ELK CREEK MINING CO Stock 1881 Ouray, Colorado (Ouray County) Silver. Cert 2 VF
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:9975309 |
ElkCreek Mining Company. Stock issued on June 24, 1881 in New York City.Incorporated in the State of New York. Embossed company seal leftcenter. Certificate No. 2 was issued to Joseph L. Cunningham for 10shares of capital stock ($1 per share). Company capital was $50, 000.Original ink signatures of company president Edward L. Rapallo andsecretary C. E. Hoffman. Certificate is about 5” x 8”. Blackprint on vellum paper. Vignetteof an earlyseal of the State of New York beneath company... name.
The Elk Creek Mining Company owned silver and gold mines near Ouray, Colorado (Ouray County). (see attached photo ca. 1880s of the mining town of Elk Creek in Ouray County, Colorado)
Condition:Very Fine, very light folds, very minor creasing, no tears, very slight signs of any wear/handling/discoloration (see photos), Uncancelled.Printer: (none indicated)
Ouray, Colorado Mining History – Thefirst mines were discovered at the Ouray site in 1875, and an initialsettlement and mining district named “Uncompahgre” wereestablished. The box canyon at Ouray was deemed an ideal town site, being spectacularly beautiful, relatively flat, sheltered from theworst of the winter weather, and warmed by numerous hot springs. Theinitial settlement was small and only a few men stayed for the winterof 1875-76. Transportation routes were not established at this timeand the poorly-equipped miners almost starved before supplies arrivedduring the spring of 1876. By early 1876, the town name was changedto Ouray and a permanent town started to take shape. Numerousbusinesses were started like hotels, stores, a blacksmith, and ofcourse the center of every mining town - saloons. Many of these earlybusinesses operated out of tents and log cabins and only lasted thatfirst summer. Ouray was incorporated in October of 1876. In Januaryof 1877, Ouray County was carved out of existing San Juan County, andOuray became the county seat. Early in 1877 the population of Ouraywas reported to be over 400 residents. The town contained over 200structures including log cabins, two blacksmiths, a school, a postoffice, a bank, two hotels, and too many saloons to count. The firstnewspaper in town, the Ouray Times, was published in June of thisyear. The population of Ouray had doubled to around 800 by early1878. The 1880 census reported a population of 864. At this time thetown boasted a water works, street lights, plank sidewalks, andgraded roads. By the early 1880s, Ouray had established itself as thesecond most prominent town in the San Juan region, behind Silverton.Ouray would become the supply, social, and cultural center of severalrich mining districts at high-altitude and forbidding terrain abovethe town. Ouray’s position at the foot of the mountains made itmuch more suitable for habitation than the locations of most of themajor mines. Rich silver discoveries at Red Mountain in 1882 wouldmark the first major rush to Ouray and the northern San Juans. Themines of the Red Mountain district were only out-produced by thespectacular Leadville mines during this decade. Ouray has manyhistoric buildings remaining from the 1880s, largely due to earlyefforts to avoid catastrophic fires in the town. Fire resistant brickconstruction became prevalent during this decade and the firstvolunteer fire department was created in the early 1880s. Ouray waselectrified in 1885, a very early year for electrification in thefrontier West. The mines and towns of the San Juan region were earlypioneers in implementing electrical infrastructure. The Denver &Rio Grande Western Railroad reached Ouray in December of 1887, marking a new era of prosperity for the town. By 1890, Ouray had over2, 500 residents. Like many prosperous mining cities in Colorado, Ouray hit hard times after the repeal of the Sherman Silver PurchaseAct in 1893. Prominent businesses closed after 1893, including theBank of Ouray. Many men were out of work as many of the local silvermines halted production. Ouray would survive this crisis largely dueto the discovery of rich gold mines northeast of town in an area thatbecame known as the “Gold Belt”. Notable producers were theAmerican Nettie, Bachelor, and Wedge mines. Ouray began to recover by1895 based on activity at the Gold Belt mines, and the fact that manysilver mines in nearby districts had some gold content, helping themoperate profitably even when silver prices were low. It also helpedthat two of the richest mines in the West were nearby: the Revenueand Camp Bird. These mines employed hundreds of men each, and keptOuray humming as a supply center and rail hub for the mountainoperations. By 1900, Ouray’s population had been reduced to 2, 196residents. While this figure reflected some of the economic hardtimes related to the decline in the silver industry, the reduction inpopulation was far less than seen in mining towns of other districts.
PAYMENTAND SHIPPING Please read certificate description details shown above before bidding. Please contact me with any questions before bidding. Payment by PayPal only. Shipping within the U.S. is by USPS First Class Mail ($4.00 for packages weighing 13 ounces or less) – shipping for packages weighing over 13 ounces will be shown on your invoice. If another shipping method is requested, a revised invoice will be sent. International buyers need to wait for my invoice before paying. Combined shipping cost will be offered for multiple items won – please wait for invoice before paying, or if specific shipping method or insurance is requested. Multiple items will be shipped together in one package. All packages will be shipped with certificates placed in plastic sleeves with cardboard backing and marked “Do Not Bend”. I do not profit on shipping costs charged. Items typically shipped within two days of payment.RETURNSAND GUARANTEE: Buyer satisfaction and authenticity of certificate is guaranteed – returns are accepted with 14 days of purchase (buyer pays return shipping cost unless item received is not as described in this listing). All certificates are originals – no reproductions.
The Elk Creek Mining Company owned silver and gold mines near Ouray, Colorado (Ouray County). (see attached photo ca. 1880s of the mining town of Elk Creek in Ouray County, Colorado)
Condition:Very Fine, very light folds, very minor creasing, no tears, very slight signs of any wear/handling/discoloration (see photos), Uncancelled.Printer: (none indicated)
Ouray, Colorado Mining History – Thefirst mines were discovered at the Ouray site in 1875, and an initialsettlement and mining district named “Uncompahgre” wereestablished. The box canyon at Ouray was deemed an ideal town site, being spectacularly beautiful, relatively flat, sheltered from theworst of the winter weather, and warmed by numerous hot springs. Theinitial settlement was small and only a few men stayed for the winterof 1875-76. Transportation routes were not established at this timeand the poorly-equipped miners almost starved before supplies arrivedduring the spring of 1876. By early 1876, the town name was changedto Ouray and a permanent town started to take shape. Numerousbusinesses were started like hotels, stores, a blacksmith, and ofcourse the center of every mining town - saloons. Many of these earlybusinesses operated out of tents and log cabins and only lasted thatfirst summer. Ouray was incorporated in October of 1876. In Januaryof 1877, Ouray County was carved out of existing San Juan County, andOuray became the county seat. Early in 1877 the population of Ouraywas reported to be over 400 residents. The town contained over 200structures including log cabins, two blacksmiths, a school, a postoffice, a bank, two hotels, and too many saloons to count. The firstnewspaper in town, the Ouray Times, was published in June of thisyear. The population of Ouray had doubled to around 800 by early1878. The 1880 census reported a population of 864. At this time thetown boasted a water works, street lights, plank sidewalks, andgraded roads. By the early 1880s, Ouray had established itself as thesecond most prominent town in the San Juan region, behind Silverton.Ouray would become the supply, social, and cultural center of severalrich mining districts at high-altitude and forbidding terrain abovethe town. Ouray’s position at the foot of the mountains made itmuch more suitable for habitation than the locations of most of themajor mines. Rich silver discoveries at Red Mountain in 1882 wouldmark the first major rush to Ouray and the northern San Juans. Themines of the Red Mountain district were only out-produced by thespectacular Leadville mines during this decade. Ouray has manyhistoric buildings remaining from the 1880s, largely due to earlyefforts to avoid catastrophic fires in the town. Fire resistant brickconstruction became prevalent during this decade and the firstvolunteer fire department was created in the early 1880s. Ouray waselectrified in 1885, a very early year for electrification in thefrontier West. The mines and towns of the San Juan region were earlypioneers in implementing electrical infrastructure. The Denver &Rio Grande Western Railroad reached Ouray in December of 1887, marking a new era of prosperity for the town. By 1890, Ouray had over2, 500 residents. Like many prosperous mining cities in Colorado, Ouray hit hard times after the repeal of the Sherman Silver PurchaseAct in 1893. Prominent businesses closed after 1893, including theBank of Ouray. Many men were out of work as many of the local silvermines halted production. Ouray would survive this crisis largely dueto the discovery of rich gold mines northeast of town in an area thatbecame known as the “Gold Belt”. Notable producers were theAmerican Nettie, Bachelor, and Wedge mines. Ouray began to recover by1895 based on activity at the Gold Belt mines, and the fact that manysilver mines in nearby districts had some gold content, helping themoperate profitably even when silver prices were low. It also helpedthat two of the richest mines in the West were nearby: the Revenueand Camp Bird. These mines employed hundreds of men each, and keptOuray humming as a supply center and rail hub for the mountainoperations. By 1900, Ouray’s population had been reduced to 2, 196residents. While this figure reflected some of the economic hardtimes related to the decline in the silver industry, the reduction inpopulation was far less than seen in mining towns of other districts.
PAYMENTAND SHIPPING Please read certificate description details shown above before bidding. Please contact me with any questions before bidding. Payment by PayPal only. Shipping within the U.S. is by USPS First Class Mail ($4.00 for packages weighing 13 ounces or less) – shipping for packages weighing over 13 ounces will be shown on your invoice. If another shipping method is requested, a revised invoice will be sent. International buyers need to wait for my invoice before paying. Combined shipping cost will be offered for multiple items won – please wait for invoice before paying, or if specific shipping method or insurance is requested. Multiple items will be shipped together in one package. All packages will be shipped with certificates placed in plastic sleeves with cardboard backing and marked “Do Not Bend”. I do not profit on shipping costs charged. Items typically shipped within two days of payment.RETURNSAND GUARANTEE: Buyer satisfaction and authenticity of certificate is guaranteed – returns are accepted with 14 days of purchase (buyer pays return shipping cost unless item received is not as described in this listing). All certificates are originals – no reproductions.
