Evening star., 1933-02-11
|JOHN D. RYAND|ES
OF HEART DISEASE.
Chairman of Anaconda Cop
per Mining Co. Sud-
denly Expires.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, February 1l-John d.
Ryan, chairman Of Anaconda Copper
Mining Co., died today Of heart dis,
ease.
Mr.. Ryan. born in Michigan in 1864,
had been i'll only about day. He had
long been prominent in the copper
industry
He was an officer or director of sew
eral Anaconda subsidiaries. He was
chairman Of the boards of Andes Cop
per Mining Co., Chile Copper Co., and
Chile Exploration Co.. and held direc-
torships in American Brass Co., Ameri-
can Power & Light Co., Consolidated
Gas Co. of New York, the National
City Bank of New York and Postal Tele-
graph and Gable Corporation. He was
president Of the Montana Power Co.
and OF United Metals Selling Co.
Ryan, one Of the best known figures
In the copper industry, had been iden-
titled with Anaconda and its predeces-
sor, Amalgamated Copper Co., for many
He was one of the young men dis
covered by the late H. H. Rogers,
StandAN OIL magnate, who also was
credioeu with holding the controlling
interest in the old Amalgamated Cop
per Co. properties. Another Is Cornelius
Kelley, now president of the Anaconda.
Was Oil Salesman.
Coming to Montana as an oil sales
man in the 90s, Ryan attracted the
attention of Rogers shortly before the
time the Amalgamated people engaged
In their memorable legal battle with
the late Augustus F. Heinze and asso-
clates for control of several valuable
copper properties.
For several years Ryan looked after
the Anaconda a-Amalgamated interests in
Butte, later coming to New York to
MI the chief executive office.
An acute heart attack caused his
death in his home, on East Seventy
eighth street. He had been In his usual
good health recently, business associates
said. although he was not at his Office
yesterday. On Thursday he was at his
desk most OF the day.
Prominent in War.
Ryan was Second Assistant Secretary
OF War and director of the Army Air
Service during the World War.
Prior to becoming an assistant to
Secretary Newton D. Baker and direct
Ing aircraft production, Ryan was d.
rector general Of military relief for the
Red Cross, succeeding Col. Jefferson r.
kean, United States Army.
In April, 1918, when the aircraft ac-
tivities OF the Army were reorganized,
he was made director of aircraft pro-
duction, and later was made second as
sistant to Secretary Baker and director
OF the Army Air Service.
Ten days after the signing Of the
armistice he resigned from his Federal
positions and returned to the produc-
ton and distribution Of copper.
Located in Butte.
For a brief time after he located in
Butte, Ryan was an executive of the
DAILY Bank & Trust Co., formed by the
late Marcus DAILY, another OF the Mon
tana copper mining pioneers. From
this position he stepped into that of
managing director of the Amalgamated
Co. In the formation Of the Anal
gamated, Rogers was associated with
DAILY and the late j. B. Haggin, a color
ful figure of the industry in those
rough and ready days
Ryan was in the thick of the Anal
gamated- -Heinze conflict which had
widespread repercussions in the Butte
political situation and was followed with
keen interest by the rest of the coun-
try. Ryan was credited with having
brought about the settlement with
Heinze after both iitigants had spent
many millions of dollars In legal fees
and incidental costs.
The HeinZe fight, forming one of the
most dramatic chapters in the history
OF American copper mining, was pre-
clpitated by Heinze's claim of ore and
property rights alleged to extend from
veins in remote property which this
prospector controlled
Cause Of Rise.
Ryan's rapid rise in the Amalgamated
Co. was due to Rogers confidence, not
only in his ability as a mining man,
but also because Of his popularity with
the miners. Labor troubles could be
quickly smoothed over by Ryan by
wholly amicable means.
His ability to pacify discontented
miners and his grasp Of the intricate
phases Of the copper business finally
prompted Rogers to bring him to New
York as president of Amalgamated. He
remained in that Office until about the
start Of the World War, when he was
elevated to the chairmanship. He was
active in the Nations movement for
national defense during the war, espe-
cially in aircraft production, ana was
called to Washington shortly after the
United States entered the war.