NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2025 Jan 31 @ 08:00UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
FINAL AUCTION RECORD The Auctioneer’s podium notes serve as the final, legally binding record of the auction results, superseding any electronic bidding records. See Terms and Conditions
A pair of utility stock certificates (# signed by Bank of California founder, D.O. Mills (1825-1910). These stocks were issued by the Tuolumne County Water Company for one share each at $250 per.
One dated August, 1856 (Cert number illegible) is signed on the reverse by Mills who transferred the stock to brother Edgar Mills, while the cert numbered 2926 is signed by Mills and dated April 24, 1854. Both are in decent condition. Please see photos for more details.
Large quantities of water were essential to large scale mining operations and the control of water became key. Miners were tied to the area by the availability of water, which eroded the gold from the mountains and deposited it in Columbia. Soon the control of water became the biggest and most complex struggle facing miners, and Columbia epitomized this struggle. The Hildreth party has been given the credit for discovering gold in the area, although other evidence points toward a small settlement of miners from Mexico. Nevertheless, the Americans moved in quickly once they heard of the plentiful gold and a ready supply of water. After their arrival in March 1850 a typical hot and dry summer followed. Winter brought miners back to the Columbia area following the rains and the return of the seasonal creek. Those merchants who managed to survive the summer quickly realized that maintaining their business relied on a steady supply of water, and local miners realized that a reliable supply of water was needed to find the gold all year around in this location. Together, they established to Tuolumne County Water Company (TCWC) in June of 1851. The Tuolumne County Water Company was set up as an employee owned and controlled company. Founders went to surrounding areas raising expectations and investors. At the end of June 1951, 160 shares of stock had been sold, the route had been surveyed, and workers were celebrating. Their efforts to tap into first Five Mile creek, then the south fork of the Stanislaus River was largely unsuccessful, as the creeks were dry and the rivers were low as was usual in the summer months. After almost a year water finally arrived, but there was not enough to sustain full mining operations, and the company was forced to borrow money for capital investments in sawmills, roads and equipment. The Tuolumne County Water Company incorporated in September 1852.
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Date: 1854-56
Country (if not USA):
State: California
City: Tuolumne County
Provenance: Ken Prag Collection
Auction Location:
3555 Airway Drive Suite 308, Reno, Nevada, 89511, United States
Previewing Details:
Preview
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Nevada State Sales Tax
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| NSST |
8.375% |
Nevada Sales Tax |
| CSST |
8% |
California Sales Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
25% |
Additional Fees:
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From: to: Increment:
$1 $95 $5
$100 $190 $10
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$1,500 $3,400 $100
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$30,000 up $1000
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19. All stock certificates, checks, warrants, and other financial documents sold herein are sold as antiquities, and have no financial, securities, or public trading value whatsoever.
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