Theodore W. Carter Grant County, New Mexico

Theodore W. Carter, prominently known in mining circles, arrived in the Territory in April, 1897, and became identified with copper mining in Grant County. In 1900 he leased property from the Southwestern Copper Company. Up to that time the property had remained idle for twenty years and had produced very little. Mr. Carter continued to operate under the lease until 1903, when the Burro Mountain Copper Company was formed and he took over the property and purchased ground covering about a mile square. The work of Mr. Carter under the lease was what led to the great development now being carried on. Today the property is among the most promising and paying in New Mexico, this camp being the largest in the Territory. Nothing was being done when Mr. Carter took up his abode there and the growth and development of this locality is attributable directly to his efforts and enterprise. He organized the Burro Mountain Copper Company, was connected therewith as manager until a recent date and is now acting- as managing director, with offices in Silver City. He now has a mill on the grounds at Leopold and its capacity is two hundred and twenty-five tons per day. When he began operations Mr. Carter had three Mexicans to assist him and hauled the ore to the smelter at Silver City. He shipped under that lease over one hundred thousand dollars' worth of ore gross.

Mr. Carter is a native of Iowa and spent two and a half years in Colorado before coming to New Mexico. He is an architect by profession and followed that calling to some extent at Denver and Cripple Creek, but went into the mines at the latter place and there first received his mining experience. Coming to New Mexico, he realized the opportunities here presented and has carried on the development work along modern lines, resulting in great benefit to the district and proving at the same time a source of individual profit.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.

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