Bodie and Benton Railway and Commercial Co. - 1886 dated $1,000 California Railroad Bond - Mono Mills and Benton, California
Inv# RB7524 Bond
$1,000 6% Gold Bond printed by Britton & Rey Lith. San Francisco. 6 coupons remain. Measures 15 1/4" x 20 1/4".
The Bodie & Benton Railway and Commercial Company, established in 1881, was a 31.74-mile narrow-gauge railroad serving the thriving gold-mining town of Bodie, California. Originally founded as the Bodie Railway & Lumber Company, its primary objective was to transport essential timber and cordwood from Mono Mills to Bodie’s mines and inhabitants. This wood was crucial for mine stabilization, construction, and fueling the steam engines that powered the town. Notably, the line was completely isolated from the national rail network and never operated passenger service, exclusively focusing on timber transport until its abandonment in 1917 or 1918.
Despite its name, the railroad never actually reached the town of Benton. Although a grading project commenced in 1882 to connect with the Carson and Colorado Railroad at Benton, construction abruptly ceased after only nine miles of trackbed were prepared. The arduous route necessitated an elevation gain exceeding 2,000 feet and employed switchbacks to traverse the steep mountain terrain. As mining activity in Bodie declined and local power requirements shifted toward hydroelectricity, the railway became obsolete. Presently, visitors to Bodie State Historic Park can still observe the original railroad depot, which remains in a state of “arrested decay” overlooking the historic ghost town.
Established in 1880, Mono Mills played a pivotal role as an industrial hub, fueling the legendary gold-mining boomtown of Bodie. Situated in the Eastern Sierra, southeast of Mono Lake, the site was strategically chosen for its proximity to one of the world’s largest stands of Jeffrey pine, a crucial resource for a region that was otherwise treeless. At its zenith, the sawmill was a state-of-the-art facility, capable of producing an impressive 80,000 board feet of lumber in a single shift. This lumber was then transported an astonishing 32 miles via the narrow-gauge Bodie and Benton Railway to sustain the mines and residents of Bodie.
Today, Mono Mills stands as a historic ghost town site, managed by the Inyo National Forest. While much of the original town has vanished, visitors can still explore a historical kiosk and picnic area overlooking the former mill site. These areas feature interpretive signs that shed light on the diverse past of the community, including white settlers, Chinese laborers, and Kutzakida (Mono Lake Paiute) Indians. While the original structures have long since succumbed to decay, Mono Mills remains a popular destination for those interested in the California Gold Rush history. It serves as a stark reminder of the immense timber demands of the 19th-century mining industry.
A bond is a document of title for a loan. Bonds are issued, not only by businesses, but also by national, state or city governments, or other public bodies, or sometimes by individuals. Bonds are a loan to the company or other body. They are normally repayable within a stated period of time. Bonds earn interest at a fixed rate, which must usually be paid by the undertaking regardless of its financial results. A bondholder is a creditor of the undertaking.
Ebay ID: labarre_galleries