Partial ALS signed “H. C. Hoover,” four pages, 5.25 x 8.25, no date but most likely circa 1900. Four concluding pages of a five-page letter related to mining. In part: “At Da Cha Gow they are now opening a new vein which bids fair to be of sufficient size but too little work has been done yet to give a definite opinion. At Ta Hu Tien the officers of the company contemplate starting a branch office as the natives work some veins there—but the natives demand some compensation. The prospects…are not such as would warrant a considerable payment…All the other places get their ore from small gash veins which are very nearly exhausted and I look for a majority of the branch offices to begin to lose money…In general my conclusions up to the present may be stated—1. There are possibly three places where solid gold mining may be established…2. Unless some unexpected discovery of new veins be made the company must face a considerable decrease in its gold product…I look forward to successful result from our work.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, numerous edge tears and chips (one tear almost extending into signature), and a noticeable central stain to the third page. Shortly after graduating from Stanford with a degree in geology, Hoover began to work for Bewick, Moreing & Co., a London-based gold mining company, who dispatched him to the gold fields of Western Australia in 1897. After his success there, he was sent to China, where he lived from 1899 to 1901 to act as consultant to Chinese government in developing mines—it would appear that it was during this period that Hoover penned this letter. In addition to its fascinating content, handwritten letters by Hoover are very scarce—especially from this early date—and it is only the second time we have encountered this variation of his signature. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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