520-423-6279
Dr. James Douglas
* on the Old Bisbee Tour and Copper City Territory Tour
-
Canadian born mining engineer and businessman who introduced a number of metallurgical innovations in copper mining.
-
Father was a Scottish immigrant and important surgeon who was a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.
-
Persuaded Phelps, Dodge & Co. to purchase the Atlanta Mine in Bisbee in 1881.
-
It took Dr. Douglas two years to find productive ore and Bisbee nearly disappeared until then.
-
In consequence, Phelps, Dodge & Co. bought many more mines in the Bisbee Area including the Copper Queen Mine.
-
Developed the method to separate copper from sulfide.
-
Known for caring about the employees as much as the mining results.
-
Moved the Smelter Out of Bisbee to Eliminate Poisoning People and the Environment.
-
Noted for enhancing hospital care and religious services for the miners.
-
Stopped Merchant Price Gouging by Opening The Copper Queen Store, Later to Become the Phelps Dodge Mercantile.
-
The border city of Douglas, Arizona is named after him.
-
Dr. Douglas was president and general manager of multiple mining companies across the U.S. and in Mexico.
-
He helped develop over 400 miles of railroad in the southwest.
-
Constructed First Bisbee Railway Connecting to Tombstone.
-
Douglas was also president of the American Institute of Mining Engineers and president of the Quebec Literary and Historical Society.
-
Dr. Douglas is largely known as "The Father of Bisbee Mining".
-
Son, Walter Douglas took over executive duties upon Dr. Douglas' retirement.
-
Had once managed an insane asylum.
James Douglas - James Douglas(Life time: 1918), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Douglas Smelters - National Archives at College Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons