No telephone for Carson Mint

RogerB · November 12, 2017 3:18PM

It was 1882. The telephone was becoming a business "necessity" - but not for the Carson Mint. They were ordered to continue using telegrams (and maybe smoke signals?) for their messages.

Zoins · November 12, 2017 3:33PM

The request is not for just a telephone, but a telephonic line between Carson, Virginia City and intermediate points. The letter indicates not enough reasoning was provided to justify the cost of such a line. Do we know how much such a telephonic line would have cost back then?

The author of the letter is Horatio Chapin Burchard, 13th Director of the Mint:

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_C._Burchard
Horatio Chapin Burchard (September 22, 1825 – May 14, 1908) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois, 13th Director of the United States Mint, and father of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Of note:

He was placed in charge of the jury of awards of the mining department of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893.

RogerB · November 12, 2017 4:01PM

Way back then, business had to subscribe to the cost of building a telephone line before they could get a 'phone in their offices. Telephones were though of only as business equipment and only later did it occur to some that individuals might want one, too.

Johann Philipp Reis, Antonio Meucci, Elisha Gray, Alexander Bell and others had rather focused ideas for use of their inventions.

Zoins · November 12, 2017 4:06PM

It would be nice to have a copy of the request from James Crawford, Superintendent of US Mint at Carson, to see the reasoning he provided.

Here's some info on James Crawford from the Carson City Coin Club:

http://www.carsoncitycoinclub.com/index.php/James-Crawford/

Of note, both Horatio and James ended their respective tenures in 1885.

ms70 · November 12, 2017 4:11PM

775-687-4810. I just called and asked if they still have any left over 20¢ pieces. They hung up on me.

RogerB · November 12, 2017 4:21PM

The letter from Carson might be in E-229 , Series 1 (alphabetical by sender), box 1 of 18 or 2 of 18; or Series 2, box 16 of 17 or 17 of 17.

CaptHenway · November 12, 2017 4:32PM

I guess that if he had asked for internet service that would have been turned down also!

Zoins · November 12, 2017 4:34PM

@ms70 said:
775-687-4810. I just called and asked if they still have any left over 20¢ pieces. They hung up on me.

I was just reading a bit more of the Carson City Coin Club article which has some interesting info and mentions the double dime was in peril due to management at the Carson Mint before James Crawford.

By September of 1874, the Carson Mint was in desperate need of a capable leader. The government, which never fully viewed Nevada’s mint as a credible establishment in the first place, was quickly losing its patience with the perceived dysfunction at the Carson coin factory. Senator John P. Jones, who, in only his second year in office, was busy promoting his bill for a new twenty-cent piece denomination, realized that if the right man was not put in the superintendent’s chair at the local mint, the state could very well lose its cherished institution. There was already talk of closing down the Carson Mint and establishing a new branch in the Mississippi River Valley.

Jones believed that he had met the right man for the job, and when he nominated James Crawford for the position, you could almost hear the residents of Carson City shout out in a unified voice, “Now you’re talking!” For, James Crawford had risen in status in recent years, as a state assemblyman from Lyon County and as a superintendent at the prestigious Rock Point Mill in Dayton, Nevada.

President Grant quickly approved Crawford’s appointment and in September 1874, the Carson Mint welcomed its fourth superintendent in less then five years.

Read the coin club article for what Crawford did to turn things around at the mint.

John Percival Jones was the US Senator who nominated Crawford and was pushing for the double dime. He went to California for the gold rush in 1849 and made his fortune in silver mining, also founding the town of Santa Monica, CA. Isn't it great the things you learn on the coin forums?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_P._Jones

logger7 · November 12, 2017 5:02PM

At least with telegraphs there would be a paper record. I don't suppose that there were trust issues involved. These days there are many types of communications with non-retrievable records as the Blackberry offered. Encrypted options too for bulletproof privacy.

Coinstartled · November 12, 2017 5:07PM

They didn't want Lavere Redfield bugging them to make peach colored Morgans.

RogerB · November 12, 2017 5:13PM

Did Sen. Jones name Santa Monica after his mistress, Monica?

The Carson Mint was in nearly continual trouble with Mint HQ, as was New Orleans. Sloppy accounting failure to follow regulations. Inept managers and clerks.

Zoins · November 12, 2017 6:14PM

@RogerB said:
Did Sen. Jones name Santa Monica after his mistress, Monica?

If you believe his mistress was a Saint, lived during the years 322–387 and was the mother of St. Augustine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Monica

He built his house there for his wife Grace. Here's some info:

http://oldhomesoflosangeles.blogspot.com/2011/03/senator-john-percival-jones-1829-1912.html

in 1874 John Percival Jones purchased a 2/3 interest in the San Vicente Rancho from Col. R. S. Baker, and the duo began the platting of Santa Monica.

Keeping a beautiful location on the bluff for himself, Senator Jones (Nevada 1873 - 1903), in 1887 built a large Queen Anne style home facing the ocean, mainly for his second wife Grace, and his elderly mother. By 1910 with its mature landscaping, 17 bedrooms, it was a sight to behold. Known as Villa Miramar, it took up the entire block that is today's Fairmont Miramar Hotel.

Timbuk3 · November 12, 2017 6:53PM

Wow, neat !!!

golden · November 12, 2017 9:15PM

Very cool.

ricko · November 13, 2017 8:23AM

Ah the simple times.... When a telephone was considered a luxury - even for a business. How far we have come now, when even grade school children have telephones that exceed the capability of early computers. Telephones, that, instead of bringing those far away closer, serve mainly to separate those who are close. Just look at people in public places - together, but looking at phones.... in a crowd, but isolated. Sad. Cheers, RickO

messydesk · November 13, 2017 8:33AM

So much for getting a pizza from Virginia City in 30 minutes or less.

RogerB · November 13, 2017 12:12PM

See the new thread with Crawford's original letter requesting a telephone.

BryceM · November 13, 2017 1:37PM

Early in the morning and late in the evening I often text and share photos with my friends in Africa. The world is small now. It's hard to remember not having the collective information of the entire world at my fingertips.

1630Boston · November 13, 2017 2:36PM

There was a time when the higher ups in government kept spending in check

CaptHenway · November 13, 2017 8:04PM

Crawford hated telephones ever since some kid called him up and asked "Is your refrigerator running?" and he had to yell at the kid "Ye dang foole!!! Refrigerators haven't been invented yet!!!"

RogerB · November 14, 2017 7:08AM

@1630Boston said:
There was a time when the higher ups in government kept spending in check

Actually, they still do that. Unfortunately, when staff is cut but work remains the same, agencies have to hire contractors - who typically cost 50% more than an employee, and require extra oversight. Sad waste of resources.

No telephone for Carson Mint

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