2338
US Mineral Surveyor Archive, Silverton, CO, 1878-1935 [200569]
Currency:USD
Category:Collectibles / Mining
Start Price:3,000.00 USD
Estimated At:6,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
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0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
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2025 Aug 09 @ 08:00 (UTC-07:00 : PDT/MST)
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The James Dyson, Silverton, US Depty. Mineral Surveyor Archive, 1878-c1935
It is indeed a rare happenstance when we get consigned a collection of such magnitude from any element of the mining business, in this case, from a Registered Mineral Surveyor, let alone for the key surveyor during a mining rush in an incredibly important region- the San Juan Mining Region of Colorado. While rich ores in the San Juan Region had been discovered a few years before, the few mining camps that arose were small and still "inaccessible" according to Ross Raymond in 1876 (Mineral Resources West of the Rocky Mountains). Silverton was just a small mining camp of 500 people, without any real access to the outside world except by horseback. Though Raymond noted that 5000 mineral locations had been made, there was insufficient infrastructure. Only one mill had been built to process lead-silver ore, and it was small.
This was the world into which James Dyson entered with his new bride in 1879. Silverton and the San Juan region had begun to explode in prospecting and production. By 1905 the population had boomed to 3000. All the while Dyson was the sole Mineral Surveyor, active right up to his death in 1923 at 76 years old. By 1960, 64 million ounces of silver had been mined; 348,000 ounces of gold, and millions in zinc, lead and copper.
As I opened the boxes of this archive, I was in complete wonderment of the quality of what is present and the eye-opening realization that the Silverton Boom is right here in front of us - including the original Wheeler Survey map of the Silverton Mining Region, to the Hayden Survey map of Colorado showing drainages (1876-1878). Dyson used these and other maps heavily. He also used a full colored Silverton District Claim map (1905, Clauson, Denver). Most of these hung on his wall at one time. Dyson's detailed survey notes are here - perhaps a thousand or more mining claims surveyed over about 40 years, and a large portion of his correspondence with the Surveyor General's Office and the General Land Office in matters of mineral patent. The process of mineral patent is also present, from solving mineral title with various claim partners, to verifying "ore"(valuable mineral-proof for prudent man clause in the patent process) with dozens of assay receipts of shipments of ores from dozens or more mines. His personal papers include correspondence with numerous survey equipment manufacturers and their catalogs. Some of these catalogs and booklets as so rare that we haven't seen them in 50 years of business. (The one on hydraulic mining in Colorado published in Denver in 1878 by M.B. Carpenter comes to mind.) Dyson became so wrapped up in mineral surveys that he naturally turned to learn the assay business, reflected in his retained library here of about 25 key books.
Now for the rest of the story¶
James Edgar Dyson was born Feb. 14, 1847 in Huddersfield England. In 1868 he came to the USA for an advanced education, arriving in Massachusetts, attending the Wilbraham Academy, a one year university preparatory school. It was there that he met his future wife Alice. Dyson went to Cornell for a degree in civil engineering, which he received in 1878. He studied every form of engineering he could, from railroad construction to bridge construction, building construction and more. He retained his Cornell class workbooks, which show extreme talent and interest. He never hung up his diploma in his office, but rather kept it rolled in pristine condition. At that time, the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad was looking for surveyors, and Dyson joined the team, landing in Silverton by 1879. Upon visiting the only local surveyor, William Munroe, Dyson was immediately offered not only a job, but a partnership in the new business of Munroe and Dyson, civil engineers and mineral surveyors.
The new firm were listed as "US Deputy Mineral Surveyors." They were qualified to survey for potential mineral patents for the Government (and perhaps inspect, as well as gather proof of citizenship). In later years Dyson performed these same duties with his son for mine/property owners for a fee.
The Dysons had a son and a daughter, both schooled by Alice in the lower grades. At the time, Silverton was just beginning its mining boom. The Wheeler Survey map had just been released, which in conjunction with Ross Raymond's reports of the region in Mineral Resources West of the Rocky Mountains, introduced America to the San Juan mining region. Dyson named his son after himself, Edgar James Dyson. Jim took his young son along on many jobs, ultimately having Edgar as his partner. Many of Edgar's papers from his post-WW1 years are present.
Dyson was a stickler for the formal regulatory part of mineral location, survey and further patent, if the claims went that far. The files here are full of correspondence on all aspects of hundreds of mining claims, inclusive of examining (and often fixing) mining title up to and including policing the regulatory end, where a claimant who wished to go to patent was required to post publication of the intent in three places for sixty days. Too often, claimants would assume that 55 days was the same as 60 days, trying to save "a nickel" on advertising. But each time Dyson caught them, which caused further communication and remedies, both with the claimant and with Washington, if possible.
As an extra form of income, Dyson became the County Surveyor 1889-1895, elected three times to a two year position. He also owned a number of claims over the years.
One file from the post-1900 period shows concern over the miner's union trouble throughout Colorado.
It is strongly suggested to come look at this impressive and historically important archive. I think it may be the sole existent mineral surveyor's archive for a major mining district.
A fully detailed inventory of the thousands of pieces is beyond the scope of an auction item description. Suffice it to say, this is an incredible historical lot.
Some interesting items are listed below:
Ledgers:
1: Labelled "La Plata County Notes". It is a ledger with 75+ pages, dated c. 1878-1888. Possibly Munroe & Dyson.
2: Copies of official surveys, 1896 to 1907. From Dyson at Silverton. 384 pages containing his notes plus copies.
3: Labelled "Calculation Book #2", January 1. 1899 to February 1912. Dyson Silverton. 400 pages, includes notes on mineral surveys.
4: Letterpress copies of location certificates, 1899 to 1901. San Juan and Ouray.
5: Loose copies of official field notes. Dated c. 1901 to 1903. About 50 pages.
6: Ledger of accounts with Monroe and Dyson for surveying. 59 pages. Account book for private surveying.
7: Labelled "Location Field Notes #3". Dated c. 1894 to 1898. 360 pages.
8: Labelled "Location Field Notes #2". Also contains official field notes of the earlier days. 300 pages. No visible date, c. 1870s and 1880s.
9: Labelled "Survey Field Notes #1". Also contains official field notes of the earlier days. 380 pages. Dated c. 1875 to 1880. Includes Eureka Mining District, La Plata County.
10: Labelled "Location Field Notes #4". 400 pages. Dated c. 1899 to 1907.
11: Labelled "Calculations 1890 to 1899, Book #1". About 350 pages.
12: Labelled "Letterpress Book #2 of Official Field Notes, Beginning 1889". About 500 pages
13. Labeled: "Letters #3, 500pp 1897-1898, Dyson Depty Min Surveyor
14: Ledger of accounts, Dyson. Dated c. 1906 to 1921. Money is billed and paid.
15: No cover label. Field notes for specific claims in the Red Mountain area. About 200 pages. Dated c. 1888 to 1890.
16: "Rico Notes and Calculations", 356 pages. Dated 1890s.
17: Ledger of accounts with James Dyson for surveying, about 220 pages. Dated 1885 to 1899.
18: Unlabeled Dyson letterpress book. 300 paged. Dated 1886 to 1890.
19: Labelled "Letterpress Book #1". From Dyson. About 300 pages, dated 1895-1900.
Books:
There are about 25 books. They key categories are the following:
Surveying; Instructions to Surveyors General; Assaying; Mining Reports; texts re engineering.
Maps:
Preliminary Map of San Juan County, Hayden Survey, A.D. Wilson, c 1876
Drainage Map of Colorado, Hayden Survey, 1877
San Juan Triangle Mining Region, Wheeler Survey Map #61, 1875
Silverton Mining District Claim map, 1905, Clauson, Denver pocket map, heavily used.
Panoramas:
Silverton and Sullivan Mountain, Supplement to Silverton Standard, undated, 6 x 18", offset printed photo
Silverlake Mill, Supplement to Silverton Standard, undated, 12 x 24", offset printed photo
Eureka Gulch and Eureka, Supplement to Silverton Standard, undated, 9 x 36", offset printed photo, photo by Big 5 Mining Co.
Grand Encampment Mining District (WY), 12 x 20", M. D. Houghton, offset printing of an artist's map.
Bingham, panorama of Utah Copper Co. and Boston Consolidated at Bingham, 10 x 36"
Bingham open pit, by Cliff-Bray, 6 x 36"
Pamphlets: (various dates, mostly 1800s)
K&E, several
Chicago Steel Tape
Ways Pocket Smelter
Repairing K&E
Leitz, several
Solar Tables, 1888
Solar Ephemera, 1881, 1883, 1885, 1898 with instructions and diagrams
Cripple Creek Reel (measuring tape)
Odentograph
Stanley Surveying Instruments
Gurley Instruments
Archbutt Instruments
Other:
Cornell Graduation Cert, 1878
Original Leather Satchel with instruments
Original contract with, and signed by Otto Mears, Colorado Railroad Magnate
^
Date:
Country (if not USA):
State: Colorado
City: Silverton
Provenance:
Auction Location:
3555 Airway Drive Suite 308, Reno, Nevada, 89511, United States
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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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