USA > California > California gold book : first nugget, its discovery and discoverers, and some of the results proceeding therefrom > Part 23
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cer mines, and had run a mill in the reduction of ore from the Lecompton mine, which proved it a good property. His first visit to the Comstock extended over about two months. This convinced him that it was a good place to come back to, and getting together what money he could from the sale of his California property he returned at once and purchased a consider- able interest in the unexplored Ophir mine. He and others who went to the Comstock were in search of gold- bearing rock, and were looking for nothing else. The ore they discovered near the surface was rich in gold, and carried also a black substance which was decidedly in their way. That was tossed aside as worthless. Later the cumbrous nuisance proved to be silver sul- phurets of almost fabulous value. The Ophir was then divided into twelve shares. Mr. Hearst owned two of these. The owners worked away until they had forty- five tons of the black stuff on the dump. Hearst had concluded that the strange-looking stuff was of value, though miners generally declared it worthless. Finally he and his partners packed it on mules to Sacramento, and thence by steamers it was shipped to San Fran- cisco. None of the local assayers or mineralogists would touch it. An Englishman named Davies offered to ship it to Swansea, and have it tested there. He demanded a round commission for his service. Finally a German chemist named Kustel proposed to build a furnace and reduce the lot for $400 a ton. To-day the same character of ores are handled by the Carson river mills for less than $5.00 per ton. The demand of the German was complied with, and the ore was reduced to bullion for $20,250, and it had cost $22,500 to con- vey the ore to San Francisco-$42,750. The profit of
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the lot was about $80,000, and started the wonderful hegira which at once took place. That was " break of day " for the Comstock.
That summer the war with the Pyramid Lake Indians took place. It was an unnecessary and melan- choly affair for the white people of central Nevada, and entailed great loss upon many, and among them was George Hearst. He was forced thereby to dispose of a part of his interest in the Ophir. For a time he retired to California, but later resumed operations on the Com- stock, and continued there until 1866, the leading spirit in the district. There was no one who could so correctly estimate the character of a mine nor develop it to greater advantage than he. He had no equal in these respects. All that was of practical value regarding minerals and mineral formations he knew. In this sense his perception was so acute that it could be said of him,if it ever could be truthfully said of any one, that he was a natural mineralogist. Adding to his intuitions the lessons learned by observation and experience, he became a master miner, and was so recognized by all who were familiar with his achievements, or were capable of appreciating the combination of such instinct and acquirements in one man as made him the leader in practical mining in the United States. His maturity as a mining expert was probably reached during his connection with the Comstock ; still, this was scarcely the beginning of his activity in enterprises that have formed an important part of the world's mining.
Mr. Hearst withdrew from mining on the Comstock in 1867, and for a short time was occupied in real estate transactions in San Francisco, anticipating the activity that must result from the completion of the first over-
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land railroad. In this side work - for everything but mining had been incidental to him -he lost all the ready money that he had. Upon the real estate of which he retained ownership he borrowed a consider- able sum of money and went down into Kern county and mined again successfully. Returning to the real estate business he retrieved his former losses in that line, and by 1869 had added largely to his wealth.
His next turn at his regular vocation was a mining enterprise in the territory of Idaho, in which, in common with other prominent Comstock mining men, he sunk a great deal of money. Another movement in mining was in the neighborhood of Salt Lake City. A tele- gram, couched in the superlative language peculiar to mines and mining, announced to him that the " biggest mine in the world" had been discovered, and was in need of experienced and plucky investors. Great excitement prevailed. Opinions in regard to the new find were conflicting. A man now prominent in min- ing in Montana, and at that time associated there in some ventures with Mr. Hearst, pronounced it worth- less, but that there was a little mine in the neighbor- hood upon which a prospector was doing some work. Mr. Hearst went to examine the hole three or four feet deep by twice as many in length, which by courtesy was called a mine. Every day for three weeks he walked out to inspect the development work, and see how the formation held out. At the end of that time his mind was satisfied, and he purchased the prospect for $30,000, and gave $3,000 more to satisfy a greedy outside party who pretended to have some claim on it. These are the circumstances under which the marvel- lous development in the Ontario mine began. The ore
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was rebellious. A way had to be found for separating the gold from the rock, zinc, lead and copper before the mine could become profitable. Largely owing to Mr. Hearst's faith, pluck and determination the prob- lem was solved, and in 1890 the Ontario mine was yielding regularly a dividend to its owners of over $75,000 per month.
Mr. Hearst invested largely in the Black Hills of Dakota, and from there extended his interests to the Anaconda district in Montana, in developing which into a large, active and thriving mining community he had very much to do. The history of the Anaconda mine would warrant a somewhat lengthy and detailed study ; but for the purpose in hand an outline revealing Mr. Hearst's identification with it must be sufficient. Its development opened a new page of knowledge and experience in scientific mining in the United States. For the first one hundred feet it was considered a true silver mine, but began to show copper at that depth. At the two hundred foot level it developed into a large copper vein, and is now one thousand feet deep, the vein being from thirty to forty feet thick.
Here again was an altogether new business to learn. A plant must be provided to work copper. Relying at first upon others for the scientific information supposed to be necessary for the development of the mine, various experiments were made with the representa- tives of foreign mineralogical schools, but all was dis- appointment. The self-reliant spirit of Americanism was aroused, and Mr. Hearst and his associates made up their minds to work it themselves.
In the midst of the difficulties which nemmed them in, and while they were struggling to make the prop-
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erty valuable, the works were destroyed by fire, caus- ing great loss and delay. Without a moment given up to regret or misgivings, the buildings were replaced with iron fire-proof structures on a more extended scale. At the present time the mine is in splendid run- ning order; the reduction of the ore is proceeding satisfactorily, and the yield of the mine is enormous and profitable.
It will be observed that Mr. Hearst did not confine his operations to one or two districts or States. His enterprises carried him to widely separate points and into new and untried fields ; for he had the boldness and self-confidence to apply his energies wherever his judgment led him. In this he differed from most every other great miner on the Pacific Coast. It seems contrary to their policy to distribute their energies over a wide field, and for the reason, perhaps, that they are wanting in that elasticity which characterized Mr. Hearst, and are more apt than he was to tie them- selves down to a locality to which they have become accustomed. For, it would seem that in covering the immense territory that formed the field of his opera- tions, his concentration has not been less, but rather the greater, the diversity of conditions under which be has worked proving to be a stimulus.
Mr. Hearst was called away from his important mining operations by the serious illness of his mother. The most attractive feature of his strong character was the unselfish and tender regard he always evinced for her. He devoted himself entirely to her during this last illness, doing everything that love could devise for her comfort and consolation. As she neared the end she was more than ever impressed with anxiety
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because he was not mated, and she reminded him that it "was not good that man should live alone." The young woman who filled her mind as the one to make him a good and true wife was a neighbor's daughter, named for . herself, Phoebe Elizabeth Apperson, a sensible and beautiful girl, of whose character and worth she was positive. It was his good fortune to . act upon his mother's suggestion, which, in the fullness of time for so happy and momentous an event, resulted in his securing the prize for which he strove -"a woman whose price was far above rubies." From the day of their marriage, June 15, 1862, to the day of his death, they were one in thought, sympathy and purpose. He had told her very little as to his affairs in California, so that she allied herself to him for himself, uninfluenced by any expectation of fortune; while she was prized for her own inherent worth. Arrived in San Francisco, she found that her husband was closely identified with great interests, occupying a leading place in the affairs of the Pacific coast, of which the Metropolis was the center.
Mrs. Hearst's people were among the earliest set- tlers in Virginia, and connected with the oldest and most prominent, among whom were the Randolphs of Roanoke. Her grandfather was Dr. John Apperson of Abbingdon, a learned physician and an honored citizen. At twenty years of age her father went to Missouri, where his principal occupation was farming, though interested in business at Keokuk, Iowa. Her mother's family were Dutch people of means and respectability, who first settled in Charleston, South Carolina, whence they emigrated to Missouri when her mother, whose maiden name was Whitmeyer, was two
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years old. There are still some of her relatives in Holland. She attended school in the neighborhood of her birthplace until she was fifteen, and then received two years tuition under a governess in the family of a friend. She was a very ambitious girl, fond of study, and devoted to her books above everything. She was a thorough student, greedy of learning, and her educa- tion has been continuous under the marvelously favor- able opportunities she has enjoyed in this country and Europe. Possessing fine talent, it is not surprising that her literary attainments are superior, and that she ranks as one of the most cultured women in America.
But Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst possesses far higher claims than these to the respect and consideration of Americans. The death of her talented husband was not only a severe affliction, but it furnished to ber and the world incontestible evidence of the love, esteem and remarkable confidence in which she was held by him. All his vast estate was left to her absolutely, with the fullest power to dispose of it as she might choose. There is not a doubt that she was intimately acquainted with his inmost wishes in regard to individual and public benefactions, and that her highest ambition has been to dispense the fortune he left her wisely and lavishly-that is, to give, give and always with the single purpose of doing good to the deserving. "Uncle George" Hearst was the most open-handed, large- hearted and unquestioning almoner on the Pacific coast. The sight of him was worth a double eagle at any time to hundreds of old miners who had passed the time for handling the pick and shovel, and who were expecting soon to walk on streets of gold in the new Jerusalem. Very many of these are still the objects
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of his generosity, but it is dispensed by the hand of her to whom he left all his cares and duties of this kind, certain of the fidelity with which his generous peculiar- ities would be continued.
For many years Mrs. Hearst has been identified with the various philanthropic interests so generously sus- tained by the ladies of San Francisco. She has taken special pride and pleasure in the free kindergarten schools of the city, and has charged herself with the support of several of these institutions. Her observa- tions in these, and the consciousness that the good born there ought to he nurtured and supported for some years after the children left the kindergarten, influenced ber to conceive the plan of erecting a living monument to the memory of George Hearst by instituting and richly endowing a Boys' Industrial School at Pleasanton. Be- fore the public had learned anything of her intentions, Mrs. Hearst had visited the leading techical and indus- trial schools in America and Europe, and bad selected those features which commended themselves to her careful judgment as best, and these will be combined in the boys' school at Pleasanton. The endowment of the school is munificent. In selecting the site, Mrs. Hearst has had in mind, not only the facility for carry- ing on the various branches in a technical or industrial training, but also, that while easily accessible for prac- tical purposes, it shall be far enough away to secure the boys from the temptations which are too abundant in a great city. She hopes to give the boys gathered into this home such influence and knowledge as will help their possessors to joy and life, and such as will enlarge the bounds of their being, and encourage them to choose the good and refuse the evil.
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The members of her own sex are not neglected by Mrs. Hearst. It is her purpose to found schools where girls may learn all that is necessary to make them good wives and honored mothers. In the line of benefac- tions already inaugurated, Mrs. Hearst has founded eight free scholarships for young women at the Uni- versity of California. These scholarships give thirty dollars per month to each of eight young women to be chosen by the faculty of the University from any part of California. The great beauty and breadth of her own grand nature are shown in the requirements she' makes of those accepting the scholarships:
" The qualifications necessary for any young woman receiving one of these scholarships shall be high char- acter and noble aims, it being understood that without the assistance thus given a university education would, in each case, be impossible."
It would be remarkable if the grand qualities which commended George Hearst to the love and esteem of such a woman as Mrs. Hearst had not found favor with the public. As a fact the confidence of his fellow citizens was early attached to him, and at twenty-six years of age he was selected to represent them in the State convention of the party. That was in Missouri, where his outgoings and incomings had been observed by his neighbors. In San Francisco he was chosen by his party to represent a part of the city in the State legislature; and when General Miller was nominated by the republicans for the United States Senate, George Hearst received the unanimous vote of the democratic minority for the same place. When the place became vacant by the death of General Miller, Governor Stoneman appointed Mr. Hearst to the
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vacancy, and the legislature elected him to succeed himself when that term expired. These honors were conferred upon him during his absence, and without solicitation on his part.
The course of Senator Hearst was independent and pronounced. He never permitted himself to be com- promised by interested parties who might desire to promote or hamper legislation for selfish ends, but remained free to exercise his judgment, exert his influence, and cast his vote purely in the interest of his constituents and the people of the whole United States, for whom he was a representative, not alone in name, but in fact. He was always a democrat, but never a par- tizan. He was a democrat solely because he regarded the policy of that party as best adapted to promote the welfare of the country. He was in no sense a politician, but in every sense a patriotic statesman.
Senator Hearst occupied a place on three very important committees-those on Railroads, on Indian Affairs and on Mines and Mining. It was as a member of these committees that he did most of his work in the Senate, bringing to bear his large fund of infor- mation, and devoting his entire time and attention to the consideration of the bills referred to them, dis- cussing, amending, and presenting them for delibera- tion to the Senate after painstaking and careful study. The real labor of the Senate is in the committee room, and there Senator Hearst displayed all the faithful- ness, energy and good judgment which had made him successful in his private enterprises.
Beyond this, his manner, which was always dignified, considerate and polite, endeared him to those with and for whom he worked, and, above all, his constitu-
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ency could depend that all matters in which they were concerned to say nothing of the general affairs of the Nation, would be carefully considered on their merits. The Senator was never a speech-maker in the ordinary sense of the term, and being a close observer, he saw that the men who said most were not those who carried the greatest weight, or who were capable of doing the most good. When the occasion came for him to express his views or to advocate needed legis- lation, he did so in a brief, pithy, business like manner. and was always listened to with a deference that gave effect to his statements.
Naturally he was familiar with those economic questions that have been involved to a greater or less degree in his own experience, but his observation and study, furthermore, were such as to give him a large fund of knowledge regarding most subjects that come before the Senate for legislation. Perhaps the most important matter before Congress in the session of 1889-90 was the silver question, on which he was thoroughly at home, and spoke with remarkable clear- ness and cogency.
In regard to the Chinese question, which, though it may appear to be disposed of, still threatens us with international complications, it might be expected that Senator Hearst would have been prejudiced by the clamor of those who, in and out of season, rage against the Mongolians. While he saw certain valuable quali- ties in the Chinamen, and insisted that, being now in this country and entitled to residence, they should enjoy all the privileges guaranteed to them by our Government, he regarded them, nevertheless, as unac- ceptable and injurious to our people. ITis argument
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is based upon high and rational grounds. He thought deeply, without bias, and expressed himself candidly and fearlessly.
Speaking of Mr. Hearst chiefly as a Senator, H. W. Blair, the distinguished member from New Hamp- shire, says : " I regard him as an admirable character, and one that will repay the most careful study. The more I see of him the better I like him. There is a great deal of good nature, actual nobility, in him- that which is, I think, what some people call personal magnetism, for the want of a better name, which causes mne to both enjoy his society and admire the man. And I am not alone in entertaining this view of him : in fact, I never have known a Senator who so enjoyed the universal respect and confidence of the members, his colleagues, as does Senator Hearst. He under- stands himself perfectly ; is modest; has a remarkable fund of good sense ; is independent ; but always cour- teous and affable. Coming, as he did, without the professional or literary training, which is ordinarily supposed to fit men for the National Legislature, it is interesting to note that he finds himself at home and among friends at once. What he may lack in knowl- edge of books, he supplies by his native force of intellect. In fact, he grasps the principles of great national questions as readily, and as thoroughly, as any legislator I ever knew ."
And thus speaks C. K. Davis, Senator from Minne- sota, who, like Mr. Blair, was opposed to Mr. Hearst in politics : "I obtained my first insight into the character of Senator Hearst early in 1888, in the sessions of the Senate select committee upon the adjustment of the debts of the Pacific railroads to the
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United States. The subjects involved are, as every one knows, of the utmost complexity of fact and laws; comprehending figures which reach to scores of mil- lions of dollars ; events which have been in transaction for nearly thirty years ; the actions of men living and of men dead ; censure and praise in the same persons ; the establishment of civilization over the middle third of our country, and the consolidation of the east, the Mississippi valley and the Pacific territory by those iron bands of railroad track which are stronger than any political contrivance. He, with characteristic reserve, had said little. I had no personal knowledge of, and never had any connection with the questions under consideration, and was, of course, in need of information. Naturally enough, I addressed some inquiries to him. I found that he was completely informed.
"This did not surprise me, for I knew that in his personal experience was comprehended much of the history of this country west of the Rocky mountains. But I found, in addition, such soundness of judgment, such just conceptions of right and wrong, and such argumentative power of clear, yet condensed, state- ment, such knowledge of human nature, such consider- ation for its infirmities, such regard for its better traits, and such contempt for its meanness, that I was greatly attracted to him. Since then I have yielded to this attraction on every occasion. He is, in many respects, the most interesting man I have ever known.
"I was struck with his absolute fairness. Affec- tion and dislikes do not disturb his judgment. He speaks the truth ; what he knows is to him a certainty, and he states it without reservation. He
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is typical of a vanishing class of men, the pioneers to whom nature is very near because they, natural and unconventional, have been obliged to interrogate her and to confide in lier. His perceptive faculties are of a very high order. He glances and sees where others gaze until they are blinded. His judgment follows quickly, and it must be one of great accuracy, for he owes to it his remarkable success in life.
"These are qualities to admire. There are others which excite a higher regard. These are his charitable construction of motives and acts of others; his absti- nence from disparagement of other men ; his judicious generosity ; his immediate defense of any friend when attacked ; his intuitive detection of frauds and shams ; his scorn of phariseeism, and his recognition of merit.
"Education-using the word in the popular sense -has done little for him, but I have never met a man for whom this deprivation has done more. Thrown upon his own resources, he has derived from long years of observation and experience a fund of lore which books could not have taught him.
" Mr. Hearst was a representative of the people, whose confidence he acquired and held through many years in his wide relation with them as a private citizen, and whose trust in him was confirmed by his faithful discharge of duty toward them as a public servant in an office which is next to the highest that they have within their gift."
Shortly after Mr. Hearst's re-election to the United States Senate, his health gave signs of failing, and by the latter part of 1890 his condition caused the gravest alarm. All that skill and affection could do for him failed to arrest the progress of disease, and in February,
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1891, he passed away, leaving a place in the hearts of the people and a record that few men have so honestly earned.
ON. JAMES G.FAIR .- The grand achievements of this successful miner, statesman and finan- cier are so intimately interwoven with the progress of California, and have had and are still having such marked influence upon her material interests, that a history of the Golden State from which a notice of his work was absent would lack the very essence of truth- fulness. Furthermore, in no other way can useful lessons become of such practical good as when the actor is brought prominently before the mind of the youthful aspirant for an honorable career among men. For that reason, and because James G. Fair has earned far more than we can say in his behalf, we briefly trace his busy life.
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