The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-01-06
JOHN M. HARRIS MEETS
MANY WALLACE FRIENDS
MADE FORTUNE IN 3. c. MINES
ACCOMPANIES NElCE ON
DELIGHTFUL TRIP.

John NJ Harris, of Sandon. b. c.
accompanied by his neice, Miss Col
ola Davis, of Marshall Va, were
guests OF Mr.. and Mrs. Harry C.
McAllister several days this week
Miss Davis met Mr. Harris in Spo-
kane and they came to Wallace both
for the purpose of permitting the
young lady from Virginia to see the
little city of which MI Harris was a
pioneer citizen and give Mr.. Harris
himself an opportunity to meet many
Old friends of the early days i'm the
Occur d'Alenes. They left yesterday
for Sandon where they will remain
a few days and then go to California.
Mr. Harris has a delightful trip plan
/ red especially for the pleasure of
/ Miss Davis, and having seen the
sights of Sandon. where Mr.. Harris
acquired a fortune in mining opera
tons the trip to California win be
the beginning of a tour that will end
"a few months later at the old home in
Virginia They viii remain in Cali
fornia about two months, making
numerous side trips which will prob
ably include visit TO Mexico and TO
the Hawaiian islands. From Califor-
mia they will take the southern route,
making brief stops in Texas, a few
days in New Orleans and perhaps
other cities of the sunny south and
finally to Miami Fla Their stay I'm
Florida will be varied by visit to
Havana and possibly other places in
the West Indies, and thence up the
coast to Virginia.
Pioneer of Wallace and Sandon.
Mr. Harris arrived in Wallace in
1856 or 1887 when the site upon which
the city stands was in truth cedar
swamp" as it had been designated by
Captain John Mullan when he built
the famous road through here that
bears his name He saw the posi-
blities of the embryo city and laid
his plans to profit through its growth
He located a tract of ground joining
the original townsite on the east
which has ever since been known and
is designated on the official plat of the
city as Harris addition" He ac-
duired other property and made
substantial increase in his holdings on
that memorable occasion when the
townsite was Jumped" It is not re-
called that he was interested in min
ing. giving his attention to real es-
tate and always displaying a public
spirit in advancing the interests Of the
town. During the first few years
however many things blocked the
growth Of the town and finally the
great strike in 1892 closed every
mine and paralyzed the business of
the district Many left the district
ond Mr. Harris decided to try his
fortune in another field
Goes to British Columbia.
About that time important lead
silver discoveries had been made in /
The SLOGAN district, in British Colum
)ia. and a real stampede started to
he new camp. That was what Mr..
Harris was waiting for and he Joined
t. 1t was the tide in his affairs and
ne caught it at the flood. Reaching
he SLOGAN he quickly saw the pos
abilities of a town and he immedi-
.tely located the site upon which the
own of Sandon stands He also Sc
ured an interest in the Reco group
# claims, which proved to be a DO
ANA. Between selling town lots
nd shipping ore from the Reco he
20 d
ions. He built a hotel and other .
usiness blocks put in water works,
n electric lighting plant, and also
Increased his mining interests. or 81
curse it was not smooth sailing for ,
1r Harris, for he had to fight in the O.
curtis to maintain his title to the
Jwnsite and conflicting mining in "a
erests led to litigation, but he fought f.
hem all to a finish and won out. At +
n almost 30 years, he now feels like RI
some of his holdings in In.
rider to be free to enjoy life in his own n
ay, and in fact has made a start in n
nat direction. He has sold the Reco fl
nd has received a substantial pay 90
lent on the purchase price of $3.50,
DO. He is negotiating for the sale Of
is water and electric plant, and with k
lese disposed Of he will be in posi- "
on to realize the hope Of years, c
hich is to make his home on a large d,
state he purchased a few years ago f..
his native state, Virginia. Beside o.
re- property mentioned, Mr.. Harris is o.
-obably the largest stockholder in G.,
he Silversmith mine, a property that IN
'omises to be in the dividend class 81
~ many years. n
Snowstorm. t
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