Butler Correspondence Concerning Mora Grant,, 1887–1891

File — Box: 1, Folder: 7

Identifier: 1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: This collection consists of copies of originals owned by the West Virginia Collections of West Virginia University. Rather than cover the years Elkins spent in New Mexico, materials were copied which concern his mining interests during the 1890's. This copied collection is divided into five series: Correspondence, Legal documents, Land deeds and leases, Financial documents and assay reports, and Microfilm. The correspondence is full of letters to and from many prominent national and territorial figures. Among the significant correspondents are Carl Schurz, John Pratt, Lymann Trumball, W. C. Meigs, William Breeder, Abram G. Hout, S. A. Hubbell (Las Vegas, NM), G. C. Swallow, J. G. Blaine, Hamilton Fish, Ed Moore, E. Sherwood, E. O. Darling, Ida A. Logan, A. H. Hilton, Antonio Ortiz Y Salazar, S. M. Janney, Richard Hudson, Benjamin Harrison, William W. Dudley, J. Francisco Chaves, Edwin L. Bartlett, R. C. Kevens, W. P. Cunningham, J. P. Victory, John P. McCook, Allen Manuel, Edward F. Hobart, Lee English, Aldace Walker, J. C. Wilson, C. E. Dewey, Joseph Tarocque, W. H. Pettibone, J. L. Wells, John Longmaid, George McGee, Herbert Strickland, Leo F. Probat (Chicago architect), Bernard L. Rodey, O. X. Kelly, John R. McFie, R. L. Baca, B. A. Nymeyer, Thomas B. Catron, Miguel S. Otero, Pedro Sanchez, George Milroy Baily, B. Gordon Bromley, William Caver Wiederseim, Candelario Martinez, Edward R. Otero and General Benjamin F. Butler. Of the correspondence, the Butler letters are the most extensive and concern New Mexico land interests that led to the Butler v. Elkins lawsuit. Topics discussed in the correspondence include political matters such as appointments and J. G. Blaine’s presidential ambitions. An immense amount of the correspondence deals with the Cerrillos Coal and Iron Company and its railroad. Legal documents in the collection show the types of lawsuits that resulted from the attempts of eastern industrialists to tap New Mexico’s mineral wealth. General Ben Butler of Civil War and Reconstruction was one who sued Elkins. In a related case, E. O. Darling sued General Butler. Another lawsuit documented in the collection is Rencher v. Elkins. This series also contains stock agreements from 1885-1896. Land deeds and leases for the Candelario and Cunningham mines are included with information on the Mesita de Juana Lopez and Mora land grants. There is also additional land information about the holdings of the New Mexico Mining Company. For researchers in New Mexican history, The Ortiz Mine Grant book will be helpful. Financial records include documents from the Cananea Consolidated Copper Company, the Cerrillos Coal Railroad Company, the Cunningham Mine and Mammoth Lode. The Cunningham Mine records include assay reports, expense and payroll accounts and receipts. In addition to the correspondence, legal, land deeds and financial records series, there is also a microfilm copy of mine plats and oversize correspondence.