A miner wearing an oil-skin coat dislodges ore, possibly copper, from a chute into a waiting hopper car.  Candles appear on both sides of the miner and the written number 47, probably in photographer Cooley’s hand, appears between the wheels of the car-denoting the image or negative sequence.

Cooley was a member of the Bisbee Camera Club in 1909 and worked with fellow club president W.H. Apgar at the Bank of Bisbee in an unknown capacity. He served as a pall bearer for Apgar’s funeral in 1909. 1.

Written on verso in hand of author on white Postal Camera Club label:

Ben D Cooley
At the Chute in the Mine
No. 13  Portfolio for November 1909

This is possibly a bromide or silver chloride print.

“Bisbee was founded as a copper, gold, and silver mining town in 1880, and named in honor of Judge DeWitt Bisbee, one of the financial backers of the adjacent Copper Queen Mine.” 2.

1. Many Friends at The Funeral Service: in: Bisbee Daily Review: September 22, 1909.
2. Wikipedia website entry for Bisbee accessed 2011.