St Joseph Lead Company $1000 specimen bond 1931 (New York) 

Rare specimen mining bond. Stunning mining vignette with miners underground. Unissued and not cancelled - marked specimen at the bottom. Dated 1931 in the print. Attached coupons punch cancelled and marked specimen. Horizontal crease folds from storage. Measures approximately 15 x 10 inches.   

The St. Joseph Lead Company began mining in 1864 after purchasing 946 acres of land in Bonne Terre, Missouri. It nearly went bankrupt February 26, 1883 when a fire destroyed the milling operations. The success of the company prompted many competitors in southeast Missouri including the Doe Run Company and Desloge Consolidated Lead Company which were absorbed by St. Joseph.

The introduction of diamond drill bits increased production throughout the end of the 19th century, as did expansions made to the smelting buildings in Josephtown, PA during the 1920s.

By 1923 the company had 250 miles of underground railroad running under Flat River, Leadwood, Desloge, Rivermines and Elvins, Missouri. In 1925 it expanded operations to lead, zinc and silver mining in South America including the Aguilar mine in Argentina near the Bolivia border.

Its domination of the Southeast Missouri Lead District gave it control of nearly 70 percent of the United States lead production. As the company also branched into the coal industry acquiring A.T. Massey in 1974 it was renamed St. Joe Minerals.

In 1981 with metal prices running high Fluor Corporation outbid Seagrams to acquire the company. Shortly after the acquisition metal prices collapsed. The Fluor Corporation would spin the components off with zinc going to the Horsehead Corporation in 1987, lead to the Doe Run Company and coal to Massey Energy.

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