Mr. James D. Caldon Archive
An archive of 64 plus letters relating to the hiring of Mr. James D. Caldon, by various mining companies, as a Consulting and Mining Engineer who was referred to as a “Walking Encyclopedia” with in that profession.
James D. Caldon (1847-1931) was an American mining engineer who worked as a consultant for various mining companies, particularly in the Western United States. His work often involved evaluating mining properties and developing plans for their operation and modernization. He was a respected professional in the field and his reports and prospectuses were used to attract investment for mining ventures. These letters of recommendation range from 1883 – 1924 with the majority written (some typed) on company stationary. Some of the companies represented are: 1) Emerson and McCaffey Mines, Stock and Bonds – Grand Encampment, Wyo. 2) The Gold Fissure Gold Mining Company – Denver, Colo. 3) The Gauntlet Gold Mining Company – Denver, Colorado. 4) Dillon Gold Mining Company – Cripple Creek District, Colorado. 5) The Doyle Consolidated Mines Co. – Denver, Colorado. 6) The Miners National Bureau of Information – Denver, Colo. 6) The Hecla Copper and Gold Mining, Milling and Smelting Company – Denver, Colo. 7) Chattahoochee Land Company – Atlanta, GA. 8). The Contact Gold Mining & Tunnel Company, Cripple Creek, Colorado. 9). The Georgia Mining, Manufacturing and Investment Company – Atlanta, GA. 10). Barnes & Co. Real Estate and Mining Investments. Cripple Creek, Colo. 11). The New Era Gold Mining & Milling Co. Freeland, Colorado. 12) The Cresson Consolidated Gold M. and M. Co., Cripple Creek, Colorado. 13) Midfields Oil Company, Oray, Colo., etc.
Other letters of recommendation came from companies having interest in mining, but not necessarily mining companies. Several are: 1) Atlanta Exchange and Banking Comopany – Atlanta, GA. 2) Belding Brothers & Co. – Manufacturers of Machine Twist, Cincinnati, Ohio. 3) Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta, Ga. 4) Department of the Interior, Washington. 5) The Augusta Chronicle, Augusta, Ga., etc.
Many of the letters concern Caldon’s application for the Supt. Of Mineralogy for the Mexican Exposition. However my research shows no indication that James D. Caldon was officially affiliated with the Mexican Exposition. His primary professional affiliations mentioned are with private mining companies in the Western United States, such as the American-Rand Mining and Milling Company in Colorado.
Letter example -
MIDFIELDS OIL COMPANY
Oray, Colo., Sept. 1924
To Whom It May Concern-
This is to certify that the above Company employed Prof. J.D. Caldon to make an examination of our holdings in Yuma County Colorado as to the possibility of oil and gas.
This was in the latter part of 1917 and in virgin territory, more than three hundred miles from production, with no drilling wells to work from. In spite of this fact after a week spent in the examination of the field, he pronounced it an oil and gas field and made our first location in which well we encountered wet gas at the depth of 1500 feet and oil under 2600 feet.
We have since drilled three additional wells on the leases he recommended as to acquire in all of which we encountered commercial gas and oil where the wells were driven to sufficient depth.
I have known Prof. Caldon personally for the past seven years and believe him to be one of the best informed men along geological lines in the country which coupled with his vast experience in this and foreign countries makes him a very valuable man to any company or individual contemplating investments along this line.
The Midfield Oil Company
R.H. Hays, Director
Denver Office 1721 Stout Street
The letters are adhered to pages of a National New Flat Back Scrap Book. Many of the pages are chipped from turning, however the letters are fine and those that are written quite readable. The book is worn with the spine cloth coming apart at the front hinge. Also, very worn marbled boards. Overall an important archive regarding the mining expertise of James D. Calder.