Now everything was all set for me to begin operations. The guano, I learned, was commercially acceptable, which meant that I would have a market for the product, and that my time in bringing it out of the cave would not be wasted.

It took me several weeks to get all the details straightened out and find a crew of fellows who were interested in working on the job. It was more than simply going to the cave, taking out the guano, and hauling it back to Carlsbad.

Abijah Long's original claim to the Carlsbad Caverns

[Click here for original negative version.]

Amended Notice of "Big Cave" Mining Claim (Handwritten)

AMENDED NOTICE OF BIG CAVE PLACER MINING CLAIM

Notice is hereby given to all whom it may concern that A. Long, a citizen of the United States, over the age of twenty-one years, located what is called the "Big Cave" Placer Mining Claim which is hereinafter particularly described on the 28th day of March 1903 and thereafter to wit: on the 16th day of June A.D. 1903 filed the notice of the location for record in the office of the probate Clerk and office Recorder of Eddy County, New Mexico. Which notice was recorded in Book 1 of Records of Mining Claim at Page 149, and whereas, appears from said notice, as recorded, that the same is defective, in the fact that it fails to properly describe said Mining Claim as located. Now therefore for the purpose of amending and correcting, said location notice, I the said A. Long do hereby give notice that I located that certain Placer Mining Claim of ground in accordance with the Statutes of the United States, and the laws of the territory of New Mexico, the said 28th day of March 1903 in the County of Eddy, territory of New Mexico, which is by me called the "Big Cave" Mining Claim and which is particularly described by meets and bounds as follows, to wit: Beginning at a stone mound erected by me at a point about 20 feet west of the entrance to what is known as the Big Cave. Situated about in a Southerly course from Walnut Canyon and about one mile therefrom and about 25 miles in a southeasterly course from the town of Carlsbad, and about one mile in a southeasterly course from the Donahoe Springs, in the foothills of the Guadalupe mountains. From said stone mound, running north 300 feet to a stone mound, which is the northwest corner of the claim, running thence east 1500 feet to a stone mound, which is the northeast corner of said claim, thence South 600 feet to a stone mound, which is the southeast corner of said claim, thence running west 1500 feet to a stone mound, which is the southwest corner of said claim, thence north 300 feet to the place of beginning. Covering in all about 20 acres of land. Said claim contains valuable deposits of Petroleum, Oil Clay, Building Stone, Guano, Phosphates, and other kindred substances situate in the Eddy County Mining District. This amended notice is made by me this 19th day of November A.D. 1903.

ABIJAH LONG