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United Smelter, Railway and Copper Company

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:NA
United Smelter, Railway and Copper Company
A lot of three certificates from this mining and railroad company issued in 1909. U/C. Very attractive large size certificates measure 12” x 9”. A railroad vignette at the top with the caption “Saratoga and Encampment Railway” and a oval vignette of a smelter at the bottom with the caption “Smelter and Reduction Works at Encampment, Wyoming”. Black and green on crème. Jacobs and Holmes, Chicago, printer. This company was the successor to the Penn-Wyoming Copper Company, holding 91% of the outstanding stock by 1909. The company’s mine office was at Rudefeha, Carbon County. Operations of the Penn-Wyoming were greatly hampered by lack of rail facilities, but the Saratoga & Encampment Railway was completed by this company at a cost of $1 million. The Penn-Wyoming’s history was marked by a series of scandals and assorted mishaps with the 1908 Copper Handbook devoting nearly 8 pages to this company. Lands controlled by the company included the holdings of the Battle Lake Tunnel Site Mining Co. as well as the Ferris-Haggarty mine, discovered 1898. Massive debt and shady operators had the 1910 Copper Handbook suggesting that the whole lot should be jailed. EF.  

Date: City: County: State: WY