Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 246, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1914 — TIN MONARCH OF SOUTH AMERICA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TIN MONARCH OF SOUTH AMERICA

Romantic Story of the Wonderful Rise of Don Simon Patino of Oruro, Bolivia. WIFE BOUGHT FIRST MINE Jewels He Had Given Her Provided Funds for Btart, and Now He Is One of the World’s Richest Men. *

By RICHARD BPILLANE.

(Copyright, 1914, by the IfcClure, Newspaper Syndicate.) Don Simon Patino of Oruro, Bolivia, has a great regard for his wife. Most good men have the same weakness in respect to their helpmates. Whenever Senor Patino had a little extra money he hastened to spend it on the senora. Usually he bought jewelry. Senor Patino waß not rich, but his wife had diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires in greater number than the wives of many wealthy men. Senora Patino used to protest against this extravagance, but it was of no avail. She could not check him, so, after-a time, she accepted with complacency whatever he purchased. Senor Patino kept) store in a little silver mining town up in the Andeß, not far from Oruro. He was active, energetic and progressive. Most 80-' Uvians are slow. The mines were busy, his trade was increasing and the future looked bright. There came a change in the early g9o'e somewhere. The world had too much silver and the price of the metal declined. Gradually the production of the mines of Bolivia decreased and as they decreased the business of the store of Senor Patino dwindled. The good man was sad. He no longer could buy jewels for his wife. Not only that, but it was a question whether he could earn enough to provide well for his already large add growing family. Tin Looked Good to Him. Most men, in euch a situation, mope and complain. Senor Patino is not that kind. When the mine bosses gathered at his store and indulged in bitter reflections upon the sorry state of the silver market, he listened to them, but did not agree with their direful predictions. It was true, he acknowledged, that the silver outlook was very bad, but Bolivia was rich in other metals. The mining men laughed at his reasoning. For nearly four centuries Bolivia had been working its silver and gold mines. In silver the country was particularly rich. That was the backbone of the nation. What could Bolivia look to when it could not sell Its silver? Senor Patino suggested tin. There was plenty of tin in Bolivia. His friends scofTed. The idea that Bolivia, after air its centuries of dependence upon silver, should turn to tin was too absurd to consider. Where would it find a market? Even-if there were a fair demand for tin, how could Bolivia compete with the great tin mines of the Straits Settlements, which produced more than half of the world’s supply, and which had the benefit of good and cheap transportation? Bolivia had too much of a handicap, especially since Chile robbed Bolivia of all its seacoast and made it an inland country. Senor Patino said that if Bolivia could ship silver ore it could ship tin. The world had more ÜBe for tin than for silver. Markets could be developed. Transportation charges might be so heavy as to make it seem Impossible to realize a profit, but these could he lessened if the business attained considerable volume. Wife’s Jewels Paid for Mine. Obstinacy is one of Patino's characteristics. The more the mine bosses ridiculed his idea the more positive he became in his belief. One of those who ridiculed him offered to sell a tin mine to him for 18,000 bolivianos. A boliviano Is about 40 cents, so that meant $7,200. Patino did not have the money. He tried to raise it and failed. Money was scarce, especially for so poor an undertaking as a tin mine. Women have faith when men have not Whatever her "husband believed Benora Patino believed. When her husband failed in all his efforts to raise money Senora Patino determined to get it herself. She sold her diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds and, turning the proceeds over to him, insisted that he buy the mine. When he was reluctant, she argued that its name. La Salvador, augured well. There could be no mistake. ' Hard Struggle for Patino. Patino bought La Salvador. He had to proceed Blowly with the mine, because he haff- little money, hut the times were so hard in Bolivia then that he was able to get labor very cheap. That helped. Mining tin la a slow and burdensome process. After the ore is taken out of tke earth it has to be ground Into small particles. Then It Is washed to rid It of some of Its Impurities. Next it Is roasted to expel the sulphur and arsenic it contains. Another and longer treatment in a furnace of tremendous heat is necessary to reduce the oxide tin to its metallic state, and even then further refining is required to produce pure metal that commands the highest price. It was » desperate struggle Patina

had for thg first year or two. Many times it appeared as If he would have to give up. His labor had to be paid and he had little or no money. When he made a shipment of tin there were long, dreary months before he received payment, and even then he was subjected to. many embarrassments and disappointments. It was a journey of 600 miles over the mountains from the mine to Antofagasta, where the tin could be shipped to Europe. Vessels were irregular and freight rates were unstable. Sometimes the tin Was held a month Or two awaiting a steamboat All this tinfo Patino was In agony. Sometimes the consignee sold to advantage. Sometimes he did not Patino had to depend upon the honesty of the man he shipped his metal to. When the returns were good he was able to restuSe work on a larger scale. When they were poor, he was threatened .with bankruptcy. But, good or had, he kept his store running. That brought in a little revenue, just enough to aid in. many a tight pinch. In his third year Patino began to see daylight. He had no farther need of shotting down periodically and he was able to make regular shipments across the mountains. Tin was bringing a better price and he was making money, but he kept his own counsel. Not only that, but be was emboldened to branch out. The tin zone of Bolivia is divided into four districts —La Paz in the north, Oruro in the Center, ChoroloqUe in the south, and Potosl in the east. The country had not yet recovered from the silver depression, and mining claims, especially tin properties, were at bargain prices. Senor Patino bought judiciously and well, but aIP the time he kept increasing the output and extending the operations in and about La Salvador. Business increased Greatly. Hamburg is the great depot for the distribution of tin. Senor Patino opened an office there in No. 3 Leopoldshof, and thereafter Mb European agent looked after the sale of Mb metal. TMs was more satisfactory and more profitable than the former arrangement. Then hd negotiated with steamship companies and managed, by guaranteeing's certain amount of cargo, to obtain regular sailing from Antofagasta. The uses of tin were increasing steadily and Patino found a ready market at a good price for all he could produce, so, gradually, he opened up new mines. One day Bolivia awakened to the fact that Senor Patino was doing a big business. A little later it decided he was doing an enormous business.

Since then it has been getting surprise upon surprise until now It wonders if there is any man in the world who is doing more business or making more money than Simon Patino. When money began to flow Patino’s way it came in a stream. After a while the stream got to flood. TMs flood has been increasing in volume year after year, until now the little storekeeper of the Andes is the richest man in South America. There 4s no telling how much money he has. A conservative estimate is $80,000,000. The growth of the tin production of mines has been one of the most wonderful in the world. From insignificance he has lifted Bolivia to a position where now it is credited with one-fourth of the total tin output of the globe. Gold and silver no longer figure prominently in comparison with it in Bolivian industries. The value of the tin exported Is five times that of all other metals combined. Patino has competition in Bolivia, for he does not own all the tin-bearing properties, but his mines are by far the richest The best and most modern of-machinery-has been installed by him, and bis plants are as complete and well equipped as money and science can make them. It is~not in mining alone that he has shown his capacity. He no linger depends upon others to carry his metal to market He has his own line of steamships plying between Antofagasta and Hamburg, and by reason of his immense production he controls to a large degree fee price of tin throughout the world. Not Spoiled by. His Riches. Money has not spoiled Don Simon. iTmtcnH it has broadened him and added to his enterprise, his energy and his democracy. He is only about forty-five years of age. He has a great love for Ms native land, and almost as great a love for America. He la as kindly and approachable as he was 18 years ago, when all he had in the world was within the four walls of the little store up near frowning Monte Blanco. He could hive any office within the fttt of the people of Bolivia, but ha

wants none. He prefers to occupy the position of being the great and good friend of his country. When Bolivia needs money for any public enterprise, he lends it without interest He does not want any more money, but still Ma wealth increases. His home la in Oruro, which city he has made the tin metropolis and the Pittsburgh of Bolivia. Occasionally he travels, and when he la on hia journeys he startles the natives wherever he goes. Last spring he paid a visit to New York. He left Ms party* aboard ship while he came ashore to look few quarters. He went to the Hotel Knickerbocker and asked to see some rooms. They showed a suite to him. He liked it, and asked to Bee some more. He liked the other apartments that were shown to him. Then he asked to see some more. The more rooms he saw, the more he was pleased. He spent an hour looking at rooms. Then he announced that he would take three floors. The hotel man could not believe he heard aright. He Asked if Senor Par tino really meant all jfee rooms on three floors. Senor Patino said yes, he thought that would do. The hotel people agreed, tentatively, to let him have what he asked for, but they proceeded Immediately to make some Inquiries about the visitor. What they heard satisfied them. A little later Senor Patino moved in. He had his wife, his cMldren, his relatives and various servants. Hia relatives f included his sisters, his brother, iis cousins and his aunts. There wejfe 40 in the party, exclusive of servants. Nearly every member of the party had a servant, and some of them had two. Hit Doings in United States. Don Simon had business to transact in New York. When he went calling he took a flock of automobiles, for he usually was accompanied by a bunch of his relatives. Business to him is a family affair; he wanta his business friends to know his family and his relatives. All his business was not in New York. He had to go to Boston, and he had to go to Washington. There are some rich men who, when they go traveling, hire a special car. Not Senor Patino. When he went to Boston he went in his Own special train. When he went to Washington, he went in a special train. Expense did not signify. How could it with a man whose income la far in excess of SIO,OOO a day? He expected to_be called to Mexico, bo he made arrangements with a railroad to have a special train made up ready for his use at a moment’s call. That

train was held at bis bidding for a month. He paid for it all that time. One of his missions to New York was to improve relations between the United States and South .America. Incidental to his visit he became vicepresident of the Pan-American association. He expects the opening of fee Panama canal will be of great benefit to his country, and he wants to do everything within his power to bring all South America into closer touch with the United States. To this cause he is lending Mb influence, Mot support and his money. He was delighted with New York. He and his relatives went to many of the beautiful homes of Fifth avenue and Riverside drive. There was one charming residence that caught Don Simon’s fancy. "I want a home Jnst like that,” said he. And immediately he gave orders to have a duplicate built for him in Bolivia. Forgot the Stairways. For Don Simon to express a wish is to have it satisfied. Orders were Issued at once through one of his subordinates for the building of such a structure, to be ready when he returned to Oruro. The dwelling was four stories high. The gentleman who had the thing in charge did the best he could, but he made seme odd blunders. He had the house built four stories high, but when it was completed there was one curious omission. No provision had been made for stairways. You could not get from floor to floor except by- climbing a ladder outside. To remedy this defect before Don Simon returned, ready made stain were ordered from the United States and holes were ent in the floors to accommodate them. Unfortunately, the stairways were longer by about three feat than were necessary, and when they were put Into place steps had to built down from the top of them to the level of the floor. When Don Simon got back to Bolivia he had the delight of possessing the finest house in Oruro, and also the queerest one in South Ames*

Don Simon Patino, the Bolivian Tin Magnate, and His Family.