition, and fred with the
enthusiasm OF youth. Nevada should be
proud OF her adopted son.
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23

Probably the most prominent and best
known man in Tonopah to-day, and since
its birth, is Tasker L. Oddie, who obtain
ed the assays of the first ore from the
Mizpah vein for James L Butler. Mr.. Od-
die was born in Orange, n. J., "a years
ago, and studied law in New York and
was admitted to the New York bar. In
which city he became one OF the mana
gers of a big estate Of 100000. Seven
years ago Anson Phelps Stokes selected
him to go to Austin. New, to investigate
the accounts and management OF his min
ing, banking and railroad interests there,
and he was successful in exposing the IN
famous frauds in connection with the
mining operations which caused Mr.
Stokes to close the mines in disgust Dur
ing his residence at Austin he became
director of the Nevada Central Railroad
and the Austin State Bank, and earned
the friendship Of all who appreciated his
sterling qualities. Becoming fascinated
with mining and realizing the enormous
possibilities of Nevada, he decided to live
in that State and Joined the Nevada bar,
removing to Belmont, where he was elect
ed District Attorney for Nye County.
His legal practice, however, really be-
came but secondary consideration to his
passion for mining, on which he spent
all his money and endured many hard
ships in the mountains, to at last strike
the pay streak" which changed his for
tunes. Butler returned to Belmont with
his discovery Of the Tonopah mine and
offered Oddie an interest for getting the
ore assayed. The story OF his financial
success since then is one OF rapid pro-
gression. punctuated by hard work and
prvations in the early days Of Tonopah
that even many men more roughly
brought up would have shrunk from.
Wrapped up in the idea that Nevada was
the coming mineral State and that Tono-
pah would be it's star camp, he used all
the money he made in the Tonopah mine
in Quitting prospectors, developing pros
poets and opening up mines In that sec
ton Of the country.
On the formation of the Tonopah Min
ing Company he was appointed general
manager and was most conspicuous in the
development of the camp. He was one
of this locaters of the Midway mine, Of
which he is a director and the heaviest
individual stockholder; he Is also one of
the owners and director OF the Midway
mill. He was instrumental in forming
the Tonopah Belmont and Jim Butler Min
ing companies, in which latter he had
the valuable aid OF Charles E. Knox OF
the Montana-Tonopah. This great consol-
idation was of immense benefit to Tono-
pah 1t not only terminated some vexa-
tious litigation between the Salt Lake and
Tonopah Mining companies, but immedi-
ately placed in the hands of wealthy cap
italists valuable mineral land which Is
now being developed and will add vastly
to the output of the camp. Mr.. Oddte
was quick to see when Tonopah needed
a bank, and was one Of the organizers Of
the Nye County Bank. Of which he was
the first president. until the other day,
when he resigned to join Senator Nixon
in the formation of a national bank. HIS
ideas, always broad, were set upon . rail-
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23

The Blair property, under which
this company's property is generally
known, covers about $500 feet in
length along what Is known as the
-Drinkwater ledge, together with other
parallel lodges.
This ledge shows prominently
through the country for about three
miles, and apparently maintains it's
dip and strike throughout that entire
distance.
1t varies in width from a few feet
to as high as 100 feet and the ore
bodies occur in this in shoots and in
lenses. 1t is accompanied by a strong
dixie Of a granite rock. and this dixie
rock is found to occasionally carry
gold.
Within the large vein are found rich.
chutes, and the old workings on the
Drinkwater show in many places a
width Of twenty to thirty feet of high
grade ore, with immense masses of a
lower grade material.
Several companies have considerable
portions Of these ledges. one being the
Mohawk Alpine with about $500 feet
in length along this ledge, and adjoin-
Ing the Blair property on the south.
This company is now in operation with
a new f1ve-stamp mill, complete in all
details. with concentrators. and a cya-
nide plant will be erected within a
short time.
This company at the present time is
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23

the then obscure mining camp of Tono-
pah and begin life over again under
the most unfavorable conditions con-
ceivable. He went to Tonopah to
catch on and soon succeeded in buy
ing half interest in The Tonopah
Miner, then ridiculous little one
horse sheet which was struggling under
heavy "a per cent per annum mort
gage and the still heavier incubus of
an abnormally inefficient editorial and
business management. Under Mr.. Dun
hams editorship, coupled with the eff
forts of his businesslike and energetic
partner, James Morris, The Miner has
developed into one of the best-paying
mining papers in the country. 1t is not
only model of neat typography but it
is also recognized as the most reliable
dissemination of mining news on the
Pacific Coast.
During Mr.. Dunham's sojourn in
Alaska he wrote a number of poems
relating to conditions in the North,
which have been published In volume
entitled The Goldsmith of Nome" and
which in this form have had a wide
circulation. These verses have received
high commendation from Joaquin Mill
er, Jack London and other eminent au-
thorities. During Mr.. Dunham's resi-
dence in Nevada he has been too busy
in financially rehabilitating himself to
devote much attention to literature; but
he has found time to write some verses
of a local nature which have been wide
ly copied and well received. His dialect
verses entitled The Promoter" print
ed in this number OF The Call, are a
fair sample of his style.
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23

known, and as consequence the ex-
traction was low, only about 60 per cent
Che amount recoverable by amalgama-
tion), and in the face of all these OBJ
stacles and recoveries a large amount
of bullion, something over $I00O,000,
was extracted.
The mining was confined to gouging
the richer streaks on. the surface in
the immense outcrop of the Drink
water lodges, no attempt being made
to Systematically open the lodges. and
operations by the company were sus-
pended, owing to the low extraction
and coupled with expensive litigation.
Later the properties Of this COM
pany were operated under leases by
various. parties. Litigation seemed. to
be interminable, and the Eastern own
ers Were apparently discouraged with
the never-ending lawsuits. Only re-
Gently has this incubus been removed
Several years ago they ran cross
cut tunnel which opened UP the
Drinkwater ledge. nearly 1000 feet
below the upper works, and showed
the ledge to be eighty-two feet In
width, averaging about $40 in gold.
while on the footwall there was six
foot streak which averaged $65.
With the coming of electric power,
which is now assured. the operation
or these immense properties will be
again commenced.
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23
PROPERTIES IN TONOpAH
INCLUDE TONOpAH EXTENSION
AND OTHER MINES.

on the north is the Bobtail claim,
owned by the Midway Extension Min
ing Company, which covers the extern
sion Of the northern part Of the Mid
way company's western boundary.
Mr.. McKane has also recently ac-
quired control Of the Tonopah Inde-
pendent Mining Company, owning four
claims north of the Bobtail. South of
the Tonopah Extension mine and ad-
joining are the patented claims, the
property of the Red Rock Consolidated
Mining Company, Of which John Nc
Kane is president. The property ad-
joins the Ohio Tonopah Mining Com
pany on the north. and a shaft has
been sunk to depth of 26o feet. A 60
horsepower steam hoist is now being
installed, and sinking will then be re-
sumed.
West Of and adjoining the Tonopah
Extension mine are ten patented
claims. the property Of the McKane
Mining Company. The main shaft,
$3.50 feet west of the Tonopah Exten-
sion shaft, has how reached a depth
of 765 feet, and has just entered the
lode porphyry, and as soon as sufficient
depth in this has been reached cross
cutting will be commenced for the
Tonopah Extension veins.
The development of this group is be-
ing watched with intense interest by
the whole mining world, as the opening
up of the Tonopah veins in this ground
proves their extent for distance of
5000 feet. That it will be done there is
no shadow of a doubt, as the veins in
the Tonopah Extension mine are
stronger, better, defined and richer than
in any other part of the camp. 1t was
the opinion of Professor Spur that
Tonopah's best mines would be opened
UP in this western fiat, 1t being situate
outside the faulted zone. The theory
has so far been confirmed by the de-
velopment in the Tonopah Extension
mine, where one drift has been run on
No. 1 vein for 500 feet, and no fault
disclosed, a development hitherto un-
precedented in the other big mines.
By reference to the map of the dis
trict 1t will be seen that in acquiring
these properties John McKane, like a
good general, secured command of the
ground through which the whole Of the
vein system of Tonopah. except the
Valley View vein, must pass.
All Of these claims are covered by a
wash and overflow to depth that can
only be determined by sinking blind
To undertake this work. involving the
expenditure of many thousands of dol
lars, required not only courage, but ex-
cellent judgment IN the selection OF
ground, the location of which would
Justify 1t.
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23
THE SAN CARLOS.

The hotel accommodations at Cold
field are best represented at the San
Carlos Hotel, which is a new and mod
ern hostelry splendidly equipped and
furnished throughout for the comfort
of guests at moderate charges.
The hotel was erected about six
months ago, and is conducted by c. G.
Crowley who, for twenty years was
connected with the secret service OF the
Southern Pacific Company.
The location of the hotel Is conven-
lent to the center of town, midway to
the town of Columbia and a thousand
wards from the new depot site.
Every attention and courtesy is
shown guests. and the service Is both
trained and accommodating. 1t is a
rendezvous for the best class of in
vestors, prospectors and the travelling
public All stage and auto lines stop
at the door.
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23

his report for 1898.
In April, 1899, Mr.. Dunham was ap
pointed the first special agent of the
Twelfth Census and commissioned to
take the census of Alaska. He proceed
ed to Alaska in June, divided the ter
ritory into two districts, the Northern
and the Southern, appointed a special
agent to take charge Of the Southern
district, and proceeded to st. Michael,
from which point he supervised the
enumeration of the Northern district.
He was designated at his own disburs-
ing agent and $4,000 was placed AT
his disposal for the census appropria-
ton. With the> assistance of fifteen
special agents, who received colnpen-
sation of SIS a day, Mr.. Dunham COM
pleted the work of enumeration and re-
turned to Washington in the fall of
1900, and made his final report. He
severed his connection with the Census
Office at the close of the year and the
following spring returned to Alaska to
look after his private interests
During the winter Of 1S99-19Oo Mr..
Dunham and three associates had To-
Gated four claims at the mouth of Dan
iels Creek, now known as Bluff City, IN
the Topkok district about sixty miles
east of Nome. These claims, which
proved to be the richest ground even
discovered in the Nome region, were
jumped in the spring of 1900 and nearly
a million dollars was extracted from
them by the jumpers. The property
was placed in the hands Of Alexander
Mckenzie, as receiver, by Judge Noyes,
1t was the irony of fate that caused
Mr.. Dunham, in July, 1902, TO drift into
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23

feet, and drifting is now in progress on
the 600-foot level.
On these two great veins there are
now blocked out $15,000,0O0 worth OF
ore, and there are also over 5000 tons
Of ore on the dumps that will assay
from $35 to $40 per ton. On october 70
the mine commenced shipments, ana
since that date to the 31st of January
$500 tons have been shipped, and about
80 tons per day are now forwarded TO
the smelters. practically all Of which
is extracted from development work.
The equipment Of the mine is the finest
IN the district, and is worthy Of special
mention.
CHARACTER OF THE PLANT.
AS installed. the plant comprises two
boilers, one of 125 horsepower, which
has been connected with the old 90
horsepower boiler, and so arranged that
both can be worked together or inde-
pendently for hoisting from the shaft
or driving the compressor. The COM
pressor is known as the New York
Franklin" having duplex steam and
compound air cylinders, with separate
free air inter-cooler, and having a ca
pacity Of 1925 cubic feet per minute.
This compressor will operate 10 three
inch piston drills at this altitude. Two
drills are now at work and the remain
der Will be added as soon as received.
The drills are the Rix type Of torpedo
drill, having the latest invented re-
ciprocating piston and mechanically
operated valve. which insures great
economy in the use of air, and those
now in use are drilling ten feet per
hour in the hard quartz. The plant in
cludes a special device for economy
in the use Of water. There is
also q complete assay office. and the
orehouse is fitted with 100-ton Gates
gyratory crusher, and a railroad switch
has been constructed to the orehouse,
and the amount Of ore shipments will
shortly be greatly augmented. On May
is the company declared a dividend Of
s cents per share, payable July 1, and
John McKane was elected president.
SOME ADJOINING CLAIMS.
Adjoining this property on the north
and the Midway Mining Company on
the west are two patented claims, the
property of the Golden Anchor Mining
Company. which is now be-
ing actively developed. The main
shaft Is now down 750 feet,
and a crosscut run north to cut
the Macdonald vein of the Montana
mine. assaying up to 5000 per ton, and
this is now developed and the main
shaft being sunk to the 900-foot level.
This mine is equipped with 60horse-
power steam hoist. Adjoining this mine
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23

dated and the McKane Mining Company,
formerly known as the Pittsburg.
II he had done nothing else these alone
would be a standing monument to his
acumen and judgment. For the Tonopah
Extension is the geratest mine In Tono-
pah to-day. When the Goldheld excite
ment was starting he. with Patrick Clark
Of Spokane, took a bond on the Jumbo for
$40 900 for a two-thirds interest. Mr..
Clark withdrew, but Mr.. McKane con-
tinued working and eventually accepted
a tenth interest to relinquish his bond.
He then took lease Of 100 feet and with
Dr. E. Bowers as G partner shipped from
q total depth Of 200 feet over $500, 900 worth
Of ore in less than i've months. He then
purchased half interest in the Quartz
ite lease at Diamondfleld. which is pro-
ducing twenty tons of high grade ore
daily. He is also a part owner Of the
Florence mine, the Highland group and
others.
He is interested at Atwood, Ida, Bull
frog. Goldreed and many other camps
and has been foremost In ''grubstaking"
prospectors throughout this district. In
addition to the above mentioned inter
ests in Tonopah, Mr.. McKane has pur-
chased and incorporated the Midway Ex-
tension Mining Company, the Tonopah
Ophir King. and Is a director OF the Bel
mont Extension. With these vast inter
ests in the greatest undeveloped mineral
zone in tha world. IL would not be sur
prising II his wealth eventually equals
that OF his fellow townsman, the Iron
King" In appearance John McKane is a
typical Britisher, OF commanding height
and a genial. generous nature. A man of
high education and extensive European
and African travel. he is plain John"
to ell of high or low degree and has
thousands Of friends who rejoice at his
great success.
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23

Donald B. Gnlies, superintendent and
general manager OF the Montana-TonO-
pah mine, was born In Scotland little
more than thirty years ago. and was
brought to America Few years after.
He graduated as mining engineer at the
Houghton School Of Mines. Michigan. and
went to Butte, Mont. In 1892 where he
secured employment with Heinze at the
M. o. p. smelter. From there he went
to the assay Office OF the Parrott Com
pany, and from there was engaged as
mining engineer to the Clark properties.
OF which he subsequently became super
intendent- He has since acted in like
capacity for the Parrott Company, the
Farrell mines at Tintic and for five years
was general superintendent Of the Pitts
burg-Montana~ mine at Butte, which pO-
sition he held at the time of his appoint
ment to the Montana-TOnopah mine in
September last. His management of this
mine has demonstrated his great ability
in his profession. while his genial cour-
tesy has won him a host OF friends in
Tonopah. Mr.. Gillies is heavily interested
in Goldfeld. Goldreed and Kawich, and is
firm believer in the future OF South
western Nevada.
The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23

Samuel Clarke Dunham, the subject
pf this sketch, In not only possessed Of
great intellectual power, but he also
has q unique and magnetic personality
ind an extremely agreeable, though
modest, presence. He was born in
Woodford County, Illinois, In 1855
Aside from the training he obtained IN
the district school. he is Beif-educated
At the early age OF IL he was ap-
prenticed to the printing trade, and
while serving his apprenticeship he
thoroughly mastered Graham's Stand
ara photography, Of which art he be-
came IN later years one OF the most ex-
pert exponents IN the United States
When seventeen years old he took to
the road" and for a year or so worked
kt the case fn the principal newspaper
pnices IN Kansas City, Leavenworth and
Atchison.
In September, 1873. he went to San
Francisco TO accept a position In the
bffice OF Charles A Sumner, the pioneer
court stenographer, but on account OF
q bronchial affection could not with
stand the San Francisco climate, and
twas forced to remove to the interior.
He worked for two years on newspapers
IN the Sacramento Valley. being en-
bloyed as a compositor on the old Sac
famento Union at the time it was alb
Forbed by the Record. In the fall OF
ls75 he went to Montana and worked
during the following winter on The
Northwest ct Deer Lodge.
In tho spring of 1875 he went to
Butte with Mills & Browne, the found
ers OF the Butte Miner, and laid the
first case and set the first type on that
baper. In the fall of 1876 he removed
10 Missoula, Mont, and held q case for
year on the Missoulian. AS q Bitter
Root volunteer he took active part IN
the campaign against Chief Joseph ana
~A~ A~aA ef Nez Perces. and was at the