History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII, Part 62

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Oak, Henry Lebbeus, 1844-1905
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: San Francisco : The History Company
Number of Pages: 890

USA > Arizona > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 62
USA > New Mexico > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 62

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581

AN ERA OF EXPECTATION.

excitement in Yavapai doubtless had much influence in making Prescott the capital. This excitement con- tinued for years, new and rich discoveries being fre- quent; but the richest lodes were always those to be discovered a little farther on in the Apache country. The Apache war soon made mining and even pros- pecting extremely perilous in most regions, at the same time preventing the influx of capital from abroad; and in many of the mines that could be worked it was soon found that the ores were too refractory for reduction by the crude processes and with the imperfect machin- ery of the pioneers. One or two mines of extraordinary richness were continuously profitable; a few others paid well at times; many men gained a living by working placers and small veins; and some mines near the Colorado made a profit by sending selected ores at enormous cost to San Francisco. Meanwhile every military expedition was also a prospecting tour; and the attitude of the people was one of most impatient waiting for the time when, with the defeat of the Apache and the return of peace, the development of mineral wealth might begin in earnest. Enthusiasm over the country's prospects was unbounded; the local newspapers were full of rose-colored predictions; the governor and legislature were strong in the faith; and the government commissioners of mining statistics, Ross Browne and R. W. Raymond, gave some prom- inence to Arizona in their reports.2

2 See annual messages of the gov. in Ariz., Journals, 1865 et seq. Reports upon the Mineral Resources of the United States, by special commissioners J. Ross Browne and James W. Taylor (for 1866). Wash., 1857. This contains on Ariz. only Gov. McCormick's message, and the mining law, p. 135, 249. Report of J. Ross Browne on the Mineral Resources of the States and Territories west of the Rocky Mountains (for 1867). Wash. and S. F., 1868; also published as Re- sources of the Pacific Slope, etc., S. F., 1869. This report, p. 443-81, contains a good account of Ariz. mines, made up in part from the author's observations, but mainly from notes of various writers, especially those furnished by Gov. McCormick. Statistics of Mines and Mining in the States and Territories west of the Rocky Mountains; being the first (eighth) annual report of Rossiter W. Raymond, United States commissioner of Mining Statistics (1837-75). Wash., 1869-77, being published in the House Ex. Doc., from the 40th cong. 3d sess. to 44th cong. Ist sess. The report of 1870 is founded mainly on the personal observa- tions of Prof. A. Eilers, a deputy commissioner, and is very complete in its account of the geology of Ariz., and the various districts and mines. The last

582

ARIZONAN INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.

With the end of Apache war in 1874 came the ex- pected revival and development of mining industry, old mines being worked with profit, and many new lodes being brought to light, notably in the central region of Gila and Pinal counties. The revival ex- tended to the old districts of Pima county in the south, where the mines had been practically abandoned for thirteen years. While, however, there was marked progress in discoveries and workings, and in the in- flux of population, the output of bullion beginning also to assume proportions, yet the grand 'boom' was hardly so immediate or complete as Arizonans, in their long pent enthusiasm, had hoped for. Capital was still somewhat timid and tardy in its approach; the Indians became again to a certain extent troublesome; and above all, the cost of transportation was enormous. The railroad then became the prospective panacea for all the territory's ills. It reached the Colorado bor- der in 1878, and five years later two lines extended completely across the country from east to west. The railroad, with its policy of demanding "all the traffic will bear," by no means put an end to excessively high rates, yet it afforded some relief; and meanwhile the discovery of the Tombstone bonanzas, aided by the failure of the Comstock lode as a paying property, gave to Arizona in 1880-4 a very high and previously unexcelled degree of prosperity. In 1884-6, how- ever, the extremely low price of silver and copper bullion, together with labor troubles and a disastrous fire in the south-east, and the bursting of the Quijo- toa bubble, have thrown over the country's progress a cloud, which it is hoped will soon disappear.

The total gold and silver product of the Arizona mines has been perhaps about $60,000,000. For the decade ending in 1869 it was estimated, on no very report, of 1875, is also extensive. The others are shorter, being made up from information derived from residents.

For mining laws of Ariz., see Ariz., Mining Law, Prescott, 1864, 12mo, 21 p .; Id., Acts., 1875, p. 152-5; Id., Compiled Laws, 532-4; U. S. Govt Doc., 38th cong. 2d sess., H. Mis. Doc. 14; Hinton's Hand-book, app. 1-12; Shinn's Min. Camps, 282.

583

PRODUCT OF GOLD AND SILVER.

secure basis, at $1,000,000 per year on an average. Then it fell off to $800,000, to $600,000, and in 1873-4 to $500,000, being $750,000 in 1875. For the next four years it averaged about $2,000,000. For 1880 the amount is given as $5,560,000; for 1881 it was $8,360,000; and for 1882 over $8,500,000. In 1883-4 the production fell off to about $6,000,000, and to a still less figure probably in 1886. Down to the end of the Apache war the amount of gold largely ex- ceeded that of silver, but later was only about one sixth, though exceeding $1,000,000 in 1881-2.3

The most notable general characteristics of the Ari- zona lodes would seem to be the great extent of min- eral-bearing lands, the extremely varied and compli- cated nature of the deposits, and their extraordinary richness, especially on and near the surface. No description even en résumé is possible within my limits. Arizona resembles a kind of laboratory where nature has tried experiments preliminary to a general distribution of minerals in the Pacific states. The experienced miner from abroad is puzzled by the array

3 For statistics, besides the reports of Browne and Raymond already cited, see Horatio C. Burchard's Report of the Director of the Mint upon the Statistics of the production of the precious metals in the United States (for 1880 et seq.), Wash., 1881 et seq. For 1878-9-81, between the reports of Raymond and Burchard, the condition of the mines was treated in reports of the governor. U. S. Govt Doc., 45th cong. 3d. sess., H. Ex. Doc., ix., pt 5, p. 1089-90; 40th cong. 2d sess., H. Ex. Doc., x., pt 5, p. 390-6; 47th cong. Ist sess., H. Ex. Doc., x. 929-32 (report of Patrick Hamilton); Id., xi., pt 5, p. 354, pl. xlviii .- ix. (King's Geol. Report); also mint statistics in the annual reports of the sec. treasury. Alex. Delmar's History of the Precious Metals from the earliest times to the present, Lond., 1880, contains, p. 168, a table of production for Ariz. in 1869-78, based on the U. S. Monetary Commission, Report, 1876, or on the estimates of Valentine, supt of Wells, Fargo, & Co.'s express. See also 9th and 10th U. S. Census Reports, the former for 1870 containing nothing of any value. The Arizona newspapers contain some valuable estimates. Among the states and territories in 1880 Ariz. ranked in the production of gold 9, silver 5, total 7; or in prod. per sq. mile 8, per capita 4. In '81 there were 56 mills running, with 590 stamps, in 75 districts; 123 districts in 1882. Down to 1876 the no. of mines recorded was 11,605. Hinton. About 630 are named in the index of Burchard's report of 1883. Hinton gives for 1877-8 long lists of mines for the different counties. As an instance of varying esti- mates may be noted those of 1875. That of Wells, Fargo, & Co. is $109,093; that of Surv .- gen. Wasson $1,500,000; a newspaper estimate $2,000,000; and that of Raymond $750,000. Clarence King and the census give the yield of 1880 as $2,399,211 in bullion, but the assay value as $4,723,638. As Bur- chard's figures are $5,566,601, this suggests uncertainty as to what is meant by the figures for other years.

584

ARIZONAN INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.

of new combinations and strange geologic conditions, though he generally finds, sooner or later, all that he has known in other states. To a greater extent than in other regions, rich veins near the surface have been worked on a small scale, but profitably, by individuals with limited capital; but the prospects for deep min- ing in the future are understood to be encouraging on the whole. The natural facilities for mining, in the supply of wood and water-except in a few sections, and for placer mines-and especially in climate for continuous working, are excellent in comparison with those of other states; while agricultural resources more than suffice for the support of a dense mining population. Of the whole area, about 72,000,000 acres, nearly one half is described as mineral-bearing. Ores producing from $1,000 to $20,000 per ton in gold and silver have been of frequent occurrence; but here, as elsewhere, such are not the deposits that promise the greatest permanent results. Nowhere has more money been wasted in blundering mismanagement; and even rascality in certain directions has not been wanting; yet Arizona has not been famous as the field of stock-board swindles ; and her record has been for the most part one of dividends rather than assessments.

In the north-eastern section of the territory, the region tributary to the Colorado, above the big bend, an area of about 40,000 square miles out of the entire 100,000, including northern Mojave, about three fourths of Yavapai, and nearly all of Apache counties, no rich deposits of the precious metals have been found; yet the extreme north-east, beyond the Colo- rado Chiquito, with the region of Fort Defiance and the Moqui towns as a centre, contains immense coal- fields that can hardly fail to assume great importance in time.4 All the rest of the territory, except a broad

4 On these Apache co. coal-beds, see Hinton's Hand-book, 85-7; Hamilton's Resources, 243-5; and Ariz., Hist. (E. & Co.), 204-5. The coal is bituminous, and said to be of good quality, having been tested by use on the A. & P. R. R., and considerable quantities shipped to Cal. Petroleum, according to Hamil- ton, has been found near the coal-fields, which extend into Utah and N. Mex., .

585

DISTRIBUTION OF MINES.

tract of the Gila valley, and adjoining deserts, is dotted with mines; but the great silver and gold belt may be described as a tract from 60 to 70 miles wide, and 400 miles long, adjoining the non-metallic region above described on the south-west, extending from the Colo- rado, just below the big bend, south-eastward to Gila county, and thence south to the Mexican boundary. The principal mines of this belt may be noticed briefly in four groups.

The first group in the north-west includes the mines of Mojave county explored to some extent from 1858, and worked in considerable numbers from 1863, though operations were much interrupted in 1866-70 by Hualapai hostilities. The number of claims re- corded down to 1882 was about 2,700. All the moun- tain ranges are rich in minerals, promising discoveries have been made each year, and the county has often seemed on the verge of great developments, which from one cause or another-mainly the great cost of transportation preventing the working of ores pro- ducing less than $500 per ton-have never come. The completion of the railroad in 1883, however, seems to have removed the worst of Mojave's disadvantages.5

being perhaps second in extent only to those of Pennsylvania. In the Los Angeles Star of Feb. 6, 1864, and News of Feb. 5th, is noted the discovery of valuable coal-beds by Tyson, in the La Paz region. Five lodes were ex- plored and named, and fine specimens sent to Los Angeles and S. Francisco, one of the papers pronouncing the coal anthracite; but I find nothing more about this Yuma co. coal. In his message of 1871, the gov. mentions the dis- covery of extensive coal deposits in the White Mts, near C. Thomas; and in 1879 he recommends a survey of the coal-fields as most important in connec- tion with R. R. developments. Coal discoveries on the S. Pedro and Arivaipa are occasionally mentioned from 1878, some of the coal being described by Hinton and the newspapers as anthracite. The deposits discovered in 1881, on Deer Creek, Pinal co., on the S. Carlos reservation, have been mentioned in the preceding chapter. In 1885 the secretary of the interior recommended the segregation of these lands, and by fair means or foul the coal will doubt- less be made available.

5 The product of the Mojave mines in 1880-3 is given as, gold $20,000, $25,000, $15,000, and $20,000; silver, $210,000, $75,000, $50,000, and $150,000. Hinton gives the product in 1887 as $200,000 per month. Hamilton, 1884, says that 3,000 tons of silver ore are shipped, at Kingston on the R. R. each month. In 1864-7, the Eldorado Cañon mines in the extreme north are much talked of in the newspapers. The Cerbat, or Hualapai, district in the region around Mineral Park, with the country eastward to Hackberry in the Maynard district, was the chief silver-producing district before 1875. The Moss gold mine near Hardyville was one of the earliest discoveries, and with

586

ARIZONAN INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.

Off the main belt, and not included in the four groups, are the Yuma county mines of gold, silver, lead, and copper. The gold placers of the Gila and Colorado, which caused great excitement in 1858-64, and have been worked with some profit ever since, have been noticed elsewhere. The silver lodes near the junction of the two rivers, though the ores are of low grade, have had the advantage of comparatively cheap river transportation, are near the railroad, and in recent years are attracting renewed attention.

The second group, hardly separated from the first, includes the mines of southern Yavapai and northern Maricopa, in the region south of Prescott, on the head- waters of the Hassayampa and Agua Frio. These mines were discovered during the placer 'rush' of 1863-4, and have been the chief gold-producers of Arizona. Down to 1876 there had been recorded 7,300 mines. Gold was found everywhere; the placers yielded richly for years, and are still worked with profit in wet sea- sons; immensely rich gold veins were worked near the surface; but with increasing depth the lodes became chiefly silver-bearing. Apache raids, and ores that proved refractory under the rude process in vogue, were the earlier obstacles to perfect success; and in

its great body of free-milling gold-bearing ore was for years regarded as the coming bonanza. Much money was spent on mills, tunnels, etc .; and for final failure or abandonment no other reason is assigned than unwise man- agement. The McCracken and Signal silver mines in the south wer: dis- covered in 1874, and became the largest bullion producers, the total yield being over $1,000,000, and the ore running from $60 to $600 per ton in silver and lead. The mills were at Greenwood and Virginia. But work on these mines was suspended about 1880.

South ward across the Bill Williams River in Yuma co. are the Planet cop- per mines, and others, which have since 1863 sent over 8,000 tons of ore, yielding 20 to 60 per cent of copper, to S. Francisco. Wood and water are very scarce in this district. The Castle Dome mines in the south were discovered in 1863 and supposed to be immensely rich, but were abandoned when it was learned that the ore was chiefly lead. Large quantities of lead were subse- quently shipped to S. F .; and from 1869-70 the mines were profitably worked. The ore yields 50 to 70 per cent of lead, and $23 to $190 per ton of silver, the cost of working being $40 and of freight $28. Before 1881 the district had produced $2,000,000. The Silver district, just north of Castle Dome, has been very prominent in late years, and there are many other somewhat pros- perous districts. The bullion product of Yuma co. in 1874 is given, as gold $50,000, silver and copper $138,500; 1880, about $60,000; 1881, gold $30,000, silver $105,000; 1882, gold $20,000, silver 250,000; 1883, gold $30,000, silver $75,000.

587

VULTURE AND WICKENBURG.

later years remoteness from the railroad has been a serious drawback, soon to be remedied now. The lead- ing districts are Weaver, Hassayampa, Lynx Creek, Turkey Creek, Humbug, Peck, and Martinez or Date Creek. But the most famous mine of all was the Vul- ture in Maricopa county, discovered in 1863 by Henry Wickenburg-for whom the town near by was named -and in the next ten years producing over $3,000,000 in gold, though the ore had to be hauled some 15 miles to mills on the Hassayampa. Large quantities of low- grade ore were left when work was suspended; and from 1879, with water brought in iron pipes for an 80- stamp mill, the mine started on a new career of pros- perity.6

Still farther south-east, across the Verde, in Gila and Pinal counties, between the Gila and Salt rivers, is the third group of the belt; the leading districts be- ing Pioneer and Globe, and the veins being remark- able for their variety and richness in silver, gold, and copper. Development began in 1875 with the dis- covery of the famous Silver King, and the equally

6 The gold product of Yavapai in 1873 is put at $103,600; 1880, gold $5,000, silver $265,000; 1881, gold $50,000, silver $450,000; 1882, gold $30,000, silver $400,000; 1883, gold $25,000, silver $800,000. Product of Maricopa, 1880, gold $120,000, silver $280,000; 1881, gold $240,000, silver $75,000; 1882, gold $250,000, silver $75,000; 1883, gold $330,000, silver $25,000. An average assay from 10 mines in the Humbug dist was over $1,000 per ton. Lynx or Walker Creek was perhaps the richest stream in Ariz., yielding over $1,000,000 from gravel. The ores were base, and mills stopped running in 1870. Tiptop from small rich veins produced $2,000,000, giving for- tunes, as Hamilton observes, to many small chloriders. Turkey Creek district, without surface indications, gave almost pure silver at a slight depth, sometimes in 'chunks' worth $14 a pound. Here the Goodwin mine was the oldest, and the Hidden Treasure, Wonder, and Pine Spring have been prominent in late years. Rich Hill, in Weaver dist, yielded $500,000 in nuggets from an acre on the summit 4,000 ft high, and $500,000 more from gulches on its sides. The Peck lode produced in 1875-8 $1,200,000, some ore running from $10,000 to $17,000 per ton; depth, 312 ft. In 1879-82 work was suspended through legal complications, but has since been resumed. The Vulture produced $254,110 in 1868, the ore yielding $24 per ton. In 1870 the cost is given as $4.12 for mining, $8 for freight, and $2.81 for milling. In 1881 the product was $240,000, but involving, acc. to Burchard, a loss, the cost being $2.81 and yield $2.69 per ton; Hamilton puts the cost at $2.50, and yield at $4 to $6. The Tiger, adjoining the Vulture, also produced a large amount of gold; and there are several other districts, including the Myers dist, south of the Gila, with the Gunsight and Burro Burro mines. In late years Maricopa, in the production of gold, is second only to Cochise.

588

ARIZONAN INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.

wonderful lodes at Richmond Basin and McMillan- ville. The Silver King lode differs from any other known, being a circular chimney of ore, with thou- sands of veins centring in it. The mine has reached a depth of over 800 feet, and though the ores are re- fractory, the production has been over $6,000,000 in silver, and nearly $2,000,000 have been paid in divi- dends. The Mack Morris mine, in Richmond Basin, and the Stonewall Jackson, at McMillanville, are among the best of other mines, but the mountains in all this region abound in rich lodes, and the prospects are most encouraging, though railroad facilities are sadly needed. The product of this Gila and Pinal group in 1884, when work at Tombstone was partially suspended, is said to have been greater than that of any other in the territory.7

Southward across the Gila, and past the Casa Grande and Arivaipa, or Defreese, districts, we find the fourth and final group in Pima and Cochise counties, mainly in the ranges bordering on the Santa Cruz and San Pedro valleys. This was the exclusive field of all Spanish and Mexican mining down to 1854, and but for the lower Gila placers, of all American operations down to 1861. From that date to 1873-4 the mines were for the most part abandoned, but in later years have been worked in great numbers with constantly increasing profits, producing more bullion than all others in Arizona combined. The Tombstone mines, the most productive of all, having yielded about $30,000,000, were discovered in 1878 by Ed.

7 Product of Pinal, 1880, $1,404,380; 1881, gold $25,000, silver $1,250,000; 1882, gold $20,000, silver $900,000; 1883, gold $20,000, silver $700,000. Pro- duct of Gila, 1882, gold $50,000, silver $570,000; 1883, gold $15,000, silver $120,000. The Silver King was first discovered by Stoneman's soldiers in 1871, and on their reports rediscovered by four farmers in 1875; 1,500 lbs., broken off the croppings as a sample, were sold for $800. Ore assays, acc. to Hinton, $1,000 to $20,000 per ton. Product in 1880, $505,642; in 1883, $592,504. Dividends to Jan. 1884, $1,309,000; depth, 814 ft. In the Globe dist, says Hinton, 'such a mine as the Comstock would not be looked at'! Nine tons from the Stonewall sent to S. F. yielded $200,000 in silver, acc, to Hamilton. The Mack Morris, to 1881, yielded $300,000. The Silver Nugget is another rich mine. The Golden Eagle is the chief gold mine of Globe dist. South of the Gila is the Casa Grande dist, the Vekol being the chief silver mine, and not far off the Copperosity, a copper mine.

589

TOMBSTONE DISTRICT.

Schieffelin, and named from the dismal forebodings of his friends on his departure from Fort Huachuca. The first stamps began to run in 1879, and from 1880 bullion in large quantities was produced. The veins are larger than elsewhere, and the ore is easily worked, yielding, in one of the principal mines, $73 in silver and $4 in gold per ton on an average. There are over 3,000 locations in the district, the most famous mines or companies being the Contention, Grand Cen- tral, and Tombstone. The depth reached is over 750 feet, and extensive pumping machinery for working below the water level was completed in 1883. Little doubt is entertained respecting the future productive- ness of the lodes at greater depths. The Bisbee copper mines of Cochise county produced, in 1881, over $3,000,000; and other prominent districts of the county are the California, Turquoise, and Swis- shelm. The Quijotoa silver mines of Papaguería, Pima county, were discovered by Alexander McKay in 1883, and passing into the hands of the great 'bon- anza firm' of California, were confidently expected to become the richest in all Arizona. Respecting the results of extensive workings, not much is definitely known; but the general impression is, that Quijotoa has proved a complete failure, though many still be- lieve that vast treasures will be uncovered when silver shall be restored to its legitimate value, or when the public shall be deemed ripe for plunder by a stock 'boom.' Other districts in Pima county, as the Em- pire, Arivaca, Harshaw or Patagonia. Silver Belt, Oro Blanco, and Aztec, rival the famous lodes dis- covered by Schieffelin.8

8 Edward Schieffelin, a Pennsylvanian by birth, came with his family to Cal. in 1857, being then only 10 years of age. At 17 we find him working a mining claim in Jackson, Or. Thenceforth he engaged in sundry occupations, principally mining and prospecting, until 1878, almost hy accident, he dis- covered the Tombstone district. In 1880 he disposed of his interest and set- tled at Los Angeles, removing in 1884 to Alameda, where he has since resided, though making occasional trips for pleasure, health, or profit from Arizona northward to Alaska.

Product of Pima co. in 1880, $3.012,222; 1881, gold $15.000, silver $750,000; 1882, gold $70,000, silver $150,000; 1883, gold, $85,000, silver $250,000. Product of Cochise co., 1881, gold $645,000, silver, $4,065,000;

590

ARIZONAN INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.

Arizona is almost as famous for its copper mines as for its deposits of silver and gold. The ores are widely distributed and of high grade, often yielding from 60 to 80 per cent of metal. Production on a large scale began in 1881, from which date the total product per year was about six, seventeen, twenty-five, and perhaps thirty-five million pounds in 1884. Lead- ing mines, or groups, are the Planet, Centennial, and Copper King of Bill Williams River in northern Yuma; the United Verde Company's mines in the Black Hills of Yavapai; the Globe district lodes of Gila; the old Ajo mines in western Pima; and the Copper Queen and others of Bisbee in southern Cochise. But at the head of all stand the wonderful copper deposits near Clifton in Graham county, where rich ore is quarried rather than mined, and whence a railroad has been built to carry the product to the main line of the Southern Pacific.9

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History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII, Part 62

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Oak, Henry Lebbeus, 1844-1905 Publication date: 1889 Publisher: San Francisco : The History Company Number of Pages: 890

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Oak, Henry Lebbeus, 1844-1905
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: San Francisco : The History Company
Number of Pages: 890