M. L. Power to G. D. Roberts, Esq., Ralston, Grant Co. NM, Sept 7, 1870
This is the last of the three letters written by Power of which we have copies. This one we reproduce in full. We feel that it needs no subsequent commentary as the second and third paragraphs tell all:
Dear Sir
Yours of August 15 is at hand. W. D. Brown leaves here today for San Fran. He takes a box of ore with him. Ben Harpending leaves here also in Co. with Brown.
The best average ore we find here is $16.00 per ton. That is even scarce enough. Do not send a mill here for Gods sake.
Again I say sell out as fast as possible. Tell all you friends to do likewise.
I am going very slow now. I may have one or two men working for awhile. The house is nearly built. We move into it the last of the week. Have already explained why we built it.
Truly Yours,
M.L. Power.
Recap of Groups I and II Letters
Before moving on to the next group of letters we recap some of the most salient points from the first two groups.
All of these letters, including the third set, are found in the business files of Asbury Harpending. This suggests that it was he who dealt with the day to day affairs of “The Harpending Company”, and this may be why it is that his name has come to be the one most closely associated with what went on at the Virginia Mining District.
By 1880 and the “State Line” affair, Roberts had a well-established working relationship with Harpending, in which Harpending acted as Roberts’ front man. Only by remaining in the background, perhaps, could Roberts continue to operate.
Harpending himself had at one time denied any connection whatsoever with Brown, Arnold, or the Ralston enterprise itself. The Weekly Arizonan of May 28, 1870, reported that Brown had arrived at Tucson the previous week, and was to go to the Burro mines to relieve Arnold who was at the time “in charge of a San Francisco Company’s interests there.” The item refers to a report in a California newspaper in which it was stated that Harpending “denies all connection with this mine as well as with Messrs. Brown and Arnold.” The Arizonan claimed to have seen firm evidence to contradict this. That evidence showed that not only was “that enterprising gentleman” Harpending connected with the mines, but that he was also “the chief mover and manager” of them. The proof had been provided by Brown in the form of a letter which he carried, written by Harpending, and “requesting Mr. Arnold to turn over all control and authority to the bearer Mr. Brown, who will take charge in the name of Mr. Harpending, for the present.”
Power’s last letter was dated September 7, 1870, but despite the information contained in it, the press continued to publish highly favorable reports from the Virginia Mining District. As we have seen, as late as October of 1870, the Weekly New Mexican was still reporting the imminent arrival of machinery for the working of the ores of the District; as late as November the Weekly Arizonan carried the account of Cooper and Arnold’s arrival at Tucson, bringing with them a large quantity of silver bullion, supposedly the result of the smelting of Virginia Mining District ores
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