Register of the Haskin-Tonopah Gold Mine Collection, 1929
Processed by Don Walker; machine-readable finding aid created by
Don Walker
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University Library, University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
Fax: (209) 946-2810
URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html
© 1998
University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.
Register of the Haskin-Tonopah Gold Mine Collection, 1929
Collection number: Mss91
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University Library
University of the Pacific
Contact Information
- Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
- University Library, University of the Pacific
- Stockton, CA 95211
- Phone: (209) 946-2404
- Fax: (209) 946-2810
- URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html
- Processed by:
- Don Walker
- Date Completed:
- March 21, 1994
- Encoded by:
- Don Walker
© 1998 University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Haskin-Tonopah Gold Mine Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1929
Collection number: Mss91
Creator:
Extent: 0.5 linear ft.
Repository:
University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
Shelf location: For current information on the location of these
materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Haskin-Tonopah Gold Mine Collection, Mss91, Holt-Atherton
Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library
Biography
To virtually "every living Nevadan more than forty years of age, observes the WPA Nevada
guide book, "Tonopah stands for modern Nevada, for youth, excitement, hope and the great
adventure of a lifetime." A major gold rush began there in 1902, following the accidental
discovery of a rich vein of silver. By 1913, production had reached its zenith at $9.5
million, and, by 1921, it had fallen to half that figure. Gradually, one mine after
another was turned over to lessors. By 1930 the population of the town had fallen to
2000, but Tonopah survived as a gasoline, machinery and food distribution center. As late
as 1940, notes the WPA guide, "residents are strong in the belief that explorations will
soon find new wealth."
It was apparently with that hope in view that Western Pacific Railroad locomotive
engineer, Joseph J. Haskin and his wife, Veda, of Oakland, Calif., acquired shares in the
Electric Gold Mining Co. of Tonopah. When the president of that entity, F.E. Horton,
created a new holding company, Weepah-Horton Gold Mining Co., many small investors like
the Haskins were unable to pay the two cents per share exchange fee Horton required to
convert their holdings from Electric Gold to Weepah-Horton stock.
Joseph Haskin may have been a friend of Horton's. His correspondence suggests that he and
his wife had helped Horton to sell Electric Gold stock in the San Francisco Bay Area. His
cus-tomers expressed concerns about the new arrangements, while Haskin repeatedly
reassured them. In June, Haskin paid his assessment after complaining to Horton about
being short of cash.
Joseph Haskin also invested in various Bay Area companies through his union--the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers--which held a controlling interest in the Pacific
Brotherhood Investment Corp. In June 1929 this group was investigated for financial
malpractice.
Scope and Content
The Haskin/Tonopah Gold Mine Papers consist chiefly of correspondence and clippings
pertaining to stock acquisition and ownership change at a particular gold mine near
Tonopah, Nevada. The Papers also contain a small file of materials relating to the
malpractice investigation of the Pacific Brotherhood Investment Corp.
BOX 1: HASKIN/TONOPAH GOLD MINE PAPERS, 1929
Folder 1: JOSEPH J. HASKIN--BUSINESS CORRESP., 1929 [N.B.--All correspondence is to JJH from name provided unless otherwise
indicated]
1)-Mary R. Bishop, Del Mar, Calif., 1-18
2)-S.A. Harmon, Emporia, Kan., 1-18 [incl. env.]
4)-F.E. Horton, Reno, Nev., 2-1 [2 l.]
5)-W.B. Knight, SF, 2-5 [2 l.]
7)-F.E. Horton, Reno, Nev., 2-9 [telegram]
10)-F.E. Horton, Reno, Nev., 2-27 [2 l.]
13)-J.J. Haskin to "Frank" [probably F.E. Horton], 6-19 [ditto copy]
14)-Do., 6-21 [2 l., incl. env.]
15)-Veda L. Haskin to Weepah Horton Gold Mines Co., 6-22 [incl. notice of assessment from Weepah Horton]
Folder 2: WEEPAH-HORTON GOLD MINES CO.--MISC. CLIPPINGS, 1929
1)-"Transfer property--Electric Gold to Weepah-Horton Co.," Nevada Mining Press (2-1)
2)-"Come back of Weepah Camp," source unident. (2-4)
Folder 3: WEEPAH-HORTON GOLD MINES CO.--MISC. PAPERS, 1929
1)-"To the stockholders of the Electric Gold Mines Co." from F.E. Horton, Weepah Horton Gold Mines Co., 1-25 [2]
2)-"To the stockholders of Weepah Horton Gold Mines Co." from F.E. Horton, President, 5-22
3)-"Notice of assessment no. 1, Weepah Horton Gold Mines Company" [May]
4)-Transfer of claim against Weepah Horton to ownership of I.H. Johnson for one dollar, 6-12
5)-Assessment pmt. slip, n.d. [June] [2; one has note to JJH from F.E. Horton]
Folder 4: TONOPAH BANKING CORP.--CORRESP., 1929
1)-Veda L. Haskin, Oakland, Calif. to TBC, 2-12 [incl. recpt. from Weepah Horton, 2-14; env.]
3)-Registered mail env. & PO Return Recpt., 2-14
Folder 5: PACIFIC BROTHERHOOD INVESTMENT CO--MISC. PAPERS, 1929
1)-George Stratton, investigator to A. Johnston, Grand Chief Engineer, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, 6-1 [4 l.]
2)-George Stratton to Directors of PBIC, 6-4
3)-George Stratton to Preferred Stockholders, 6-14
