Incorporated Under the Laws of New Mexico.

3,000,000 Shares. Par Value One Cent.

To Avoid Excessive Taxation.

AT ORGANIZATION
TREASURY STOCK, 1,500,000 SHARES.
CASH IN TREASURY, $2,000.00

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS:
J. SHUMAKER, President
O. H. STANLEY, Vice-President and General Manager
C. D. WEIMER, Secretary and Treasurer
C. P. CAMPBELL and MARTIN WEIMER

EASTERN OFFICE:
MINERVA, OHIO.
WESTERN OFFICES:
Colorado Springs, Colo., and Taos, New Mexico.

Introductory.

In calling your attention to one of the richest districts in the whole Rocky Mountain system, we must say in the first place that the old Spanish and Mexican land grant controversies have greatly retarded the development of large tracts of the richest mineral lands throughout New Mexico, particularly in Taos County; but the United States court of private land claims and the United States supreme court have finally passed upon the validity of practically all these grants, and this has recently thrown open some very rich fields. Among these is the Rio Hondo district in Taos County.

This district contains, without any exaggeration, almost inexhaustible bodies of good paying gold, silver and copper ore. In the year 1680 these same Taos mountains gave up millions in gold and silver to the Spaniards, although worked by the crudest possible methods; and now, after lying idle for hundreds of years they are again about to give up their treasures to a few lucky corporations who have secured property in this vicinity. The Rio Hondo District is situated about the center of the county, a few miles north of the quaint old Mexican town of Taos, the county seat. Plenty of mining timber and streams of the clearest water make this an ideal place for reduction plants and the economic handling of ores.

In speaking of mining, many people think of a mining proposition as a gamble. True it is, that the unscrupulous promoter has been too much in evidence, and it is not surprising that an intelligent public is inclined to look with suspicion at even the legitimate mining enterprise. Mining when conducted along business lines, is just as legitimate and far more profitable than any other enterprise, but the investor must exercise care and judgment if he would make his investments profitable.

Mining is not affected by seasons or stagnant markets. Manufactories are influenced by competition, over-stocked market, variations in the price of raw material, and by the condition of the financial centers. Farming depends largely on the weather, and even when everything conspires to produce good crops, market conditions are frequently such as to subject the farmer to a loss of his entire season’s work.

Concentrating Plant and Smelter—1¼ Miles from the “American.”

The product of the mountain is always the same. The mines are the banks established by nature; are not affected by runs; have a market that is always certain, with a demand that is constantly increasing and a wealth of resource—the limit of which is co-extensive with the world.

But there is one thing that investors should bear in mind: “Mines are made—not found,” and a mine is not made in a day. When any other business is being built up, investors do not look for dividends until a market is created and the supply is sufficient to meet the demand. Many good mines have been ruined by the haste of stockholders in demanding dividends before the mine is put in condition to pay; and by their refusal to recognize the necessity for a large outlay in order to make dividends certain.

Description.

The American Consolidated Mines Company is organized and incorporated under the laws of New Mexico. The capital stock is divided into 3,000,000 shares (forever non-assessable). On organization there was placed in the treasury 1,500,000 shares and $2,000.00 cash. Our treasurer’s report shows the company to be in a flourishing condition financially. (See report on following page.) On January 1, 1903, there was in the treasury 1,300,000 shares and a cash balance of $11,866.82. This large treasury reserve assures the company of ample means with which to thoroughly develop its properties, erect a suitable reduction plant, to treat company ores and make any other necessary improvements.

The Company now owns the Berry, Berry Extension, American and Dewey lodes (each claim contains 20.6 acres), and the Coinage mill site of five acres, a total of 87.4 acres of the choicest mining property in the Rio Hondo District. This property is covered with the finest of timber and has abundance of water, two very necessary factors in mining.

Veins and Development.

Rich float has always been found on this section of Gold Hill, now the property of the American Con. Mines Company, and when development was commenced it could have but one result, the finding of the veins or ore bodies from which the rich float originated.

View of Twining, New Mexico—1¼ Miles from the “American” Mines. Showing the Fraser Mine and Reduction Plant.

The main vein of this group traverses the Berry, Berry Extension and American lodes, which has been opened up in various places along its course, and proves it continuous for at least three thousand feet. This vein is strong and well defined and at the different openings is from eight to twelve feet wide. The quartz is rich in gold and copper with small values in silver, and carrying iron and copper pyrites more or less throughout it. Mill tests from this vein show values in gold and copper of $22.40. Two tests recently made by Mr. E. C. Woodward, assayer, Colorado Springs, Colo., show values as follows:

One test for copper on December 31, 1902, gave 14.8 per cent. or values of $29.60 in copper.

The Dewey claim is intersected by numerous quartz dykes, carrying good values in gold and copper. Surface indications point to large bodies of high grade gold bearing ore. Recent tests from shallow workings upon this claim gave values of over $60.00 in gold to the ton, which leads us to believe that shoots of very high grade ore may be expected when this vein series is cut at greater depth.

Development has progressed steadily during 1902 and on January 1, 1903, inspection of the property showed 550 feet of tunnels, drifts, shafts, etc. The main or No. 2 tunnel was in 211 feet with an approximate depth of 133 feet.

There has been erected all necessary buildings such as bunk and boarding houses, tool house, blacksmith shop, etc. The tunnel has been equipped with cars and track and the necessary roadways, logways, etc., have been built. In fact all the preliminary work connected with mining has been completed and everything is in the best of shape for careful and economic mining. Work will be prosecuted with all speed and when greater depth is gained a crosscut will be run from the main tunnel and the vein series of the Dewey lode will be opened up and developed at great depth.

Pictures of the “American” Mines.
No. 1 Tunnel.
Mines Working in the Main or No. 2 Tunnel.
Tunnel House and Blacksmith Shop at Entrance of Main Tunnel.
Bunk House.
Boarding House.

Present Conditions.

A recent communication from our general manager, Mr. O. H. Stanley, reads as follows: “Development is progressing in a very satisfactory manner, and recent assays prove that my estimate, given in a former report, as to the average value of our ore was very conservative, and we may reasonably expect increased values as more depth is gained.”

(Following is an extract of the report referred to in the above.)

A mill run made some time ago showed values as follows: $16.40 in gold, 1½ per cent copper and 60 cents silver per ton, a total value of $22.40 per ton. Taking this conservative estimate as the average value of the ore, and counting only the ore available between the two points opened up upon the “Berry” and the “Berry Extension” workings, above the level of the “Berry Extension” tunnel, would give sufficient ore to keep a 100-ton plant working day and night for over 10 years. This large quantity of ore would be taken out without the use of hoisting or pumping machinery. This, together with every natural facility, such as water power, cheap fuel, and an abundance of timber, makes this an ideal location for the economic handling of ores.

I would estimate that with a 100-ton reduction plant in operation, that the total cost of mining and reducing 100 tons of ore to 10 tons of concentrates, and the transportation, smelting and refining of same would be as follows:

The American’s Main Tunnel in Winter.
Showing Monster Outcropping of Ore at the “American” Property.

The District in General.

Wonderful progress has been made throughout the entire Rio Hondo District, but probably the most gigantic and successful mining enterprise in New Mexico is that the Fraser Mt. Company, which is a short distance south of the American. They have erected and put in successful operation a smelter and concentrating plant of 120 tons daily capacity, and the management is now perfecting plans to double the capacity of their works and to install a larger electric power plant.

Recent advices from Mr. Harlan, President of the New Mexico and Pacific R. R., report rapid progress with the new railroad enterprise. We quote the following extracts from Mr. Harlan’s letter:

“Our present plans contemplate construction on from Raton to Elizabethtown, a distance of a little over 75 miles, but our total trackage will be about 80 miles. Of course, it is not our intention to stop with this little piece of road, but when it is extended to the West, the question will be where to find the most feasible route to cross the mountains. The Taos Valley, the Canon of the Rio Grande and the rolling mesas beyond the Rio Grande, and as this route will be difficult at best, very little attention can be given to present established localities. I mention this to show that even though the road is extended to the West, and we do expect to extend it, still your camp will always be the best served over the road connecting with the railroad in the Moreno Valley.”

By the above it will be seen that we will in the near future be favored by convenient railroad facilities, which will very materially enhance the value of property throughout the District.

Mr. O. H. Stanley, a mining man of six years experience in this district, has general superintendence of the development of the American Consolidated Mines Company property. His long experience in this district, together with his knowledge of the condition and character of the ores, make him a very valuable man and stockholders in this company are to be congratulated on having such a man at the head of its mining department.

SKETCH MAP
PART OF THE RIO HONDO DISTRICT
TAOS COUNTY
NEW MEXICO.
MAP NOT DRAWN TO SCALE

Statement of Treasury of the American Consolidated Mines Co.

Policy of Management.

Work will continue to be prosecuted with all speed, and to the best interests of all. Our plans contemplate extensive development and improvement in equipment along all lines.

Proceeds from the sale of treasury stock will be used for the sole benefit of the stockholders. We wish to thank the stockholders for their liberal support in the past, and ask your continued co-operation—if not in a financial way, we shall equally appreciate any words of approval you may have to offer for the enterprise. The interests of one are the interests of all, and we shall work accordingly.

A Street in Twining, New Mexico.
Views of Mountains in the Rio Hondo District.

Extracts from Bulletin on Taos County, New Mexico, issued by the Bureau of Immigration.

Taos County.

Taos is the most picturesque and in many respects one of the richest in mineral resources of New Mexico counties. It is also the oldest in point of settlement by white men, and one of the best watered sections of the territory.

The Sangre de Christo range is the backbone of the county. Its peaks rise to an altitude of over 13,000 feet. From it extend toward the west foothills and the mesa through which the Rio Grande river breaks its way, as well as some fifteen perennial streams which have broken, picturesque canons and mighty gorges, or have eroded fertile valleys. Spreading out fan-shaped on either side of the main range, and covering a large part of the area of Taos on the west and a large area in Colfax county on the eastern slope are rugged mountain masses reaching an altitude of 13,000 feet above the sea. As at Cripple Creek, the formation of the entire region is largely the result of volcanic forces, consisting mainly of porphyritic and trachytic dykes and overflows, intersected by innumerable veins or lodes, carrying gold, silver, copper and iron. Above Twining is the Rio Hondo and the Black Copper districts, both rich in gold, silver and copper. Mines in these districts are being actively and systematically developed by modern methods and many of them are regularly out-putting large quantities of ore that either reward treatment at district smelters, or are profitably milled or concentrated near the mines. Much of the gold ore is free milling and little of it is seriously refractory—the iron content more than offsetting the small percentage of sulphur and other refractory ingredients. The average values are from $10.00 to $50.00 per ton and bodies are frequently encountered that run a great deal higher. The large bodies of ore in the Rio Hondo and the Copper Hill districts yield their values readily to modern concentrating processes and it seems probable that concentrating will prove an important factor in the future development of the mineral resources of the entire county.

Portions of Taos county are heavily timbered and in general the county is the best timbered in the territory. On account of the difficulty in bringing the merchantable timber from the steep mountain sides to the railroad, saw mills are in operation in various parts of the county, the principal being near Questa and Twining.

The visitor finds here many things to interest him, particularly the Taos Indian pueblo, called by Charles F. Lummis “The American Pyramids.” Here one can study the customs of centuries ago, folklore tales, and try to fathom the secrets of the “Kivas,” or council chambers of these Indians, and the many ceremonial functions and mystic dances. (See picture page 17.)

Hunting in the Rio Hondo District.
“Jack” and His Bear.

The old town of Taos is practically today as it was centuries ago; to see the inhabitants toiling in the gardens and fields, carries us back to the time of Moses, as did the children toil upon the plains of Shimar. Some very old ruins, presumably Pueblo, are to be seen to the right when nearing the main town. An interesting feature is one of the churches of the Pueblo Indians, near Taos. It appears that these Indians rebelled against the United States government once, and but only once, in the latter part of the ’50s, and took refuge in this old church. (See picture page 17). Whereupon General Sterling Price bombarded them with cannon from a distant point, until the Indians hoisted a flag of truce from the top of the old church. The effect of the bombardment is in evidence today, the holes made by the shells were never repaired.

Scores of tourists come to visit the Indian Pueblo annually, especially on its annual feast day, San Geronimo, September 30. The Jicarilla Apache Indians, the Navajos as well as the Pueblos from the south send delegations to this festival and the settlers for scores of miles around gather at the Pueblo on that day. (See picture page 17).

What Stockholders Say Who Have Visited the Rio Hondo District.

Mr. S. D. Mason, of Andover, Ohio, says in a letter of Dec. 10th, 1902:

In October I visited the American Consolidated mines for the purpose of investigating the property for myself and several friends who agreed if I reported favorably to buy stock. I found the mine all that had been claimed for it and more. Am so well satisfied with the property that I have bought 15,000 shares, and my friends are taking stock as fast as I can get to them to explain the situation. I have sold 50,000 shares without asking a single person to buy. The mine is no longer a prospect. It is a mine today. We have the ore, the timber, the water and an honest management, and that is all that is required to make it a sure winner. I can only say to you as I say to my friends here, that the mine is there, that I have put good money into it and could give it no better recommendation.

Mr. Wm. Hinman, City Assessor of Lansing, Mich., says:

My recent visit to New Mexico, the Rio Hondo District in particular, where I spent almost a week looking over the property of the American Consolidated Mines Company, has convinced me that I made no mistake in investing in a block of “American” stock. I will say that I never before had faith in mining ventures, but on investigation of the American Company, and the character of their richly mineralized properties that years of work cannot exhaust, I am satisfied that no investment can be more sterling and safe than that offered by The American Consolidated Mines Company.

Views in the Vicinity of the “American” Mines.
The Indian Pueblo.
The Old Church, Destroyed in the 50’s.
The Sunset Dance.
Annual Feast Day of the Pueblo Indians.

Other References.

Hon. E. C. Abbott, U. S. District Attorney, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Ex-Senator Alexander Gusdorf, Taos, New Mexico.

Geo. P. Miller, U. S. Mineral Surveyor and Mining Engineer, Taos, New Mexico.

William McKean, U. S. Mineral Surveyor and Mining Engineer, Taos, New Mexico.

Those who are at all interested in intelligent, progressive and profitable mining should, for further information concerning The American Consolidated Mines properties, and the price of stock, address,

Views in the Vicinity of the “American” Mines.
Gold Hill—1½ Miles above the American Property.
The Junction of the Rio Hondo and the Rio Grande Rivers.
Manufacturing Brick—4 Miles Below the “American.”
Arroyo Seco, a Mexican Town at the Mouth of the Rio Hondo Canyon.

The New York Herald Says:

“It is an undeniable fact that most influential business men of the world have turned their attention to mining, the source of nearly all wealth; for persons who have been enslaved to the idea that the only safe proposition was a five or six per cent security, now realize that many millions of interest have been lost to them through heeding the advice of those interested in cheap money, and that among the banking institutions of the West eighteen to twenty per cent per annum is not considered a hazardous western profit or excessive dividend on the great majority of our gilt-edged mining securities, and, further, the richest men in the world are mining kings, many of whom have grown powerful enough through the proper application of originally a moderate capital, and it is proven that while millions of dollars have been lost in railroads, farm mortgages, eastern industrial and building associations, the American mining industry steadily advances, making enormous profits for its supporters, building great states and cities, and points with pride to the American possession of 253 mines that have paid in dividends over $625,000,000.

“In mining investments extremely large amounts are not necessary to make one successful, for the man of moderate means, properly advised, has opportunities of quickly doubling his capital. Under incorporation great achievements are made possible through combining limited sums of thousands, thus equaling the capital of the individual millionaire, making possible gigantic undertakings that are productive of enormous revenue. The dollar of the man of moderate means is equally as powerful as the dollar of the money king. Both serve their purpose; both are entitled to their proportionate profits.

“In legitimate mining a twenty-five per cent dividend is not considered startling, and the mining interests of the West are willing to pay that interest for the use of money, for, by the aid of capital they open up tremendous ore bodies that lead to still greater fortunes. The employment of $10,000 in mining is the equivalent of $40,000 in most any other branch of industry.

“For years the wondrous profits of the metal industries have been whispered among investors, who apparently were afraid to let their neighbors know they were identified with mining, but the recent efforts of the financial czars of the world in forming combinations to control first the markets of the miners through the ‘smelting trust’ and then the mines through the ‘Amalgamated Copper trust’ have opened the eyes of the conservative and modern investors, and they are making efforts to obtain their share of the metallic wealth which nature has spread so lavishly.

“Nature has laid her treasures in the mountain recesses of the West. The American miner searches them out. Eastern money makes possible their conversion into bullion and the joint results of the miner and the capitalists make possible tremendous profits that signalize successful mining.”

America possesses 253 mines that have paid in dividends over $625,000,000.

Do you know that the American Consolidated Mines Company owns properties in one of the richest mineral districts in the United States?

The “American” is a mining enterprise of merit. Its shares are advancing in price rapidly.

Do you know you are losing money by not investing in a reliable mining enterprise?

If you are interested in mining, the mineral wealth of New Mexico is something you should investigate.

Buy “American” shares for a safe investment.

Large amounts of money are not necessary to make one successful in meritorious mining enterprises.

The “American” has an energetic, progressive management.

An honest investment for honest investors.

The
American Consolidated
Mines Co.,

C. D. WEIMER, Secy. and Treas.
Minerva, Ohio.

The
American Consolidated
Mines Co.,

TAOS, NEW MEXICO.

Transcriber’s Notes

• Silently corrected a few typos.
• Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.
• In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.
• Collected all the page-header advertising slogans into one section at the end of the prospectus.