Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog number |
1997.2.2482 |
Object Name |
Clipping, Newspaper |
Date |
1960 |
Description |
This is a part of a printed article or report on happenings around San Jose which had something to do with the New Almaden Quicksilver Mines in the past. The source of this fragment is not known. . we were given the eight pillars of this building. In 1897, Butterworth. Randol and Carson of "New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Company" were vitally interested and became stockholders of the San Jose Light & Power Company who erected the "Tower" at the corner of West Santa Clara and Market Streets, San Jose. This tower held six carbon arc lights, supposedly enough light to illuminate the business district of San Jose. We have the Brush generator that created the electricity for these lights. Using this as a nucleus, we trace light or illumination from the earthen oil bowl dug up on the island of Cyprus (used 200 B.C.) up to the fluorescent and mercury lights. An interesting sidelight is when Thomas Bell was agent for the Quicksilver Mining Company, he loaned one million and a half dollars to finance the building of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. We have one of the certificates. Each in itself is backed by the rolling stock of the company. It paid back the money years ahead of time. 1n 1930, on the hill where the two camps were situated, English and Spanish-Mexican, the deserted homes were salvaged and made into barracks for a rehabilitation camp for World War I veterans. In 1932, the Civilian Conservation Corps took over, maintaining a school and a forestry conservation project for six years. With the advance in price of quicksilver and the urgent need for it, the property was leased to the Coradora Mining Company from 1940 to 1945. Between 1945 and 1957, the owners, the Sexton family of Philadelphia, leased the property to several groups of four to six men, totaling 50 workers, who were interested in having a '`hand" in finding new or rediscovering old deposits. |
People |
Bell, Thomas |
Cataloged by |
Boudreault, Art |
Collection |
Perham 2 |