White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-06

from the first year, and eventually
the stock sold for upward of twenty
dollars per share. The Buffers
named the region of their precious
discoveries Tonopah; and a city of
nearly ten thousand inhabitants
graces those mountain sides, while
the busy hosting works of scores of
mines bring forth their treasurers.
The word Tonopah is Indian for a
species of grass growing near water
holes on the desert.
Concerning that first assay there is
an interesting tale.
1t is related that at New Klondyke
there lived an assayer to whom But
Ter handed samples. saying: Assay
those, please, and if they are any
good I'll give you an interest" He,
however, was the sort of individual
who, seeing no immediate coin at
hand FOR the lighting of his furnace
fires, didn't care about taking
chances; so he just chucked the rocks
into the backyard without so much
as a glance at them.
Considerable time passed before
Mr.. Butler realized that his request
had been wilfully neglected; then he
hunted up another assayer, in Austin,
and the certificates returned to him
read 1852 in gold and three hundred
and ifty-five ounces in silver. Very
o o the world rang with the silver
and gold tale. Then 1t was that the
first assayer bethought himself of
Buffers promise with the samples;
so he rescued the specimens from
their oblivion and made good" on
the assays. And Mr.. Butler paid
that mar twenty-one thousand dol
lars, never questioning his right to
the money, though his partners (for
by this time he had taken in others
to assist in the work. strongly OBJ
jeeted. They knew the assayer had
not performed his part of the agree
ment until after the wonderful values
had become known, and they demur-
red against parting with so much
good money under the circumstances.
Jim Buffers word had been given,
however, and If the man chose to
delay until positively sure of bagging
his game, why. twas Jim's way TO
shrug his shoulders and shell out"
Yet this easy-going personifcation
of generosity is no weakling in
business. He is quick at decisions.
seeming to know at a glance the best
course to pursue, and his executive
ability Is far above the ordinary;
while his capacity for turning of
great quantities of work is amazing.
He Is connected with countless min
ing corporations, not to mention
ranches and other matters; so many
interests has he. In fact. that no one
but himself ~(unless IL be Mrs. JIM
can enumerate them; yet of the thou
sand and one investments, none be-
comes entangled. Each is separate
ly and clearly defined.
As a member of the board of trade,
Buffers careful thought was given to
all subjects wherein the towns good
was concerned. There have been
ticklish times in the history of the
camp when clear-sighted. prompt ac-
ton of good men and true has been
required, else Tonopah had not been
the law-abiding community 1t is to-
day; and during these crisis Jim
Buffers steady hand upon the helm
has been no small factor. When, in
the earliest days, bad men" came
bringing their guns, Buffers policy
was to get rid of them by peaceful
methods II possible, but always to
get rid of them. In more than one
instance he went personally to the
offender and gave him money with
which to get out of town. making his
meaning quite clear that no dallying
on the part of the unwelcome guest
would be tolerated. Butler is very
proud of the fact that in no COM
munity where nearly ten thousand
people are gathered are the laws more
quietly observed.
Jim Butler has ever stood for
equity and justice to all, as in the
matter Of caring for the interests of
the people during the period when
the mines were sold. In the begin
ming these mines were under lease,
and when these leases closed and the