LAKE VALLEY NEW MEXICO MINING MATERIAL

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LAKE VALLEY NEW MEXICO MINING MATERIAL.

In August, 1878, George W. Lufkin and Chris Watson discovered silver ore around the area of Lake Valley. Their discovery started a silver mining rush as prospectors settled in the area to continue the mining. Lufkin sold his claim to George Daly, and with Whitaker Wright (who came to Lake Valley in April 1881) bought or made 8 more claims away from the outcrop. They then went to New York and with George D. Roberts formed four mining companies each with four claims. The Sierra Grande Silver Mining Company of Lake Valley ran the mines for all four companies. In 1882, John Leavitt, a blacksmith, leased a claim that George Lufkin had been working. Just 40 feet away from the surface, Leavitt discovered a huge cavern lined with solid silver. This incredibly rich cavern was later named "The Bridal Chamber" because of the sparkle from its crystal encrusted walls. George Daly was killed by Apaches the day of the discovery. A settlement, first called Daly but later renamed Lake Valley, moved to its present location after this discovery. Two and a half million ounces of silver were eventually removed from the Bridal Chamber, some of it so pure it required no smelting. In fact, the silver was so easy to remove that a railroad spur was built into the chamber and silver was loaded directly onto the cars. In 1893, silver was devalued, and the prosperity Lake Valley had known took a down turn. In 1895, most of Main Street burned to the ground.

Several of the letters are directed to D.H. Jackson, Superintendent of the Sierra Grande Mines.

DEMING,NM LETTERHEAD. 1882 Letterhead of G.P. Armstrong, Dealer in Wines, Liquors, Cigars, Tobacco, Miners Outfits and Supplies. Deming New Mexico. 8 1/4" x 11". Letter written to D.H. Jackson at Sierra City. Though the town was originally called Daly, and changed to Lake Valley, there must have been a short period of time in the interim it was called Sierra City . Some wear, soiling, and dampstaining, (though not as pronounced as the illustration suggests, overall VG. (W.694)$45.

1882 E.B. DEAN & CO., OREGON PINE, SPRUCE AND WHITE CEDAR LETTERHEAD. Oakland 1882. Nice illustration of a vessel under full sail. . 10" x 8". Some dampstaining and discoloration bottom left margin, o/w G-VG.(W.695); $45.

EL PASO SMELTING CO. RECEIPT. Lake Valley NM Silver Mining Co Smelting Receipt. 8 1/2" x 12" 1897 El Paso Smelting Co Invoice for ore from Silver Mining Co, Lake Valley New Mexico. These lists gross weights, amount of metals, net proceeds. I have a small number of these receipts, illustration is representative, ca. 1897, overall Gd cond., with original fold lines, and small punch hole. (W. 749); $16.99

A.T. & S.F. RR CO. LETTERHEAD- NUTT STATION. 11” x 8 ¼” letter to D.H. Jackson, July 16^th, 1882 from agent at Nutt Station. Nutt Station was the station on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, stagecoach ran the distance of 14 miles to Lake Valley for $2.00. Late a branch of the railroad was extended to Lake Valley. Exhibits some discoloration along edges, b/r corner has damage along edges, , o/w Gd. (W750); $65.

1882 GIANT POWDER CO., S.F. LETTERHEAD. 10 ¼” x 7 ¾” , 2 pages, Blue paper. Bandmann, Nielsen & Co., Agents for the Giant Powder Co. Two page ink manuscript letter to D.H. Jackson, regarding shipment of high explosives, along with pricing for shipments. Some minor discoloration along bottom of pages, overall Gd. (W.742); $150.

1882 EMPIRE LINE BILL OF LADING. 11” x 8 1//4” multi-color bill of lading for Safe received at Nutt Station. Despite dampstaining along left edge and the bottom edge, along with a small amount of discoloration along rt edge, still displays well. Also has damp staining on verso . (W.745); $50.

1882 LETTER REGARDING STOCK FOR THE LAKE VALLEY MINES. 11” x 8 ¼” , Pacific Bank , San Francisco, directed to D.H. Jackson, regarding stock availability of stock for the Sierrra Grande as “some friends of mine have a little money to invest . Please give me your opinion as to the value of the property …”. Light discoloration along left edge, age toning to rt bottom section, o/w Gd. (W.743)$65.

1882 SAN FRANCISCO LETTER REGARDING FRAUDULENT SHIPPING WITH RAILROADS. 11” x 8 ½” 1882 Letter from the Office of Prescott, Scott & Co. Union Iron Works , to D. H. Jackson. Somewhat amusing letter to D.H. Jackson about a man caught by the railroad on trying to circumvent shipping charges by mislabeling the boxes, and cautioning Jackson not to try the same. (W744); $100.

1882 SIERRA GRANDE MINING CO. LETTERHEAD. Philadelphia, to D. H. Jackson, at Daly, notifying him of the purchase of stock and asking to acknowledge receipt of same. Signed by George Smedley, Secty. 7 5/8” x 10 1/8”. Minor discoloration b/r corner, overall VG. (W.741); $85.

LOT OF (2) A.T. & S. F. RR BILL OF LADING. (W. 734);$46.

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BROWNE & MANZANARES COMMISSION HOUSE

Several of the following lots are in connection with the Browne & Manzanares Commission House (1879-1899), which was one of the great commission houses of the Plains, first following the Kansas-Pacific R.R.to Kit Carson Co. then following the A.T. & S.F. R.R. to Las Vegas. This trading house resided in all of the end-of-track towns, their path being Leavenworth KS., Junction City, Ellsworth, Sheridan, Fort Wallace, Kit Carson CO., Granada, Las Animas, La Junta, El Moro, Trinidad, Otero NM., then Las Vegas.

1890 LAS VEGAS,NM CHECK. Las Vegas, New Mexico Check. 8 3/8" x 3 3/8" check from the firm of Browne & Manzanares. Vignette of young child's face "Lucia". I have a few of these checks, payee might be different than one illustrated. (W.685); $18.

SAN MARCIAL, NM LETTERHEAD. 1884 Simon Leyser General Merchandise, letter to Browne and Manzanares regarding payments. 8 1/2" x 11", . Some (insect or rodent) damage to left edge, fold lines, a few random small holes. (W.701); $45.

1884 FORT SUMNER, NM LETTERHEAD. J. H. Teats General Merchandise. Two pages, second page has list of articles for delivery. 10 1/2" x 8", Sept 21, 1884 . A scarce item from the noted NM town. Some (insect or rodent) damage to top left edge, a few random small holes, o/w G. (W698); $85.SOLD

1899 LINCOLN COUNTY BRAND REGISTRATION. 1899 Lincoln County New Mexico. Cattle Sanitary Board Certificate for Re-Recorded Brand. 7 1/8" x 8 1/2". Certificate for James Cree of Fort Stanton, showing the placement and design of brands on cattle and horses. Scarce and desirable cattle ephemera. Original horizontal fold line, a few small light edge creases, o/w VG (W.530); $245.

1882 SANTA FE JEWELER LETTERHEAD. 1882 Letterhead of S. H. Lucas & Co. Mexican Filigree in Gold and Silver. 8 1/4” x 11”. Handsome letterhead, small illustration left side. Letter regards order of clocks. Small loss of paper bottom right corner, o/w Gd. (W. 739); $145.

1882 SILVER CITY, NM THE NEW SOUTHWEST NEWSPAPER LETTERHEAD. 1882, The New Southwest and Grant County Herald. Letter regards possible subscriptions. 8” x 10”, a very appealing letterheads, exhibits rough right edge along w/ some light discoloration along edge, o/w VG.(W.738); $165.

1882 THE MONTEZUMA HOTEL ILLUSTRATED LETTERHEAD. Strong graphic letterhead, 8 1/2” x 11”. Letter regards cost of lodging. Though the letterhead exhibits edge roughness along the right side, with the b/r corner having some damage with a small loss of paper ( along with some discoloration), the main subject is so strong graphically the flaws are somewhat overlooked. (W.746); $195.
The Montezuma Hotel, as it was originally called, was built in 1882 as a hot springs resort by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, along a spur line from Las Vegas. The Queen Anne Style hotel was the first building in New Mexico with electric lights. After a fire in 1884, the hotel was rebuilt, only to burn again in 1885. In 1886 the third and final Montezuma “Castle” opened. The resort hotel, with its proximity to the Montezuma Hot Springs, was a popular destination for travelers making the crossing from east to west and back. The Castle closed in 1903, and eventually fell into disrepair.

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