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Map of Mining Claims Butte and Vicinity Montana (1907)

Map of Mining Claims Butte and Vicinity Montana (1907)

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Map of Mining Claims Butte and Vicinity Montana (1907)

by Harper, Macdonald & Co., J.H. Harper, A.B. Hobart, R.H. Lindsay, Jr., Mineral & Land Attorneys & U.S. Mineral Land Surveyors

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FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts, United States
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About This Item

Map Details:

Scale 1"=1,200' (manuscript pencil above printed scale)

color lithograph

dimensions: 37 1/2" x 49" sheet size

maroon pocket covers: 8 7/8" x 5 1/8" x 3/4"

condition: professional conservation to reattach lifted paper at original folds. Some paper loss at folds, bright colors with some fading. Paper shows wear from actual use, including pencil notations on map's color key of claimants.

provenance: manuscript inside pocket cover identifying two prior owners, W.B. Brinker (Butte) and C.A. Lemmon, Anaconda, Montana

Description:

Harper, Macdonald & Co. published maps of Butte, Montana mining claims as early as 1901. This 1907 map edition of Mining Clams Butte and Vicinity Montana is referred to in certain literature as the first edition of its series. The 1907 copyright date of this map and its 1907 publication date therefore identify this map is the first edition of its series. The series was published until at least 1913. The Harper, Macdonald firm included professionals in all aspects of the legal establishment of mining claims.

Butte claimed a worldwide reputation as "The Richest Hill on Earth" because of its vast copper reserves. Mapping of mining claims was essential to a complete geographical and political understanding of this region. The year 1907 is a milestone in Butte, Montana copper mining history, because it is the year that the copper market, having generated great amounts of wealth for local Montana mine operators, financiers and out of state investors finally peaked and crashed. Thus this map, published just prior to that disastrous event, is a profile of the 46 largest corporate claimants of mining rights in Butte and vicinity to mine copper and other minerals just before economic collapse of the copper market. This map illustrates that mining claims literally run over and under the city of Butte itself, surrounding towns such as Williamsburg, Meaderville, Centerville, Burlington and Columbia Gardens. The political borders of Butte and surrounding smaller towns are almost impossible to see due to the overlapping color blocks of mining claims.

The color coded key of claimants in the lower right section of the map lists America's major mining companies in order of largest claimants first. Anaconda Mining is the largest claimant, followed by Boston & Montana Cn.C. & S. Co., Butte & Boston Con. Ming. Co., Parrot Silver & Copper Co., Trenton Mng.Co., and Washoe Copper Co. Many smaller claimants are listed by survey numbers as the maps tells us their claims are "too small to name on map".

The primary geological and geographical features are identified on the Butte and Vicinity Montana map such as the Main Continental Divide, Silver Bow Creek, Rivers, gulches such as the large Fourth of July Gulch, Reservoirs, buttes, such as Timberland Butte (elev. 5,300) with elevations noted.

Inside the pocket covers are the manuscript names of this map's prior owners. This provenance of the map indicates it was used in the field in Butte and vicinity by mining professionals. The first, in ink is W.B. Brinker (Walter B. Brinker), who served as town engineer of Butte for 1907 and additional years. The word "private" is written on the inside cover as well. The second owner of this map whose name appears on the inside cover is "C.A. Lemmon, Anaconda, Montana" who is Charles A. Lemmon, identified in the 1916 Anaconda City Directory as the Chief Engineer of the Butte Anaconda & Pacific Railroad.

This map illustrates the infrastructure that grew up around and supported the copper mines. The Montana Power Transmission Co. lines are drawn on the map. The Smelter Placers are shown. The Northern Pacific Railroad tracks, coming into the center of Butte, including a major turnaround are illustrated on this map. The Butte Anaconda & Pacific Railroad is shown, the Butte Electric Railway and other routes. The Butte Anaconda & Pacific Railroad was a major hauler of ore from the Butte mines to the Anaconda smelter. It also provided passenger service.

The Map of the Mining Claims Butte and Vicinity Montana 1907 represents one of America's richest early 20th c. mining centers. This map also provides a graphic mapping of the role played by the American copper mining industry in establishing land use patterns and practices in the American West at a pivotal date in the industrialization of the country. The impacts of the American mining industry on the environment and ecology of this and other regions of America persist today as ongoing concerns.

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Details

Seller
Original Antique Maps US (US)
Seller's Inventory #
312
Title
Map of Mining Claims Butte and Vicinity Montana (1907)
Author
Harper, Macdonald & Co., J.H. Harper, A.B. Hobart, R.H. Lindsay, Jr., Mineral & Land Attorneys & U.S. Mineral Land Surveyors
Book Condition
Used
Quantity Available
1
Publisher
Compiled and Published by Harper, Macdonald & Co.
Place of Publication
Butte, Montana
Date Published
1907
Weight
0.00 lbs
Keywords
Copper Mining, Butte, Montana, American West Mining, Silver Bow County, Anaconda, Montana

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Original Antique Maps

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About the Seller

Original Antique Maps

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2020
FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts

About Original Antique Maps

Rare and unusual 18th and 19th century Americana, American and International maps, atlases, prints, nautical charts and manuscript maps. My interests include American 19th century newspapers and manuscript materials such as letters. Maps of the 20th c. including advertising, transit and urban planning are of special interest. Original art on paper in its many forms, including posters and field studies for ultimate print publication.

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First Edition
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