USA > Montana > Silver Bow County > Butte > A brief history of Butte, Montana, the world's greatest mining camp; including a story of the extraction and treatment of ores from its gigantic copper properties > Part 4
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Montana's finest musical organizacion. BOSTON AND MONTANA BAND.
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GREATER BUTTE.
were extremely flattering, much surprise being expressed that so high class a musical organiza- tion could be assembled so far West and among a class of men who went beneath ground to earn their daily bread. So great was the interest felt in the band throughout the East that, while returning, the band was met at the depot in Min- neapolis by a large committee and made to leave the train and become the guests of the citizens of that city. The continued success of the band has never faltered and, including this year's engage- ments, it has realized about $60,000. The current year has been by far the most successful one of its existence, something over $12,000 having been turned into its treasury as a result of the year's engagements. The band now comprises about thirty members, who are well equipped with the very latest instruments. They own their own headquarters hall and are most zealous in their practice and technical study. The men are all practical miners, engaged in different duties about the mines, and are a fine body of men.
They were in attendance upon the national con- vention of the Democratic party at Kansas City the current year and to them was accorded the high honor of adding the keystone to an otherwise
spectacular scene during that convention. Ameri- can flags had been lowered over a portion of the stage during the proceedings of the convention and behind them had been placed an heroic-sized bust of Hon. W. J. Bryan. When the proper moment arrived and the flags were drawn aside amid tremendous excitement, it was the Boston and Montana Band that came down the center of the aisle playing " Dixie " as a fitting climax to the impressive scene.
The great success of the band lies largely in the fact that, while every one is an artist unto himself, their occupation is such as to more largely develop their lung capacity and thereby give greater zest and tone than is possible in many other musical organizations, its flattering prominence at Kansas City being largely due to this fact.
The band has had no little part in eliminating baneful class distinctions throughout the city, its entire personnel having long ago demonstrated that as high culture can work below ground as above it.
Professor Treloar is still at the head of the great organization, and this fact in itself is a standing promise of the perpetuation of the previ- ous high standard of the band.
MINING MAGNATES.
Before passing to new subjects, a pause is in varying degrees of prominence, have been iden- mandatory for the review of a few of the men tified with the large things of Butte's develop- ment, and failure in their mention in nowise is a slight upon their worth. Other works extant deal most interestingly of these men. The nature of this effort precludes their treatment in a like manner. who, as actual residents of the city, have done the most to develop its wonderful resources by bringing it to its present high position and assur- ing for it a future still more exalted. Many per- sons might be brought under this head with the greatest propriety, did space but permit, and, in confining the number to a few, regret is felt that a fuller justice can not be done to scores who have builded so well and so unremittingly. What the city is today is the result of the united efforts of many, who, crowned by success, have, in turn, transmitted a measure of their success to the upbuilding of the whole community.
M. J. Connell, D. J. Hennessy, A. J. Davis (deceased), A. W. Barnard, William Owsley, John Noyes, Hon. Lee Mantle, William Thomp- son (deceased), and others, all have had their place in Butte's history, and all of these who sur- vive are among the most prominent citizens and business men of the city to-day. Scores of others,
Butte, and Montana as well, for many years has enjoyed the distinction of being the scene of the largest operations of two giants of national repute - William A. Clark and Marcus Daly. Each was supreme in his given field, Mr. Clark, as the largest individual mine owner in the world, and Mr. Daly, as easily, as the largest manager of mines. Their fields of action have never been the same, when carefully studied, although both were identified with a common object, the mining industry. As owner, Mr. Clark's activity tended always to the acquisition of properties as a personal investment. As manager, Mr. Daly was associated with co-own- ers for the purpose of developing their properties.
WILLIAM A. CLARK
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GREATER BUTTE.
Each, in his respective function, became a giant among men, and the life of either is a most fit- ting example of what an unswerving will and determination will do in the grappling with and bending of events as they present themselves in the course of human life. Opportunity they both had, but it was not so much the opportunity as the determination to grasp it which characterized their lives.
Both men started from the bottom rung and re- lied upon their own faculties and own resources to work out their careers. While both became im- mensely wealthy wholly by their own efforts, thus weaving an example for others who would emulate them, the more commendable fact re- mains that they also builded for themselves a character which, as citizen, as man of affairs, as husband, father and son, enabled them to reflect some of the noblest traits which mankind can own. Both have ever been men among men, counting their friends by the thousands and scat- tered through every State of the Union, though to Montana has fallen the heritage which their genius has wrought.
Perfections were never embodied in any hu- man, and, if varying degrees of success have marked their lives, natural causes have worked them. Different temperaments, qualifications of mind and body widely at variance, opportu- nities springing from different events, environ- ments, associations and the dozen other influences which are responsible for every life have all worked their part, and the memories of both will ever be reverenced by the people of Montana. Both were supernaturally endowed, and have easily proven themselves the superior in genius of their fellow creatures. Only as the older resident pioneer of the section treated, preced- ence, in point of order, is given to Mr. Clark.
WILLIAM A. CLARK.
The subject of this sketch was born near Con- nellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1839. His father was a farmer, and, while working summers on the farm, Mr. Clark attended the public schools during the winter months until fourteen years of age. He then entered Laurel Hill Academy for a short time. In 1856, he, with his father, moved to Iowa, where he worked on the farm for one season, teaching school the following winter. The following term he at- tended an academy at Birmingham, thereafter
spending one term at the University at Mount Pleasant. Following this he began the practice of law at the latter place, which profession he prosecuted for two years. In 1859-60 he taught school in Central Missouri.
Two years later, or in 1862, was born the idea in Mr. Clark's mind to go West, and, when but twenty-three years of age, he mounted the seat of an overland wagon and started out into that great expanse in quest of fortune. The country was wild and dangerous, and " blazing the trail " presented obstacles sufficient to deter an older and stronger heart.
He arrived in South Park, Colorado, in due time, and for a year worked in the quartz mines of that place, little thinking that in this humble capacity he was laying the groundwork for a career which would eventually stamp him as the " largest individual mine-owner on earth." While thus engaged, stories of the discovery of large gold deposits on Grasshopper Creek, at Bannack, Montana, determined Mr. Clark to emigrate hence. After sixty-five days of severe hardships, traveling by slow-going ox-team, he arrived at Bannack on the 7th of July, 1863. The charac- ter of the man finds eloquent testimony in Mr. Clark's first act upon his arrival and reveals the secret of his repeated subsequent successes - his promptitude to act wisely on the instant. Though weary with travel, he joined a stampede party on the same night and secured a placer claim on Horse Prairie. The wisdom of the step succeed- ing events proved.
After working his claim until the close of the season, Mr. Clark found himself possessed of his first thousand dollars, which amount served as the basis for his present immense fortune, his wealth thenceforward being marked by a steady increase over this sum. With the coming of winter and the cessation of mining operations until spring, Mr. Clark's shrewd business in- stincts discovered opportunities for increasing his small means. Purchasing a mule, he set out for Salt Lake, where he stocked himself with much-needed provisions, which he sold on his re- turn at extraordinarily high prices. In the spring he again resumed mining, continuing his operations until fall.
With his means thus enhanced by mining and trading, he now sought larger opportunities. Selling his mining interests at Bannack, he again returned to Salt Lake, where he purchased a larger supply of merchandise of a general charac-
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ter and freighted it to Virginia City, arriving there in the winter of 1864-65. It was during this winter that the great flour famine, which spread over the entire State, occurred, and flour sold at from $1 to $1.50 per pound. Riots en- sued, all flour that could be found was seized, and many persons were compelled to live exclusively on meat and beans for a long time. While Mr. Clark did not hold his flour, as did many others, at prohibitive prices, he nevertheless received large legitimate profits by reason of its great scarcity.
From now on, for the next three years, Mr. Clark availed himself of his greatly enhanced means in conducting mercantile enterprises on a much larger scale. By bold freighting expedi- tions from distant points, some even so far as San Francisco, into sparsely settled sections where comforts were scarce, he rapidly accumulated a fortune of considerable size. In one tobacco transaction alone he netted many thousands.
By 1868 his enterprises covered a large range, including sub-contracting of mail routes, Mr. Clark at this time having Helena as his head- quarters. In 1870 he entered into partnership with Mr. S. E. Larabie and others and a banking house was established at Deer Lodge by the firm, a general mercantile business also being conducted. The latter interests were disposed of in the summer of this year and exclusive atten- tion was paid to banking by the firm. In 1872 they organized a national bank, Mr. Clark being elected its president. The purchase and ship- ment of gold dust formed a leading feature of the institution's transactions, this alone amounting each season to over a million dollars. In 1878 the charter was surrendered and the business was continued under the previous firm style. A branch at this time was also established at Butte. In 1884 Messrs. Clark and Larabie purchased the interests of the firm, and for some time afterward continued this partnership, though it was finally dissolved.
Meanwhile, as far back as 1872, Mr. Clark had turned his attention to quartz-mining in the Butte district, purchasing an interest in the Orig- inal. Colusa, Mountain Chief and Gambetta mines. In these acts is found a culmination of the benefits which he acquired many years previ- ous in his quartz-mining experiences in Colorado. Not content, however, with his crude knowledge of this character of mining, gained from practical experience, Mr. Clark recognized the necessity
of a more exact science, and, during the winter following, studied assaying at the School of Mines, Columbia College, New York City.
With the discoveries of the Trevona and other silver properties in 1875, Mr. Clark entered quite extensively into prospecting for and the purchasing of mines of this character. The Dex- ter smelter mentioned previously was completed with funds furnished by Mr. Clark, this smelter being the first successful silver stamp mill oper- ated in the camp. In 1875 Mr. Clark located the Moulton mine at Walkerville, arranging with a syndicate to improve the same, including the sinking of an 800-foot shaft, at a total cost of $400,000. In May, 1879, he organized the Colo- rado and Montana Smelting Company.
By 1885 Mr. Clark was part or entire owner in no less than forty-six paying silver or copper properties, many of which have since been aban- doned, while a number of others have developed into enormously rich copper mines.
Mr. Clark has from time to time relinquished his holdings in properties in which he held a minority interest, retaining those in which he was entire or major owner, thereby displaying one of his strongest characteristics - a desire to be in- dependent in all of his investments. The same shrewd business acumen which had character- ized his operations from the first quite naturally was displayed at such times as these holdings were released, and Mr. Clark never allowed any great time to elapse before utilizing the means thus secured in investments equally promising in returns. These investments covered every re- source of the rapidly growing territory, and gradually extended over the most promising sec- tions of the whole West, including not only min- ing, but the development of great plantations, such as coffee and sugar beet, and the construc- tion of railroads.
His United Verde copper mine at Jerome, Ari- zona, is, perhaps, the richest mine of its kind in the world, producing an enormously high per- centage of ore, which is mined literally by quarry- ing, without the counter expense of timbering, etc., incident to other mines of like mineral prop- erties. He has also erected in the East large re- fining plants for the final treatment of ores from his many mines.
Mr. Clark, though an unusually active man in the conducting of his rapidly growing and di- versified interests, has found time for the grati- fication of various other dominating instincts,
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artistic, scholastic, social and political activity all having their quota of time and thought. He is a gentleman almost delicate in appearance, refined and cultured, and capable of versatile conversa- tion on subjects of wide range. Whether as a humble wage-earner, as a man of growing means and larger ideas or as a giant in the mining world, he has ever been the same frank, courteous gentleman, easy of approach, considerate of the feelings of others, and always ready to lend his generous aid and kindly counsel to movements which promised good for the State or for the people thereof.
Mr. Clark was married in 1869 to Miss Kath- erine Stauffer, of his native town, Connells- ville, Pennsylvania, and, though deceased for many years, there still survive her a host of friends who never tire in extolling her beautiful character, sweet disposition and womanly love- liness. Six children were the fruits of this happy union, four of whom, now grown, still survive. Two sons, Charles W. and William A., Jr., reside at Butte, and are identified with many of the largest institutions of the city, conducting their own affairs and promising to follow in their father's footsteps as men of large ability and executive attainments.
Mr. Clark maintains a beautiful home in Butte, where he spends a large portion of his time. A beautiful residence is in course of erection on Fifth avenue, New York, if, indeed, it is not al- ready completed, to be occupied by. his two mar- ried daughters, who reside in that city. His mother is living and resides at Los Angeles, California, and is visited very frequently by Mr. Clark, who has surrounded her with every luxury in her old age. Mr. Clark is vigorous and in- tensely active, and Montana will doubtless enjoy many additional benefits from his generous hands, as in the past, before that unfortunate day when he shall join that large body of pio- neers who, in proportion to their ability, have helped to work out a great destiny for the young commonwealthı.
Mr. Clark is variously reputed to be worth from $50,000,000 to $100,000,000. Whether the first or last figure is more nearly correct Mr. Clark himself probably could not state, intrinsic and income valuations always differing so widely. A statement oftentimes made and never disputed, however, is that Mr. Clark's annual income ranges from $5,000,000 to $6,000,000, or five to six per cent on $100,000,000.
MARCUS DALY.
| DECEASED. )
In presenting a brief sketch of Mr. Daly's wonderful career, so closely identified with the large things of the whole State as it was, it be- comes the sad duty to also chronicle its sad close. When a portion of the sketch which follows was first prepared, Mr. Daly was in full possession of all the powers which his wonderful genius had wrought for him, and, though suffering from the malady which finally brought his la- mentable end, no one dreamed that the mortal coil had so nearly unwound. To him Montana has erected a monument more beautiful and more lasting than could be hewn from the granite which today is being extracted from the deep levels of the Great Anaconda - the masterpiece of his great genius. For an immortal column that reaches to heaven, bound with ties of love and affection, lingers in the minds of the people of this great commonwealth, whose memory runneth back over the score of years just ending. recalling his modest advent, his rapid ascent to places of power and wide influence, his love of and faith in the great commonwealth, his devotion to friends of every degree and walk of life and countless acts which will endear him in their memory, until the grave shall claim them, and whose children's children will ever preserve a tender place in their hearts for this great giant among men, who builded so well and died so nobly.
Of Mr. Daly's early life and many important facts throughout his whole career knowledge is lacking to a most lamentable extent. He was born in a hamlet on the edge of Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, Ireland, in about the year 1841. He is supposed to have spent an uneventful boy- hood upon the farm. Educational advantages, it is well known, were wholly denied him, and, when he secretly decided, at the age of fifteen, to seek new fortunes in America, he was reinforced by nothing that could possibly aid him in rising in the world save an indomitable will, which ever characterized him, and a strong physique. He first found employment in Brooklyn as a dockhand, but the work was severely hard for his young years and a desire for further travel soon possessed him.
Deciding to emigrate to San Francisco, he lived frugally and saved his means until he had accu- mulated sufficient to pay his passage by way of the Horn. He eventually arrived in the latter city
MARCUS DALY
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GREATER BUTTE.
in rather straitened circumstances, but in what year all record seems to be lacking. Here he found it difficult to secure employment, and for a time he earned a livelihood by various means, having no trade to assist him. His earlier farm- ing experience, however, played him a good service here and he was enabled to obtain fre- quent employment as a farm or garden helper. At other times he secured subordinate positions about the adjacent placer camps. He finally ob- tained permanent occupation in the quartz mines of Utah, after having drifted between this State and California a number of times. It was dur- ing this period that Mr. Daly became acquainted with George Hearst, afterward the California millionaire, who at that time was an ardent pros- pector, though then possessed of little means. This acquaintance afterward proved of large benefit to him.
Mr. Daly continued in his position in the quartz mines until the year 1876, nothing of event trans- piring, though he was naturally absorbing the principles of this character of mining and laying the foundation for a future which ripened him into its greatest exponent, perhaps, the world over. In this year he decided to cast his for- tunes with the mining operations of the rejuve- nated Butte. The previous year had occurred the discovery of the Travona and other promising properties, and Mr. Daly's advent was at a time when many others were stampeding in the same direction.
Many persons who are most familiar with Mr. Daly's life at this time assume that Mr. Daly came as the representative of the Walker Broth- ers of Salt Lake, and that he acquired an interest in the Alice mine, which was owned by them, as a part consideration in his assuming control of that property. Others say to the contrary, claiming that Mr. Daly arrived without means, but subse- quent events would seem to disprove their con- tention. This counts for little, however, save to rob a most wonderful career of a little color of romance and to cloud the real event whereby he acquired the foundation for his future wealth. Suffice to say, Mr. Daly was soon in complete charge of the Alice mine, and it vas Mr. Daly's tremendous success in this capacity that earned for him the recognition as the ablest practical mining man in the camp, as well as a leading ex- pert throughout the whole West.
In another place it has been shown that the Alice soon became the richest silver property in
the camp, having in its day produced many millions for its owners. It was here that Mr. Daly demonstrated his large ability as a developer of mining properties, displaying almost super- human shrewdness and oftentimes proceeding against the unanimous counsel of the best ex- perts of the camp, but invariably proving the correctness of his position. It is not too broad, perhaps, to state that, but for, him, many of the adjacent silver properties, afterward made fa- mous, would never have been developed on so enormous a scale but for the shrewd mining judgment displayed by Mr. Daly in establishing the value of the Alice lode.
But a larger field was destined for Mr. Daly. While engaged in the management of the Alice, other properties had been developing on a mod- erate scale, and among these was the Anaconda, which was producing a good quality of silver ore. Realizing that this new mine had a large future before it, he relinquished his connection with the Alice property for the purpose of iden- tifying himself with the Anaconda. Here again arises the contention as to whether Mr. Daly was enabled to receive a cash consideration upon his severance of relations with the Walker brothers, but, as Mr. Daly was eventually a large holder of Anaconda stock, the assumption seems logical that he must have had ineans at this time with which to procure the same.
A deal was finally completed, however, through the agency of Mr. Hearst, whereby that gentleman and Mr. Daly, together with Messrs. Haggin and Tevis, became joint owners of the Anaconda property for the consideration of $30,000. Mr. Daly, by the terms of the deal, passed to the head of the mine in the management of its active opera- tions, and shortly the strike was made which so wonderfully revolutionized the character of the camp from a silver to a copper one.
The demands for larger smelter accommoda- tions now presented themselves, and Mr. Daly was given instructions to locate an available site for their erection. After considerable study of the situation, Mr. Daly finaly decided upon Ana- conda - thirty miles distant - as the most prac- ticable location, and work was begun upon the construction of smelters, which, in time, grew to be the largest, probably, of any smelting plant in the world. With the growth of not only the original Anaconda property, but also numerous other mines acquired by the company at Butte, including the St. Lawrence, the growth of the
PATRICK A. LARGEY
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GREATER BUTTE.
city of Anaconda kept pace, until, today, that city is one of the handsomest in the State, with a population of about 13,000.
To better facilitate the handling of ores from these many mines an independent railroad was constructed, known as the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific, which is one of the finest equipped sys- tems to be found anywhere for both passenger and freight traffic. The demands upon the smelters at Anaconda grew to such gigantic pro- portions that a second immense smelting plant soon became necessary and, more recently, still another has been started, and is in course of erec- tion at Anaconda, which will double the capacity of the old smelters. Mr. Daly, as its founder and most enthusiastic patron, was closely identi- fied with everything which had for its object the improvement of Anaconda, erecting an elegant hotel. which is probably the finest in the State, establishing a newspaper of the very first class, and in every way bringing the city up to the highest standard.
The Anaconda mine, under Mr. Daly's shrewd management, soon grew into a colossal system, including many new mines lying adjacent to the original one, until today it is of tremendous pro- portions, employing thousands of men and having diversified interests all over the State.
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