Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-08-20
TO WORK A MICA NINE.
Large Deposits of Mica Found in
Mine Near Santa Fe, Which Has
Been Idle for Many Years
A Company with Million
Capital Chartered.

Says the Kansas City Star: A charter
was issued by the secretary of state at
Topeka yesterday to the American Mica
company of Kansas City, kas. The
directors of the company are james M.
Poland, Shelly Grover, August lsenberg,
Daniel Glasner and J. c. Laughlin, all of
this city. The company has a capital
stock of $1,OOO,0oo and was or
ganized for the purpose Of working mica
mines in New Mexico.
John p. Conner, a real estate dealer,
whose Office is in room sos Sheldley build
ing, went to Tres Piedras, N. NJ, in
January last on a gold prospecting tour,
and while rambling among the hills near
Tres Piedras stumbled upon huge vein
of mica. The place bore evidence OF
having been worked at one time, and
some dilapidated log cabins which the
operators had inhabited still stood near.
/ Inquiry developed the fact that the Mex
leans had worked the mines many years
before the Santa Fe railway was built,
conveying the mine products to st.
Joseph by means of wagons. The exist
ence of the deposit was known to many,
but it was not thought of sufficient value
to engage in mining it.
Upon his return to this city, however,
Mr.. Conner reported his discovery to
several business men and proceeded to
organize company to furnish funds for
making thorough investigation Of the
resources of the mines. About month
ago DR.. Claude q. Hamilton, Of the Uni
versity Medical college, was sent by the
company to investigate. He found within
a radius of half a mile three immense de-
posts of the mineral. He returned with
Photographic views and reports, and the
American Mica company was Immediately
organized with the intention of working
the mines.
Tres Piedras, which signifies three
rocks, is about 100 miles north of Santa
Feand that locality is famed for Astounding
in mica deposits. The resources of the
mines which this company proposes
working are said to be inexhaustible ano
the directors claim that they have ready
market for the entire output of the mines
The most valuable portion of the
; mineral is called black mica, and is uset
for insulating electric light wires, being
a perfect insulator. 1t is noncombustible
As roofing material it is said to be un
equaled. One of the mines at Tres Pie
dras will yield Is per cent black mica
which commands high price. 1t ii
quoted in price list of a New York firm
as being worth, in blocks of 2xS inches
IS pound; in blocks of 3x6 inches, SO
and Sx1O, 1913, which figures are too larg'
to admit the extensive use of the mineral
Scrap mica, or the pieces not in thicl
8 blocks, sells for $l2 a ton on board tn
, cars at the mines. This grade is used TO
roofing, and is becoming to be recognized
y as good lubricator for machinery. Fo
Q this purpose the mica is pulverized AM
n when applied to surfaces where there i
friction glazes them completely. Tn
y directors of the company are confiden
> that they will find ready market for tn
products of the three mines they propos
J. working.
OF the members of the company, Shell
J Grover is an attorney living in Kansa
D City, Kas., whose Office is in the Sheidle
. building; August Isenberg is confidentia
. book-keeper for Glasner IL Barren, whole
! sale liquor dealers, and Daniel Glasner
y a brother of Mr.. Glasner, of Glasner
. Barren.