Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-14
COPPER KING
AFTER UTAH MINES
Something OF Thomas r. Cole, tho
Famous Michigan Mining
Operator.
SWUNG HEINzE-BUTTS DEAL.
----------------
SWUNG HEINzE-BUTTs DEAL.
One Of the Most Conspicuous Of
All Mining Men in the World
At This Time.
Grew to Manhood in the Midst Of Met
allifcrous Surroundings aud
Made His Own Way.

Thomas f Cole, whose name came
conspicuously before the country yes
torday In connection with the deal
consummated in New York aud which
resulted in the absorption Of all the
Heinze mining interests IN Butte. Is
not a stranger In the Michigan copper
mining regions. There he is known as
a broad guagcd man, one who has done
big things In the copper districts and
who is capable of doing things upon
big scale.
A few weeks ago, he was practically
unknown in the large sense of the word
Today he is known throughout the
mining world and stands in the front
ranks among the big mining men of
America.
WHO HE IS
Something about his life and career
will not be lacking Ia interest at this
time. Cole was born In Keweeusw
county, Michigan, nearly forty-Gye
years ago. His father gave up his life
there, while engaged In his duties IN
the Phoenix mine, when young Cole
was only six years of age. Two years
later found the orphan boy employed In
one OF the mills Of the district and
from that humble position he gradu-
ally worked his way up to honor and
fame. he laboied In the mills of the
copper country until he arrived at
the age N0f 10; IN the mean
time deyoting his odd hours
to books and study In the effort to set
an education.
being the main support Of his mother
and q family Of brothers and sisters,
young Cole keptAbls eyes open for an
opportunity TO better his condition. Be-
ing offered more wages TO become a
brakeman on Are uecla & Torch Lake
railroad. owned by the Calumet g. Hec-
la Mining company, he accepted the
post and began his duties. Two years
later he was given a clerkship In the
office OF the Calumet & Hecla company
and gradually rose In the esteem OF his
employers until he was rewarded with
the position Of chief clerk and cashier
at a good salary.
SUPERINTENDENT NEXT.
He was next heard OF as superintend-
ent Of the iron mines Of the Menomlnee
range, owned by Ferdinand Schleslnger
of Milwaukee. In the course OF time
he became general manager Of the
Schlesinger properties and an extern,
siye owner in them. The panic of 1898
drove Schlesnger to the wall and al
though the mines were lost, Cole went
down into his own pocket and paid off
the men employed in the several mines
under his management. A few years
after this disaster, Cole became vice
president and executive head Of the Oh
liver Mining company. one OF the big
properties belonging to the steel trust.
With other Michigan men. Cole be-
came interested In the copper mines of
Bisbee and other Arizona districts,
which operations made him Immensely
wealthy.
The story printed in the News" yes
terday tells what he has done In Butte
during the past ~ months. He is fig
urlng In some OF the consultations now
being rounded out IN this state, and
that he Will soon be a power in mining
circles In Utah is a foregone conclusion,
KNOWN BY SALT LAKERs
Thomas f. Cole is known personally
by number OF Salt Lake mining men.
Among them Is Assistant General Man
ager II. Fl. Green of the Bingham Con-
solidated Mining x Smelling company.
who was once an accountant In the
offices OF the Calumet & Hecla Mining
company when Mr.. Cole was in charwc
OF them F.. p Jennings. the well
known mining engineer, is also ac-
quainted with the noted Duluth man.