The Spring Valley Mining and Irrigation Company was founded in
1875 as a result of the consolidation of earlier companies and
mining claims. Hydraulic mining was carried on by the company
until 1887. A. W. Mellon of Pittsburgh bought the company in
1900 and changed the name to Cherokee Mining Company. Neither
Mellor nor later owners were able to separate the mines
successfully. Included in the collection are deeds, mining
claims and patents (1857-1891) correspondence (1884-1886,
1900-1901, no date) a payroll and expense account book,
(1887-1888), and two maps (1867, no date). Spring Valley Ditch
and Mining company was formed in 1862. Through land acquisitions
and claim consolidations, Spring Valley became one of the
largest gold mining companies at Cherokee. These changes in
ownership of individual and corporate claims intertwine the
history of the Spring Valley Mining and Irrigating Company with
that of the other companies and of the area