Greenwood Persons of Note:
Paul Johnson, Pt. 4
BY: BG EDITOR
The Greenwood Smelter, c. 1906
[ Panoramic photograph (colourized) by William Jefferson Carpenter — B.C. Archives #B-08501 ]
Sep 22, 2018 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
In our last segment we heard a Greenwood editor's humorous reply to the Grand Forks reporter who claimed that Paul Johnson would be bringing the smelter to his city. Today we begin with a similar response to an unfortunate newsman in Midway, who apparently made the mistake of trying to school Paul Johnson on business matters.
This biting editorial appeared in a September 1899 edition of the Boundary Creek Times:[1]
WISDOM FROM MIDWAY
"Paul Johnson blundered. Before giving expression to his views on the mineral resources of Boundary Creek he should have consulted the gentleman who is the editor of the Midway Advance and the Midway correspondent of the News-Advertiser. Mr. Johnson was certainly indiscreet in not securing data from this gentleman before venturing to make a speech. He has had a long and successful experience in almost every mining country in the world, it is true, but still he could profit by lessons from Jacob.
Had he consulted the Midway sage, he would have been furnished with an 1895 copy of the "Mineral Industry," and could make up-to-date comparisons. He would also have learned the possibilities of each property in the district and the exact number of tons that the mines can ship daily. Incidentally, Mr. Johnson could have ascertained the very best site for a smelter. He would also be relieved of the responsibility of figuring upon the capacity of the smelter or the kind of plant required to successfully treat Boundary Creek ores. Mr. Johnson is showing a great lack of judgment in not allowing the Midway man to do his thinking and acting for him."
"Paul Johnson blundered. Before giving expression to his views on the mineral resources of Boundary Creek he should have consulted the gentleman who is the editor of the Midway Advance and the Midway correspondent of the News-Advertiser. Mr. Johnson was certainly indiscreet in not securing data from this gentleman before venturing to make a speech. He has had a long and successful experience in almost every mining country in the world, it is true, but still he could profit by lessons from Jacob.
Had he consulted the Midway sage, he would have been furnished with an 1895 copy of the "Mineral Industry," and could make up-to-date comparisons. He would also have learned the possibilities of each property in the district and the exact number of tons that the mines can ship daily. Incidentally, Mr. Johnson could have ascertained the very best site for a smelter. He would also be relieved of the responsibility of figuring upon the capacity of the smelter or the kind of plant required to successfully treat Boundary Creek ores. Mr. Johnson is showing a great lack of judgment in not allowing the Midway man to do his thinking and acting for him."
Nor was that the end of it… Two months later a follow-up piece ran in the Times, lambasting the Mining Record's editor for his comments on the matter:[2]
"The current issue of the British Columbia Mining Record contains an article that is as mean and uncalled for as anything that has ever been written by the gentleman in whose defence it was written. At this late day the Record comes to the rescue of the Midway correspondent of the News-Advertiser who went out of his way to attack the standing of Mr. Paul Johnson.
Because Mr. Johnson at the banquet tendered him by the citizens of Greenwood extolled the merits of Greenwood mines, these miserable scribblers insinuate that he must have been drunk. Those who were at the banquet, those who are acquainted with Paul Johnson know that on such an occasion he never loses his head or does anything that would compromise the important position he holds.
The truth of the matter is that the Midway correspondent would have been pleased to endorse Mr. Johnson's statements had he decided to build the smelter at Midway. The editor of the Mining Record was always lacking in common sense and no one need feel surprised that he is found endorsing the unwarranted criticisms of a gentleman who cannot rise above the dictates of pretty jealousy."
Because Mr. Johnson at the banquet tendered him by the citizens of Greenwood extolled the merits of Greenwood mines, these miserable scribblers insinuate that he must have been drunk. Those who were at the banquet, those who are acquainted with Paul Johnson know that on such an occasion he never loses his head or does anything that would compromise the important position he holds.
The truth of the matter is that the Midway correspondent would have been pleased to endorse Mr. Johnson's statements had he decided to build the smelter at Midway. The editor of the Mining Record was always lacking in common sense and no one need feel surprised that he is found endorsing the unwarranted criticisms of a gentleman who cannot rise above the dictates of pretty jealousy."
Despite rabble-rousing in the local press, in the last weeks of September 1899, the B.C. Copper Co.'s manager, Frederick Keffer made arrangements to acquire the needed parcels of land in Anaconda, paving the way for Johnson's men to begin clearing the land for the smelter. A large force of workers would be needed to prepare some 50 acres of land for the smelter, which Johnson pledged to have completed within six months.
The plot of land was situated on a hill, with the main railway line running right in front of the smelter, and the Deadwood Camp branch line behind it. From there, it stretched over to the mouth of Copper Creek and all along the Boundary Creek's west side, to just across from a big rock bluff.
Johnson was certain that Copper Creek had adequate water to run the smelter, but he also applied for rights to use Boundary Creek water, where he would erect a pumping station. And it was this that stirred another pot of controversy for the fledgling project. A Times article that month described the arguments presented in front of the Gold Commissioner by several mining companies, including Dominion Copper Company, who was competing to secure their own local water supplies.[3]
"J. P. McLeod, representing the Midway Townsite company, didn't want the smelter to get any water and said so in a half a hundred different ways." One of Midway's biggest concerns was that the smelter would pollute the water, although Johnson argued they would "have no kick coming" . Midway had also sold building lots based on an assurance of ample water flowing through, and didn't want that promise to be compromised. However, Paul Johnson satisfied the commissioner in allaying those fears, and was granted the water rights needed for the smelter.
As September came to a close, there were numerous reports on the rich resources underground at the Mother Lode. A great band of ore was even exposed by the railroad, as they cut a spur line through the area. As Paul Johnson had promised, the Mother Lode and surrounding mines put Greenwood on the map, in larger print than Butte. And his enthusiasm for Greenwood never went unnoticed:[4]
"What a wonderful advertising agent Paul Johnson would have made! He has the knack of saying just the right things at the right time. The interview in the Rossland Miner, copied elsewhere, is full of interesting information regarding the big smelter. Mr. Johnson never fails to say a good word for Greenwood."
Although fully engaged with the Greenwood project, Johnson still found time to visit other Kootenay mining towns, searching for customers in Rossland, Trail and Nelson who would bring their ore to the smelter.
The positive effects of the smelter project were felt by the citizens of Greenwood long before the first ore was processed there. During the first month of construction at the site, over $4,500 was paid in wages to the workmen. Some of our past feature articles on the Greenwood mercantiles (Mar/Apr 2017) illustrate how this cash spread itself through the local economy. The Times described the tremendous financial benefit Greenwood would enjoy once the smelter came online:[5]
"Men and money work a complete metamorphosis. The irregular and rocky hill covered with scrubby trees and presenting a formidable front to those desirous of shaping it to meet their requirements is now a series of uniform benches, ornamented by retaining walls and dotted with buildings. If any one who visited Smelter hill two months ago would return today, he would be astonished at the great work carried out under the vigorous superintendence of Paul Johnson. …
The lumber is being hauled to the site for store houses, boiler house, blow house and carpenter shops. Nearer the city on a beautiful bench, overlooking Boundary creek, the laboratory, assay office and superintendent's residence will be erected. …
Today the construction of the smelter adds to the pay roll of the city nearly $5,000 a month. The greater portion of this is spent in the city and consequently the volume of the business is increased to that extent. But when the smelter is running full blast, the business it will create will be very large indeed. With a 300-ton furnace the pay roll will amount to between $7,000 and $8,000 a month. Between $20,000 and $25,000 will be paid to the railway for transportation. The ore treated will represent at least $125,000 a month. Now all this money will be interchanged right in Greenwood through the Greenwood banks. Every business transaction directly benefits the city."
The lumber is being hauled to the site for store houses, boiler house, blow house and carpenter shops. Nearer the city on a beautiful bench, overlooking Boundary creek, the laboratory, assay office and superintendent's residence will be erected. …
Today the construction of the smelter adds to the pay roll of the city nearly $5,000 a month. The greater portion of this is spent in the city and consequently the volume of the business is increased to that extent. But when the smelter is running full blast, the business it will create will be very large indeed. With a 300-ton furnace the pay roll will amount to between $7,000 and $8,000 a month. Between $20,000 and $25,000 will be paid to the railway for transportation. The ore treated will represent at least $125,000 a month. Now all this money will be interchanged right in Greenwood through the Greenwood banks. Every business transaction directly benefits the city."
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Boundary Creek Times — Sep 16, 1899, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170678
[2] Boundary Creek Times — Nov 11, 1899, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170567
[3] Boundary Creek Times — Sep 23, 1899, p. 8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170722
[4] Boundary Creek Times — Oct 14, 1899, pp. 4 & 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170613
[5] Boundary Creek Times — Nov 4, 1899, pp. 1 & 8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170568
