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Mexico--Compania Minera Y Fundidora Descubridora and Durango Central Railroad Ledgers and Index

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:900.00 USD Estimated At:1,800.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Mexico--Compania Minera Y Fundidora Descubridora and Durango Central Railroad Ledgers and Index
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Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite#309
Reno, NV 89511
Thursday April 11, 10am-6pm
* Preview also available by appointment

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Friday & Saturday
April 12-13, 2012
9am PDT starting time, both days

Location
Atlantis Casino & Resort
Grand Ballroom #4
3800 S. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89502

Lot Pick Up
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite #309
Reno, NV 89511
Sunday April 14th, 10am-1pm

The Durango Central Railroad, according to the 1903 Congressional Edition volume 4522, was built from Conejos to Descubridora, in the state of Durango, 31 miles, and an extension is contemplated from Descubridora to El Oro and Guanacevi, about 100 miles. A 1914 newsparrer clipping lists Robt. McCart. Jr., Supt for the railroad company. The 1912 Annual Report of the State Board of Assessors of the State of New Jersey, Part 2 indicates that the company had $400,000 in capital stock. This lot contains three important ledgers and index from this company, and four ledgers from the Compania Minera Y Fundidora Descubridora, the Mexican incorporation of the Descubridora Mining Smelting Company. 1) A 13 x 18.5 hard bound ledger with an ornately embossed, carved, and gilt binding. The spine reads Mayor/ Durango/ Central R. R. Co. The frontispage has been torn away at the top--seemingly to withhold the name of whomever owned this volume. The remainder of the page bears a partial note, in Spanish, dated 25 August 1902. The signature on this volume is the same as that on the other Spanish ledgers also available in this auction. The note discusses the purpose of the ledger`s 502 pages of data: to account for the Durango Central R. R. Co. Only the first 120 tables have been filled with data, all in Spanish. Typical age-related wear to the covers, including some wear-through and staining. The pages are foxed but in very fine condition, save for the torn first page. 2) A 13 x 18.5 hard bound ledger with an ornately embossed, carved, and gilt binding. The spine reads Caja/ Durango/ Central R. R. Co. The frontispage has been torn away at the top--seemingly to withhold the name of whomever owned this volume. The remainder of the page bears a note, in Spanish, dated 25 August 1902, explaining the purpose of the entries to account for the dealings of the Durango Central RR Co. in Caja. Heavy wear to the cover, including wear-through and tears along the board cover edges and spine. Foxing on pages within. 3) A 9.5 x 15.5 hardbound index to the above ledgers. Entries are listed alphabetically on the corresponding tabbed pages. General wear on the canvas cover, including wear-through and staining. The pages bear light foxing and typical age related wear. According to the 1914 Copper Handbook by Horace J. Stevens, the Descubridora Mining Smelting Company office was located at 17 Battery Place New York. The mine office was located at Conejos Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. HL Albridge was the general manager and D. Gough was the supernatant. The Copper Handbook also reports that Mina Descubridora carried large quantities of very low grade basic silver copper carbonates requiring silicious ore for fluxes not produced by the company`s mines. The mine had a 500 foot shaft. The property was leased for several years, until 1908, to the Guggenheim Exploration Co. The 75 miners sent ore to the Torrcon smelter, and the mine`s production was 4,964,272 lbs fine copper in 1903 but thereafter became much smaller and production in 1909 was estimated at 750,000 lbs fine copper. This lot`s four ledgers from this company include 1) Raymond`s/ Trial Balances/ With Recapitulations from 1908, published by Hall McChesney of Syracuse, NY. Includes 30 pages of Labor Saving Balance tables, and an additional 4 pages for Recapitulations of Footings. The covers bear age-typical wear, and the spine has separated, leaving the majority of the leaves bound to the rear cover, while the front cover is detached. All 30 pages include handwritten entries for mining data. 2) A 13.5 x 17.25 hard bound ledger, No. 932 with an ornately embossed, carved, and gilt binding. The spine reads Mayor/ Compania/ Minera Y Fundidora/ Descubridora. The frontis page bears a note, in Spanish, dated 16 May 1904, explaining the volume contains 250 folios and the last authorized signature of Admor Lubalterno, marked by the seal of the office in charge, and that the ledger is intended in accounting for the company in this municipality or Hornillas. Entries have been written on only the first 250 tables, as indicated in the front note. 3) An 11.5 x 15.25 hard bound ledger, No. 930 with an ornately embossed, carved, and gilt binding. The spine reads Baja/ Compania/ Minera Y Fundidora/ Descubridora.The front page bears a note, in Spanish, dated 16 May 1904, containing very similar content to the first ledger`s note. The first 130 tables bear handwritten contents. 4) A 13.5 x 17.5 hard bound ledger, No. 931 with an ornately embossed, carved, and gilt binding. As with the other two large ledgers, the top portion of the first page has been torn away to conceal whatever information was once there. The note, Spanish, is dated 16 May 1904 and describes the contents of the volume. Two additional leaves from another, smaller, ledger have been tucked into this book. Handwritten entries appear on the first 367 pages. 5) This lot also includes a single copy of invoice from Descubridora Mining Smelting Company. 8.5 x 7 with fold creases, light foxing, and a short .75 tear at the lower front left corner. Undated. HKA#64059