Santa Cruz Mining Company

The Santa Cruz Mining Company was organized in 1908 by J. B. Hancock,from Durango, J.F. Dunn from Alice, Texas, and James R. Dougherty from Beeville, Texas. The company was incorporated in Delaware later the same year. Among its stockholders were some investors from the Hancock, Loving, Roby, and Venable Company, from San Antonio Texas, which also included James R. Dougherty. The SCMC had a sister company, the Santa Cruz Development Company, organized under the State of Delaware in 1917. It became defunct sometime around 1920. Around 1903 these companies were interested in acquiring mines in Mexico, especially in the state of Durango. The mines named Jesus Maria, Santa Cruz, Anexas de Santa Cruz, Dolores, Rosicler and El Placer,located in Otaez, Durango, became property of the SCMC. The mines were in operation until 1913, probably because of the Revolution. They closed indefinitely around 1930 due to the closing of the smelters, trouble with the unions and the drop in silver prices.

The SCMC had a few trusted employees in the area. Pablo Moreno, still employed at the mine since 1919, served as custodian. Frank L. McCaughan,another employee and a former manager, paid the taxes and corresponded with Mr. Dougherty, who passed away in 1950. In 1967 the Dougherty family decided to reopen the mine and asked attorney J. Chrys Dougherty to begin activities towards the rehabilitation of the mine, acting as legal counsel in Texas. Attorney Alberto Terrones Benitez, who knew Mr.James Dougherty and was acquainted with the history of the Santa Cruz mine, was asked to serve as legal counsel in Mexico, as was Durango Attorney Jaime Carranza. A professional geologist, Mr. Philip Beckley, was hired for the project and Dr. Peter Flawn served as consultant.They traveled to the mines in 1967 and other times after that. The mines and the surrounding areas were mapped and photographed. The mine titles were cleared of any controversy with the Bureau of Mines in Mexico, as the taxes were paid through all the years the mines had not been in operation. The price of silver had gone up which made the sale of the SCMC a good prospect. The stockholder lists needed to be brought up to date and all attempts were made to contact every stockholder to keep them appraised of the project. Mrs. James Dougherty was the majority stockholder and made cash advances to the company.

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