The early pioneering mining company was Commerce
Mining and Royalty Co.
This company had developed many innovations in mining and had large holdings in
the area.
This company built the central compressor building supplying compressed air to
their
area mines/mills along with the Power Plant west
of Cardin. The company also built central
offices/repair facilities at Cardin.
CM&R and all it's holdings were sold to Eagle-Picher in 1938.
