The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-09-06
CLARk'S COPPER BONANZA.

the properly from Wn1cn Sen0CO w
A. Clark has derived q large proper
ton of his immense wealth, is told b,
William E. Curtis, correspondent O
q Chicago newspaper. Speaking o.
the value of this copper bonanza, h,
says:
Senator William A. Clark of Mon
tana, was offered S25 ,OOO, 900 in cash
by an English syndicate not long age
for the United Verde copper mine
and he told me he refused it becaus,
did not know what to do with tn,
money. 1t is said to be difficult to in'
vest S25, 0OO, 900, although few peopl.
ever attempted such a task. Senate,
Clark has had considerable experience
that way-more than most of US.
There are other reasons why he would
rather have the mine IT, an the money.
Some idea Of the value of the prop.
erty may be gained from the fact tina,
since operations began in 1884 more
than ninety million dollars worth OF
ore has been taken out of it, and
Clark'sN engineers assert that $50, OOO,
600 worth has already been blocked
out, ready to be removed as fast as
desired or the facilities will permit.
Out of this, q block Of Sl2, 600, 600 is
supporting the machinery, which must
be removed first. l do not know where
a more valuable found alton for a
hosting plant can be found.
The United Verde property consists
Of POO acres of land and a controlling
interest cost Senator Clark $26, 900 in
1888. 1t is situated at the town of Je.
rome, on the Santa Fe, Prescott x
Phoenix railroad, about 10 miles
south Of Ash Fork station on the
Santa Fe line to California. jerome
is Il town of about 1000 inhabitants,
and nearly everything in it belongs to
the mining company, of which Charles
w. Clark, the son Of the senator, is
manager. He is assisted by several
experienced men. jerome is reached
by a narrow guage road, 26 miles
long, which also serves several other
important mining properties 10 the
neighborhood. The town was named
after Larry Jerome, u famous bon
vivant Of New York, who used to have
some interests out here. Jerome park,
near New York city, was also named
after him, and two of his daughters
married into the British peerage.
Senator Clark owns 50 per cent. Of
the United Verde mine, and, accord.
ing to popular opinion, his income
from it averages about $500, 600 a
month. He a make as much more
as he likes. but is satisfied with that.
The mine produces an average OF 49,.
0OO,O0 pounds OF copper u year. Last
year the output was 46, 600, 900 pounds
which, at 10 cents a pound, was worth
ST, 900, 900, and this is said to have
been all clear profit, because the by
prod ucts-the gold and silver found
with the copper-more than paid run.
ming expenses. But really nobody
down here knows anything about it.
There is no mining inspection law il
Arizona and no reports are required
Senator Clark talks freely to hi.
friends, but does o allow his mana
gers to enjoy that privilege. and no
body except the workmen in the com
pany Is permitted to the inclOsurv
without q personal pass from him
He has several other we'll payin,
mines in the same neighborhood, bu
they are not worked to their full ca
pacity. The Enquirer mine, tire
miles south of the United Verde, i
popularity believed to be equally val
liable.
1t is a satire upon human fate tina
Senator Clark bought the Unite
Verde for u gold mine, and admit
that if he had supposed It was Il COZ
per property he would have "turne
it down. 1t was offered TO a doze
different parties before he leased i
and he says he was lot proud of tn
trade at the time. The mine was Iii.
covered by Capt. John Boyd, u We
eran prOspector, In 1873, and was d.
veloped by two Chicago men-Joh
O'Daugherty, an amateur assaye'
and his brother, Edward O'Daughert.
u medical student, who came dow
here for his health. They discovert
and developed several other prospec
in the immediate neighborhood, il
Guiding the now famous Copper Chi
and Iron King mines. They orga'
lied the district and Incorporated tw
or three mining companies in the se
enties and early eighties.
some SunflOWcr Philosophy.