Greenwood Persons of Note:
Paul Johnson, Pt. 3
BY: BG EDITOR
Sep 15, 2018 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
Our last segment closed with a statement about the 'smelting Messiah', Paul Johnson, who was coming to deliver the people from disappointment because the Graves' smelter was to be installed at Grand Forks. While that statement sounds cryptic to the retrospective reader coming along more than 100 years later, the statement no doubt made perfect sense to readers of the day. There had been for some time a mood of competition between Greenwood and Grand Forks — not surprising, given the economic realities that were driving competition at the turn of the century.
A week after the jab about installing the smelter in Grand Forks, the Times editorialist busted loose with quite a humorous rant.[1] It gives us a taste of just what the arena of competition was like in the daily rags. And, it's interesting to see just how quickly Paul Johnson found himself embroiled in local politics.
GRAND FORKS GETS IT
"The talented correspondent who tells to an anxious world the advantages Grand Forks possesses — and several she does not — has planted the Mother Lode smelter on the Granby site, close to the city of Grand Forks. He tells the many newspapers which accept his statements as truth that Paul Johnson gave him permission to do this. Under the circumstances the people of Greenwood would be indeed foolish to bank on the Mother Lode smelter. When the citizens of this unfortunate burg consider that the same correspondent moved the Mother Lode mine over to Grand Forks several months ago, they might as well give up the fight and migrate to Grand Prairie.
It is a well known fact that the Morrison mine, and the Sunset, yes, even the King Solomon and Big Copper mines were carried away and planted near the city of Grand Forks by this wonderful newspaper correspondent. There is nothing left for Greenwood; no mines, no smelter, no resources of any kind. We would respectfully suggest to the citizens of Greenwood the advisability of throwing up the sponge and helping the versatile correspondent to make one great city in the Boundary country. We might assist him in moving the chartered banks, the wholesale houses and all the industries that flourish in this doomed city.
If there are any mines in the vicinity not yet removed a special effort should be made to send these over the mountains. Grand Forks needs mines, and needs them badly. We ought to send them our city council immediately. They can easily unravel the municipal entanglements of the prairie city and lead them from the financial quagmire into which she has been plunged.
We ought to send Grand Forks our beautiful churches — they are a long felt want — and we could spare the schoolhouse which the government didn't build. They can have our board of trade if they need it; but they can pass resolutions enough without one.
Seriously speaking, the people of Grand Forks are being made ridiculous by a gentleman who thinks it necessary to write extravagantly in order to earn his salary. Mr. Paul Johnson in no way hinted or suggested that the Mother Lode smelter would be built near Grand Forks. He did not suggest that there was not sufficient water on this side, because he is one of those experts that believes a large volume of water unnecessary to run a smelter. Grand Forks would have a much better reputation if more were told regarding those advantages she does possess and less about the greater advantages that particularly belong to the city of Greenwood."
"The talented correspondent who tells to an anxious world the advantages Grand Forks possesses — and several she does not — has planted the Mother Lode smelter on the Granby site, close to the city of Grand Forks. He tells the many newspapers which accept his statements as truth that Paul Johnson gave him permission to do this. Under the circumstances the people of Greenwood would be indeed foolish to bank on the Mother Lode smelter. When the citizens of this unfortunate burg consider that the same correspondent moved the Mother Lode mine over to Grand Forks several months ago, they might as well give up the fight and migrate to Grand Prairie.
It is a well known fact that the Morrison mine, and the Sunset, yes, even the King Solomon and Big Copper mines were carried away and planted near the city of Grand Forks by this wonderful newspaper correspondent. There is nothing left for Greenwood; no mines, no smelter, no resources of any kind. We would respectfully suggest to the citizens of Greenwood the advisability of throwing up the sponge and helping the versatile correspondent to make one great city in the Boundary country. We might assist him in moving the chartered banks, the wholesale houses and all the industries that flourish in this doomed city.
If there are any mines in the vicinity not yet removed a special effort should be made to send these over the mountains. Grand Forks needs mines, and needs them badly. We ought to send them our city council immediately. They can easily unravel the municipal entanglements of the prairie city and lead them from the financial quagmire into which she has been plunged.
We ought to send Grand Forks our beautiful churches — they are a long felt want — and we could spare the schoolhouse which the government didn't build. They can have our board of trade if they need it; but they can pass resolutions enough without one.
Seriously speaking, the people of Grand Forks are being made ridiculous by a gentleman who thinks it necessary to write extravagantly in order to earn his salary. Mr. Paul Johnson in no way hinted or suggested that the Mother Lode smelter would be built near Grand Forks. He did not suggest that there was not sufficient water on this side, because he is one of those experts that believes a large volume of water unnecessary to run a smelter. Grand Forks would have a much better reputation if more were told regarding those advantages she does possess and less about the greater advantages that particularly belong to the city of Greenwood."
In that same issue of the Times, another report was given[2], emphasizing the fact that Paul Johnson had not given the smelter site to neighbouring Grand Forks. This report also rounds out the picture of his very significant credentials in the field:
Paul Johnson, M. E. Has Not Yet Settled Where It Is Going to Be
"Paul Johnson, M. E., has been a busy man during the week. He examined the country around Midway and also between the city and Boundary Falls for smelter sites. Mr. Johnson saw several sites between here and the falls which he says are suitable for a smelter. He will examine further before finally determining upon a site.
Mr. Johnson's smelter experience has been a long one. He was superintendent and constructor of Helsingborg Copper Works, Helsingborg, Sweden; superintendent Sulitelma Copper mines, Sulitelma, Norway; manager gold mines and mills of Compania Industrial, Argentine Republic, S. A.; superintendent Ely Copper Mines and Smelter, Ely, Vt., assistant superintendent El Paso Smelting Works, El Paso, Texas; superintendent Consolidated Kansas City Smelting and Refining Co., Argentine, Kansas; constructor and superintendent Leamington Smelter, Utah; constructor and superintendent Hall Mines Smelter, Nelson, B. C.; superintendent La Gran Fundicion, Central Mexico, Aguas Calientes, Mexico."
"Paul Johnson, M. E., has been a busy man during the week. He examined the country around Midway and also between the city and Boundary Falls for smelter sites. Mr. Johnson saw several sites between here and the falls which he says are suitable for a smelter. He will examine further before finally determining upon a site.
Mr. Johnson's smelter experience has been a long one. He was superintendent and constructor of Helsingborg Copper Works, Helsingborg, Sweden; superintendent Sulitelma Copper mines, Sulitelma, Norway; manager gold mines and mills of Compania Industrial, Argentine Republic, S. A.; superintendent Ely Copper Mines and Smelter, Ely, Vt., assistant superintendent El Paso Smelting Works, El Paso, Texas; superintendent Consolidated Kansas City Smelting and Refining Co., Argentine, Kansas; constructor and superintendent Leamington Smelter, Utah; constructor and superintendent Hall Mines Smelter, Nelson, B. C.; superintendent La Gran Fundicion, Central Mexico, Aguas Calientes, Mexico."
Making news in a third column of this week's Times, it was announced that a special banquet would be held in Johnson's honour:[3] The event was to be sponsored by the Board of Trade and held at the Imperial Hotel (but was moved to the Pioneer Hotel), with Paul Johnson and Frederick Keffer, B.C. Copper Co. manager, as guests of honour.
The banquet was held just a few days later, and in the next edition of the Times it was announced that not only had Paul Johnson decided on a site for the smelter, but he had already put his engineers to work there:[4]
"Paul Johnson, M. E., lost no time in getting to work on the smelter site. Early Monday morning a force of surveyors were at work running levels at the mouth of Copper creek. Copper creek runs into Boundary creek opposite Mr. Keffer's residence, about three-quarters of a mile from the center of the city. It is reported that negotiations are on foot for the purchase of all the land in the vicinity held by private individuals."
In a lengthy report on the banquet, highlighting Paul Johnson's enlivening speech of the evening, we find many additional details about what was billed as 'a new era in Greenwood's progress':[5]
GREENWOOD WILL GET THE SMELTER
Mr. Paul Johnson, M, E., Takes the People Into His Confidence at the Big Banquet Given in His Honor on Saturday Evening. He Eloquently Tells the Peculiar Advantages Greenwood Enjoys
"Paul Johnson, M. E., has spoken. At the board of trade banquet on Saturday night he took the fifty business men present into his confidence and told them facts about the city in which they lived that they did not realize before. He told them that they were residents of a city that is the greatest mining center on the continent and that Greenwood will rapidly develop into a greater Butte. He told them that this was the most advantageous point and that the smelter will be built here.
The banquet was in every way a success. Seats were prepared for fifty guests and every seat was filled. The Pioneer management, in whose hotel the banquet was served, did itself credit in providing palatable edibles and in the service. The other speakers were happy in their remarks and everyone was unanimous in their opinion that the banquet was a great success.
Scott Galloway, president of the board of trade, occupied the seat at the head of the table, at his right was Paul Johnson, M. E., and to his left Frederick Keffer, M. E., the guests of the evening. F: J. Finucane, manager of the Bank of Montreal Mayor Hardy and D. A. Cameron, vice president of the board of trade, occupied seats at the head of the table.
The following were among those who were present: T. M. Gulley, A. T. Kendrick, W. M. Law, Dr. Oppenheimer, G. Arthur Rendell, A. Ferguson, E. A. Bielenburg, Harry Howson, Ald. Cameron, I. H. Hallett, Julius Ehrlich, Blake Wilson, James Kerr, Dr. Schon, J. H. Macfarlane, J. W. Smith, J. J. Caulfield, Robert Wood, W. A. Campbell, Jno. McGregor, D. R. McElmon, Geo. B. Eeyson, A. Branson, Dr. Matnison, J. F. White, Geo. Cross, R. E. Gosnell [author of A History of British Columbia, often quoted in this 'Persons of Note' series], Geo. F. Miller, M. E; Miller, Duncan Ross. D. F. Mcintosh, A. H. Sperry, M. Tebo, R. B. Kerr, Thos. Miller, Geo. R. Naden, W. O. Robbins, A. Woolrich, D. Thomas."
Mr. Paul Johnson, M, E., Takes the People Into His Confidence at the Big Banquet Given in His Honor on Saturday Evening. He Eloquently Tells the Peculiar Advantages Greenwood Enjoys
"Paul Johnson, M. E., has spoken. At the board of trade banquet on Saturday night he took the fifty business men present into his confidence and told them facts about the city in which they lived that they did not realize before. He told them that they were residents of a city that is the greatest mining center on the continent and that Greenwood will rapidly develop into a greater Butte. He told them that this was the most advantageous point and that the smelter will be built here.
The banquet was in every way a success. Seats were prepared for fifty guests and every seat was filled. The Pioneer management, in whose hotel the banquet was served, did itself credit in providing palatable edibles and in the service. The other speakers were happy in their remarks and everyone was unanimous in their opinion that the banquet was a great success.
Scott Galloway, president of the board of trade, occupied the seat at the head of the table, at his right was Paul Johnson, M. E., and to his left Frederick Keffer, M. E., the guests of the evening. F: J. Finucane, manager of the Bank of Montreal Mayor Hardy and D. A. Cameron, vice president of the board of trade, occupied seats at the head of the table.
The following were among those who were present: T. M. Gulley, A. T. Kendrick, W. M. Law, Dr. Oppenheimer, G. Arthur Rendell, A. Ferguson, E. A. Bielenburg, Harry Howson, Ald. Cameron, I. H. Hallett, Julius Ehrlich, Blake Wilson, James Kerr, Dr. Schon, J. H. Macfarlane, J. W. Smith, J. J. Caulfield, Robert Wood, W. A. Campbell, Jno. McGregor, D. R. McElmon, Geo. B. Eeyson, A. Branson, Dr. Matnison, J. F. White, Geo. Cross, R. E. Gosnell [author of A History of British Columbia, often quoted in this 'Persons of Note' series], Geo. F. Miller, M. E; Miller, Duncan Ross. D. F. Mcintosh, A. H. Sperry, M. Tebo, R. B. Kerr, Thos. Miller, Geo. R. Naden, W. O. Robbins, A. Woolrich, D. Thomas."
As the evening progressed, Mr. Finucane rose to propose the toast and introduce the main speaker — Mr. Paul Johnson. In our last segment was a report that Johnson had arrived in town with "half a dozen trunks and as many valises", and that he "carries around some 300 odd pounds daily". In his introduction, Mr. Finucane clears the dust, and lets us know that the 300 pounds are not trunks and valises, but rather Mr. Johnson's own portly self.
[Mr. Finucane's toast:] "Our Guests." He congratulated the city upon the presence of his friend, Paul Johnson. He had known Mr. Johnson for five years and he could not speak too highly of him. When his hearers knew him longer they could appreciate him better than he (the speaker) could tell them. Mr. Johnson stood at the head of his profession. He was the biggest man in the business (laughter), big in body, big in intellect, big in heart. (Applause.)
Paul Johnson easily led in the smelting world. The trusted expert of the Guggenheimrs and other financiers, Greenwood was to be congratulated — that the citizen of the world, the "cosmopolite" was to become a citizen of Greenwood, to become interested in her future. (Great applause.) …
MR. PAUL JOHNSON
Mr. Johnson's reception when he rose to respond was a most enthusiastic one. Mr. Finucane's remarks regarding the establishment of a smelter had aroused the audience and they made the rafters ring in their welcome. Mr. Johnson's very presence breaths encouragement. As he once described the gentleman who introduced him, he is himself a "genial, jolly, jovial gentleman." Besides being a builder of smelters, he possesses the additional merit of being an excellent after dinner speaker. Sufficient accent has clung to him to make his words sound pleasant and he has the happy faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.
He thanked his audience for the kind way in which they had welcomed him to their city. He thanked his friend, Mr. Finucane, for his very flattering words.
"I knew Mr. Finucane some five years ago," said he, "I was then in Nelson. I was offered a big salary to go to Mexico and I went. I was then tendered a banquet similar to this one and I told my friends there that I would come back to British Columbia again, because it was the country I liked and I liked its people! I kept my promise and I was delighted to find my friend, Mr. Finucane, was here to welcome me. (Applause.) I have travelled a good deal, both north and south, but I like the north better. I was born in the north. It is my country. There is a big difference between the people of the north and south. History tells me that if we want men of energy, of push and enterprise we can find them only in the north. They are the choice of my heart. I also like the people of the west. Civilization goes from east to west. The people of the east are slower than you are. They are happy and contented, no doubt, but you have the go and push.
"I like British Columbia, so I am here. I had a great many mountains to come over, that is all right too. Mountains don't frighten me because they are needed in my business. Let me tell you that big mines are found in big mountains. (Applause.) I have seen a whole lot of mines in my time — big mines — and I don't talk bosh or nonsense when I tell you, that you have got them right here. (Great cheers.) I haven't seen all the camps. I'll do that pretty quickly. But I have kept my eyes open since coming here. I have kept my wits about me. From, what I have seen, from what your mining men tell me, who have been here a long time, I must say that you have large veins and large deposits of ore. You have big things and lots of them. A mining man cannot afford to flatter or exaggerate, and as a mining man, I tell you that the biggest mines on this continent will be right around Greenwood. (Great cheers.)
"I came to Boundary Creek to build a smelter. There is the Mother Lode and there are other leads. (Laughter.) They may not all be 186 feet wide, but they are big — very big and that means large quantities of ore to be smelted at low prices. That is going to be our policy: to treat large quantities of ore at a lower price than any body else. (Applause,)
"I have seen a good deal since coming here, and I want to tell you this, gentlemen, that the natural center for this great mining district is Greenwood. We are going to build the smelter as near the center as possible. (Great cheers.) We are going to build here. (Tremendous applause) It is the best place (renewed cheering); all ores will naturally gravitate here. (Cheers.) It takes money to put on steam, but nothing to put on brakes. (Laughter and applause.) We are going to build the smelter here in Greenwood, just between Greenwood and Anaconda. Smelting can be done here as cheaply as any place in Canada. We want your hearty support in the matter. We want all the ore you can bring us and we will treat you square. (Greet cheers.) …
"Permit me to congratulate you gentlemen, upon your great advantages," continued Mr. Johnson amid the greatest enthusiasm. "You have here a place that will beat Butte. Other places sound well, Grand Forks is all right, but it is poor policy to haul ore up hill and down again. Greenwood is the center; it has ore all around. You can come, every manager can come down to the smelter and see that he is treated fairly. (Applause.)
"I have told you that you will have a smelter. That is true. It will be between Greenwood and Anaconda and it will be running next summer. Work your mines gentlemen. We will take all the ores you can send us. We will keep building as our business increases. We will do your work cheaply and we will treat you square."
It would be difficult to describe the enthusiasm which was created by Mr. Johnson's speech. He was cheered again and again and when he concluded the audience sang, "He's a Jolly Good Fellow," as it never had been sung before."
Paul Johnson easily led in the smelting world. The trusted expert of the Guggenheimrs and other financiers, Greenwood was to be congratulated — that the citizen of the world, the "cosmopolite" was to become a citizen of Greenwood, to become interested in her future. (Great applause.) …
Mr. Johnson's reception when he rose to respond was a most enthusiastic one. Mr. Finucane's remarks regarding the establishment of a smelter had aroused the audience and they made the rafters ring in their welcome. Mr. Johnson's very presence breaths encouragement. As he once described the gentleman who introduced him, he is himself a "genial, jolly, jovial gentleman." Besides being a builder of smelters, he possesses the additional merit of being an excellent after dinner speaker. Sufficient accent has clung to him to make his words sound pleasant and he has the happy faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.
He thanked his audience for the kind way in which they had welcomed him to their city. He thanked his friend, Mr. Finucane, for his very flattering words.
"I knew Mr. Finucane some five years ago," said he, "I was then in Nelson. I was offered a big salary to go to Mexico and I went. I was then tendered a banquet similar to this one and I told my friends there that I would come back to British Columbia again, because it was the country I liked and I liked its people! I kept my promise and I was delighted to find my friend, Mr. Finucane, was here to welcome me. (Applause.) I have travelled a good deal, both north and south, but I like the north better. I was born in the north. It is my country. There is a big difference between the people of the north and south. History tells me that if we want men of energy, of push and enterprise we can find them only in the north. They are the choice of my heart. I also like the people of the west. Civilization goes from east to west. The people of the east are slower than you are. They are happy and contented, no doubt, but you have the go and push.
"I like British Columbia, so I am here. I had a great many mountains to come over, that is all right too. Mountains don't frighten me because they are needed in my business. Let me tell you that big mines are found in big mountains. (Applause.) I have seen a whole lot of mines in my time — big mines — and I don't talk bosh or nonsense when I tell you, that you have got them right here. (Great cheers.) I haven't seen all the camps. I'll do that pretty quickly. But I have kept my eyes open since coming here. I have kept my wits about me. From, what I have seen, from what your mining men tell me, who have been here a long time, I must say that you have large veins and large deposits of ore. You have big things and lots of them. A mining man cannot afford to flatter or exaggerate, and as a mining man, I tell you that the biggest mines on this continent will be right around Greenwood. (Great cheers.)
"I came to Boundary Creek to build a smelter. There is the Mother Lode and there are other leads. (Laughter.) They may not all be 186 feet wide, but they are big — very big and that means large quantities of ore to be smelted at low prices. That is going to be our policy: to treat large quantities of ore at a lower price than any body else. (Applause,)
"I have seen a good deal since coming here, and I want to tell you this, gentlemen, that the natural center for this great mining district is Greenwood. We are going to build the smelter as near the center as possible. (Great cheers.) We are going to build here. (Tremendous applause) It is the best place (renewed cheering); all ores will naturally gravitate here. (Cheers.) It takes money to put on steam, but nothing to put on brakes. (Laughter and applause.) We are going to build the smelter here in Greenwood, just between Greenwood and Anaconda. Smelting can be done here as cheaply as any place in Canada. We want your hearty support in the matter. We want all the ore you can bring us and we will treat you square. (Greet cheers.) …
"Permit me to congratulate you gentlemen, upon your great advantages," continued Mr. Johnson amid the greatest enthusiasm. "You have here a place that will beat Butte. Other places sound well, Grand Forks is all right, but it is poor policy to haul ore up hill and down again. Greenwood is the center; it has ore all around. You can come, every manager can come down to the smelter and see that he is treated fairly. (Applause.)
"I have told you that you will have a smelter. That is true. It will be between Greenwood and Anaconda and it will be running next summer. Work your mines gentlemen. We will take all the ores you can send us. We will keep building as our business increases. We will do your work cheaply and we will treat you square."
It would be difficult to describe the enthusiasm which was created by Mr. Johnson's speech. He was cheered again and again and when he concluded the audience sang, "He's a Jolly Good Fellow," as it never had been sung before."
Having been in Greenwood for just over 20 days, Paul Johnson's quick rise to notoriety was marked by the Times, who gave column space to what would become a recurring item: "Gems From Paul Johnson". The first collection of excerpted "gems" follows:[6]
GEMS FROM PAUL JOHNSON
"A mining man cannot afford to flatter or exaggerate, and as a mining man, I tell you that the biggest mines on this continent will be right around Greenwood.
I want to tell you this, that the natural center of this great mining coun[try] is Greenwood.
We are going to build the smelter as near the center as possible. All ores will naturally gravitate to Greenwood. It takes money to put on steam; it costs nothing to put on brakes.
You have here a place that will beat Butte.
I have told you you will have the smelter. That is sure. It will be between Greenwood and Anaconda and it will be going full blast next summer. It is poor policy to haul ore up hill and haul it down again.
This smelter will be running full blast next summer."
"A mining man cannot afford to flatter or exaggerate, and as a mining man, I tell you that the biggest mines on this continent will be right around Greenwood.
I want to tell you this, that the natural center of this great mining coun[try] is Greenwood.
We are going to build the smelter as near the center as possible. All ores will naturally gravitate to Greenwood. It takes money to put on steam; it costs nothing to put on brakes.
You have here a place that will beat Butte.
I have told you you will have the smelter. That is sure. It will be between Greenwood and Anaconda and it will be going full blast next summer. It is poor policy to haul ore up hill and haul it down again.
This smelter will be running full blast next summer."
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Boundary Creek Times — Aug 26, 1899 p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170220
[2] Boundary Creek Times — Aug 26, 1899 p. 8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170220
[3] Boundary Creek Times — Aug 26, 1899 p. 8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170220
[4] Boundary Creek Times — Sep 02, 1899, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170718
[5] Boundary Creek Times — Sep 02, 1899, p. 7
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170718
[6] Boundary Creek Times — Sep 02, 1899, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170718
