Northern Belle Extension Mining Company Records, 1922-1932

Summary

Creators:

Northern Belle Extension Mining Company.

Abstract:

This collection contains records of the Northern Belle Extension Mining company, a silver mining company with headquarters in New York City and mining operations based in Candelaria, Nevada, in the Columbia Mining District during the 1920s. The collection includes four reports, financial records, ephemera, and correspondence. The majority of the correspondence is to and from William E. Pomeroy, the company's Vice President and manager.

Extent:

218 items in 2 boxes

Language:

English.

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the Northern Belle Extensions Mining Company contain 218 items spanning the years 1922 to 1932 and are housed in two boxes. The collection is divided into three sections: Manuscripts (Box 1), Correspondence (Box 1-2), and Financial Records and Ephemera (Box 2). The manuscripts consist of 4 items and are arranged alphabetically by title. They include unpublished reports on various mining districts and geologic conditions of the ore deposits in Candelaria, Nevada and the Red Cloud Mine in Arizona. There is an incomplete report by William E. Pomeroy on his activity in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona during the 1880s entitled “A Hundred to One.” There is also an incomplete report of the history of Candelaria as well as an incomplete report on the Brown Group of Mining claims located in the Candelaria region.

The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by author and consists of 167 items. The majority of the correspondence is to and from William E. Pomeroy, the Vice President and manager of the Northern Belle Extension Mining Company. The bulk of the letters are between Pomeroy and the Northern Belle Extension’s President, John H. Winn. They discuss matters such as financing, potential new mining claims, and land and equipment purchases. Many of Pomeroy’s letters report on his work in Candelaria and his surveys of mines around the Columbia Mining District, his purchases of mining claims at the Gilbert Mines near Tonopah, Nevada, and his ventures and assessment of the Red Cloud Mine near Yuma, Arizona. Pomeroy also discusses his endeavors in business enterprises such as oil, agricultural, and real estate in California and other western states such as Arizona and Texas. The remaining of Pomeroy’s correspondence is to a number of individuals and companies related to the mining industry. The majority of the letters concern Pomeroy’s various business deals, real estate ventures, land and mining claim purchases, mining practices, geologic makeup of mining claims, and his opinion of new areas for future mining operation. Some of the individuals with who he corresponds more frequently include Edgar T. Wallace, I.J. Cambell, attorney Roland R. Wooley, and his brother F.A. Pomeroy. For most other correspondents, however, there is only a single item.

The financial records and ephemera are arranged alphabetically by type and then by date when necessary and consist of 47 items. There are a number of bills from a Candelaria retail merchant and the Reno Mercantile Company. In addition there is a contract with the Central U.S. Swine Company, Notices of Location of new mining veins found by Pomeroy, and Pomeroy’s leases of mining claims. In addition, there is one map of the Georgene Mine operated by the Northern Belle Extension Mining Company.

Subjects include: Agriculture—California; Borderlands (Mexico and U.S.); Boyle, Emmet Derby, 1880-1972; Candelaria (Nev.); Columbia Mining District (Nev.); Fairview Mining Claim; Georgene Extension Mine; Gilbert Mammoth Mine; Good Faith Mining Claim; Hawthorne (Nev.); Los Angeles (Calif.); Magma Chief Copper Company; Mina (Nev.); Mineral County (Nev.); Mines and mineral resources—Nevada—Mineral County; Odd-fellows, Independent order of; Potosi Mining District (Nev.); Red Cloud Mine; San Joaquin Valley (Calif.); Silver—China; Silver—India; Silver—Prices—United States; Silver mines and mining—Nevada; Silver mining—Mexico—1890-1930; Tonopah (Nev.); Yuma (Ariz.); Reno (Nev.).

Biographical / historical:

The Northern Belle Extension Mining Company was a silver mining company with headquarters in New York City and mining operations based in Candelaria, Nevada, in the Columbia Mining District during the 1920s. The Candelaria and Columbia district mines, the biggest of which was named Northern Belle, had been a boon to silver miners and speculators during the last quarter of the nineteenth century but production dropped off in the 1890s due to the economic downturn. The district experienced a slight resurgence in the late 1910s and 1920s when the Candelaria Mines Company reinitiated operations in the region. The Northern Belle Extension Mining Company also began operations during this period but the district never returned to its previous prosperity. The Northern Belle Extension was a small operation directed largely by two men, William E. Pomeroy, Vice President and Manager and John Winn, President and Treasurer of Northern Belle Extension Mining Company. Pomeroy was a longtime miner and resident of the American West who lived in Candelaria during the 1920s. He managed the company’s daily operations, surveying of new claims, and its business contacts in Nevada, Arizona, and California. As a prospector and engineer, Pomeroy both worked in the mining operations and assessed new areas for potential silver ore deposits. He was involved in a number of additional business ventures with individuals in Nevada and California, regarding real estate, oil leases, and swine contracting. He had business contacts in Los Angeles and on several occasions travelled between Los Angeles and Candelaria. John H. Winn lived in New York City and managed the company’s finances.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Mrs. Charles Yeatman Estate, August 27, 1968.

Processing information:

1. For the years between 1922 and 1925, the company is referred to as the Candelaria Hills Mining Company (distinct from the Candelaria Mines Company). It appears that there was a name change in 1925, coinciding with a financial reorganization of the company. Thereafter the Candelaria Hills Mining Company is called the Northern Belle Extension Mining Company.

2. References to W.E. Pomeroy are referring to William E. Pomeroy.

3. Many of the items have water damage and a number of others have been torn or otherwise damaged.

4. Most of the letters sent by William E. Pomeroy are copies of his originals and only sometimes contain a signature. However, Pomeroy has been attributed authorship in nearly all cases.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following order:

• Box 1: Manuscripts; Correspondence, “Babe” – Pomeroy, W.E. to L.W. Whiting
• Box 2: Correspondence, Pomeroy, W.E. to John H. Winn – unknown; Financial Records; Ephemera

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related resources

Other descriptive data:

Hunt, George W. P. (George Wylie Paul), 1859-1934

• Recipient of W.E. Pomeroy letter (1926, Nov. 4) to George W. P. (George Wylie Paul) Hunt, 1859-1934. Box 1 (25)

Magma Chief Copper Company

• Author on verso of W.E. Pomeroy letter (1922, Nov. 8) to Irving S. Josephs. Box 1 (26).
• Author on verso of W.E. Pomeroy letter (1922, Nov. 7) to L.L. Mundy. Box 1 (34).
• Author on verso of [W.E. Pomeroy] letter [1922] to [John H. Winn]. Box 2 (2).

Agriculture—California

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1926, Sep. 21) to Franklin Waterman. Box 1 (54).

Borderlands (Mexico and U.S.)

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1923, Mar. 7) to Kim. Box 1 (27).

Boyle, Emmet Derby, 1880-1972

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1925, Nov. 29) to John H. Winn. Box 2 (1).

Magma Chief Copper Company

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1929, Jan. 9) to Carl Lee Smith. Box 1 (50).
• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1923, June 23) to John. H. Winn. Box 2 (1).

Odd-fellows, Independent order of

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1922, Nov. 7) to L.L. Mundy. Box 1 (34).

Salt Lake Smelters

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1925, Feb. 22) to John H. Winn. Box 2 (1).

San Joaquin Valley (Calif.)

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1926, Dec. 3) to Jack B. Newman. Box 1 (37).
• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1926, Sep. 25) to John H. Winn. Box 2 (1).

Silver—China

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1930, June 8) to Dan Dwyer. Box 1 (19).
• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1930, Aug. 28) to F.A. Pomeroy. Box 1 (40).

Silver—India

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1930, June 8) to Dan Dwyer. Box 1 (19).
• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1930, Aug. 28) to F.A. Pomeroy. Box 1 (40).

Silver—Prices—United States

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1930, June 8) to Dan Dwyer. Box 1 (19).
• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1930, Aug. 28) to F.A. Pomeroy. Box 1 (40).
• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy (1930, Sep. 5) to Spike. Box 1 (52).
• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1930, April 9) to John H. Winn. Box 2 (1).
• Subject in John H. Winn letter (1923, Apr. 30) to W.E. Pomeroy. Box 2 (12).
• Subject in John H. Winn letter (1929, June 5) to W.E. Pomeroy. Box 2 (12).

Silver mining—Mexico—1890-1930

• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1930, Aug. 28) to F.A. Pomeroy. Box 1 (40).
• Subject in W.E. Pomeroy letter (1930) to -----. Box 2 (4).

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Agriculture -- California.
Mines and mineral resources -- Arizona.
Mines and mineral resources -- Mexico.
Mines and mineral resources -- Nevada.
Silver -- China.
Silver -- India.
Silver -- United States.
Silver mines and mining -- Arizona.
Silver mines and mining -- Mexico.
Silver mines and mining -- Nevada.
Claims -- United States -- 20th century.
Financial records -- United States -- 20th century.
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century.
Reports -- United States -- 20th century.

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:

Huntington Library, Manuscript Collections

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, CA 91108, US

Contact:

(626) 405-2191

reference@huntington.org

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