1907 – December 12

Four Metals Mining Company.

“The Four Metals Mining Company has now acquired ownership of the mine and its entire equipment. The company thus benefits by the investment which was made by the former owners, and all that remains to place the mine on a profitable basis is the equipment of an arial tramway from the mine to smelter and reduction works, the development of cheap power and the installation of modern mining machinery, which will ensure a minimum of expense. These problems will be dealt with in the full later on. (Pages 7 and 8.)

…

Located, as it is, at a commanding height, the mine site is ideal for the operation of an arial tramway to the smelter at Keeler. The incline is sufficient, the distance is not too great, and the nature of the country is such that a tramway may be installed with the least possible outlay. Experts who have surveyed the proposed tramway right-of-way declared that it could not be improved on. Careful estimates indicate that this improvement may be installed at an expenditure approximating $50,000. (Page 9.)

 …

When once equipped for profitable operation, the smelter, reduction works, tramway, power plant and other milling facilities, which are not requisite to the company’s own use, will be placed at the disposal of other mine operators on a basis which cannot fail to result in a handsome return to the company. (Page 12.)

…

The estimated cost of treatment by smelting and concentration is herein attached. Equipment required for economical working air compressors, air drills, electric power plant and arial tramway from mine to smelter and mill at Keeler, 5 new slag pots of 30 cubic feet capacity each, and side dumps, one new smoke stack for smelter flue dust chamber, to be 7 feet in diameter and 100 feet high, one briquetting machine for bricking flue dust and fines in old stopes in mine, also sampling plant for outside ores.

The estimated cost of these improvements, furnished by parties who are in the business of equipping mining properties is about $100,000. This will give 500 horse-power electric plant and tramway having 20-ton capacity per hour. (Page 16.)

…

Respond To Demands.

This state of affairs cannot continue (shut-down due to litigation), for the value of the properties here has been demonstrated, and with a tramway to transport ore from the miles to the smelter and concentrating plant at Keeler, also to deliver supplies and mining timbers at the mines, old Cerro Gordo will respond to all demands. (Pages 18 and 19.)

Cost Of Smelting.

Estimated cost of smelting slag and low-grade ore on the dumps and old stopes of Cerro Gordo Union mines when connected by tramway with the company’s smelter at Keeler, Ca.:

…

Tramming 150 tons slag and fine ore … $75.00” (Pages 19 and 20.)

Pages 1-13, W. A. Chalfant, Editor, Inyo Register.

Pages 14-20, E. O. McGrath, Mining Engineer.

Image - “General view Cerro Gordo Mine.”

1913 – March 6

Four Metals Mining and Smelting Co.

“The Four Metals Mining Company was incorporated December 15, 1906, for a million shares at a par value of One Dollar per share. (Page 2.)

…

The plan of operation which was adopted by the management of the Four Metals Company after taking over this property (Keeler), was to complete the smelter, build a tramway from there to the mine, a distance of 5 1-4 miles, with an elevation above that point of 4850 feet, and equip the mine. (Page 2.)

…

The smelter was started in hopes of relieving the situation (debt), though the tram was not completed. There was considerable ore at the smelter and the management counted on the tram being ready to deliver ore by the time this was smelted. An incompetent smelter man “froze up” the furnace, losing much valuable time and costing the company thousands of dollars at a time when it could least afford it. The smelter was afterwards put in charge of another man, and the ore and slag which was already there successfully smelted. The tramway was not completed by that time, however, so the smelter had to be shut down again. (Page 4.)

…

The lease, which is held by L. D. Gordon, will expire in February, 1915. By terms of this lease the company will receive a royalty of $1.25 on all zinc ore running under 35 per cent zinc, and $1.50 per ton on all over that. On the lead ore we are to receive 20 per cent of the smelter returns. The equipments of the mine, and tram are to be improved, for which we are to pay our share. (Page 6.)

…

As before stated, the equipments will be brought up to date. Improvements will be made in the tram, which will make it first class in every particular, and it will be extended to the railroad from its present terminal, -over half a mile. (Page 7.)

A. L. Dornberger, Fred C. Ross, Fred G. Arbing, Committee.

Statement of Present Conditions of the Four Metals Mining and Smelting Co. by the Re-Organization Committee. March 6, 1913.

Image - “Aerial tramway crossing canyon, four miles below Cerro Gordo, carrying ore.” (Page 1.)

Image - “Upper terminal looking towards Owens Lake, 5000 feet below. Sierras in the distance.” (Page 3.)

Image - “Upper terminal and dump of Cerro Gordo, looking east.” (Page 5.)

1913 – June 2

Inyo Cerro Gordo Mining and Power Company.

“An arial tramway, built at a cost of over $100,000.00, transports the ore from the mines to the smelter at Keeler, a distance of five and one-fourth miles, with a fall of four thousand feet.” (Page 7.)

Image - “Cerro Gordo Mine. Head of tramway.” (Page 2.)

Image - “A quarter of a mile. This span is 1350 feet in length. See the wagon road below.” (Page 4.)

Image - “Devil’s Gate Break-over No. 2.” (Page 15.)

Image - “Down the Yellow Grade, showing three of the ninety-six towers.” (Page 18.)

Image - “Crossing Mammoth Gulch. The bucket is 550 feet above the ground at this point. The mountain directly behind the bucket is Mount Whitney, the highest point of land in the United States.” (Page 19.)

Image - “Tension Station No. 3, at Skagway.” (Page 23.)

Image - “Arriving at bins near smelter.” (Page 24.)

1914 – October 9

Cerro Gordo Mining Company.

L. D. Gordon, Manager

J. C. Climo, Superintendent

“The mine is in splendid shape and there is no question now but that we have a valuable property. On account of the way in which the mine is responding and the great cost and uncertainty of hauling everything up and down the hill with teams, I think the tramway should be repaired as soon as possible. It is now good business to do the thing from the standpoint of the company as well as myself. Will send you formal notice, as called for in the agreement, in a day or two.”

L. D. Gordon, Manager, Cerro Gordo Mining Company, Operating the Cerro Gordo Mine under Lease.

1914 – Annual Report

Cerro Gordo Mines

“Four 10-horse teams are now employed in hauling the ore from Cerro Gordo to Keeler, hauling being done by J. R. LeCyr under contract. The reconstruction of the arial tramway from Keeler to the mine has been started, the work being done by A Leschen & Sons of St. Louis, Missouri. The tramway will be extended from its present terminal to the railroad, a distance of three quarters of a mile, and then the entire line is completed it will be in two sections and its length will be 29,118 feet.”

Monthly Production of The Cerro Gordo Mines for the Year 1914.

1915 – May 25

Inyo Cerro Gordo Mining and Power Company

L. D. Gordon, Manager

J. C. Climo, Superintendent

“A contract for the reconstruction of the arial tramway from the mine to the lower terminal, with an extension from that point to the railroad, has been let to Leschen & Sons of St. Louis, at an estimated cost of $32,000. When completed the tram will be in two sections, total length 29,118 feet, with a drop between terminals of 4,500 feet, and is guaranteed to deliver 15 tons per hour. It is expected to be in operation by July the first. This will not only greatly increase the shipments, but will mean a saving of $2.50 on every ton of ore shipped. (Pages 6 and 7.)

…

Tramway work is progressing in a most satisfactory manner, and we should have the work completed the fore part of July. Practically all of the framing for the terminals, intermediate control station, tension stations, breakovers and new towers has been completed and about fifty per cent of the old towers have been completely altered and arranged to suit the requirements of the Leschen system. I think I am safe in saying that we will have a real tramway when the work is finished and that it will be equal in efficiency to any in the west. The material furnished is of very high grade and the most substantial nature. There is a feature of the tramway installation that may have been overlooked by you and that is the commercial possibilities pertaining thereto.

The Bo Brothers of this place assure me that they will be able to furnish from two to three hundred tons of ore per month from the claims owned by them. There are other prospects in this vicinity that will furnish considerable revenue from the handling of custom ore, to say nothing of the great saving in operation effected by being able to eliminate the hauling of all material by teams.” (Page 9.)

Pages 6 and 7, F. J. Hambly, Alexander Peers, John Alexander, A. L. Dornberger, Fred C. Ross, Board of Directors. F. J. Hambly, Trustee.

Page 9, Louis D. Gordon, Manager, Cerro Gordo Mining Company, Operating the Cerro Gordo Mine Under Lease.

Annual Report to the Stockholders of the Inyo Cerro Gordo Mining and Power Company May 25th, 1915.

Image - “Cerro Gordo Camp. Elevation 8,500 ft. Old smelter site from which a large tonnage of slag will be shipped and re-smelted.” (Page 1.)

1915 – July 27

Inyo Cerro Gordo Mining and Power Company.

“You know the lease expires on Sept. 18th, and the tram will be running the first of the month. The mine has years and years of work ahead of it.

…

We are shipping by team, as you understand, but the first of the month will be shipping by tram, which will consequently make our shipments much larger and commence to pay dividends I am sure by the Holidays.”

 H. T. Welch, Inyo Cerro Gordo Mining and Power Company. Letter to shareholders Mr. William H. and Mrs. Ella M. Bull.

1916 – November 4

Inyo Cerro Gordo Mining & Power Company.

“When it was decided to rebuild the tram, and make other improvements, the Inyo Cerro Gordo Mining & Power Company advanced two thirds of the money necessary to pay for same, and afterwards took stock in payment of the amount advanced from the treasury in the Cerro Gordo Mines Company, at $1.00 per share, to the amount of 66,667 shares.”

A.L. Dornberger, Secretary, Board of Directors, Inyo Cerro Gordo Mining and Power Company.

1917 – March 31

Cerro Gordo Mines Co.

“Assets

Mines and Mining Claims, Tramway, Buildings and other Equipment: Original cost, represented by Capital Stock issued at par…

…$900,000.00

Cash Expenditures for Improvements and Additions since date of acquisition to Dec. 31, 1916…

…$146,056.75

Cash Expenditures to Improvements and Additions December 31, 1916, to date:

Tramway…$100.93” (Page 1.)

Cerro Gordo Mines Co., Quarterly Report, January 1st to March 31st 1917.

1917 – September 30

Cerro Gordo Mines Co.

“Assets

Mines and Mining Claims, Tramway Buildings and other Equipment, June 30th, 1917…

…$1,066,535.98” (Page 1.)

Cerro Gordo Mines Co., Quarterly Report, July 1st to September 30th 1917.

Documentation collected and compiled from primary sources located at the California State Library, California History Room, Box 1038, “Inyo Cerro Gordo mining and Power Company, 1913-1919.”, by Robert Sloan, 2023.