USA > Arizona > The resources of Arizona; a description of its mineral, farming, grazing and timber lands; its rivers, mountains, valleys and plains; its cities, towns and mining camps; its climate and productions; with brief sketches of its early history etc > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
TURKEY CREEK .- This district, which has lately been brought into prominence by the discovery of the wonderful deposits of almost pure silver, is situated on the eastern slopes and foot-hills of the Sierra Prieta rangc. The camp has a bountiful supply of wood and water, and a climate among the most delightful in the Ter- ritory. The formation is granite, porphyry and slate, and the distance from Prescott twenty miles, in a southeast direction.
The Pine Spring mine, whose recent discovery has created such a stir all over the Territory, is one of those mineral marvels peculiar to Arizona. From a small shaft not more than twenty feet in depth, $50,000 have been taken. The ore-if, indeed, nearly pure silver can be called such-yields from $2,000 to $25,- 000 per ton. Such masses of horn silver were never before found in the Territory-chunks weighing sixty pounds, and worth
93
MINES AND MINING.
$14 a pound, having been taken out. The vein, as exposed in the shaft, shows in places two feet of chlorides that will go $5,000 per ton. The mine was discovered by an old pioneer named Billy Gavin, who was prospecting on a "grub stake" when he hap- pened on the buried treasure, in June of the present year. There are no indications on the surface, and the discovery was made by "tracing" the dark, metallic pieces of float found on the hill- side, some distance below. The financial condition of the finder was at a low ebb when he "struck it." To-day he has a fortune in sight, and refused an offer of $150,000 when down only three fcet. The mine is being worked steadily, and gives promise of proving one of the great mines of Arizona. That there are scores of other such bonanzas throughout the Territory, as yet undiscovered, there can scarcely be a doubt.
The Goodwin is the oldest location in the district, and is claimed for several thousand fest. The Holmes' claim is opened by a tunnel, 200 feet in length, and by a shaft eighty-five feet deep. The ledge wiil average three feet wide. The ore is a rich, gray copper, and antimonial silver worth from $50 to $1,800 per ton. The Hatz and Collier claim is north of the Holmes. It is owned by a Chicago company, who have a force of men at work opening it. The vein is from two to three feet wide, the ore being of the same character as that in the Holmes. There is a shaft 200 feet, and a tunnel 250 feet.
East of the Goodwin, the Hidden Treasure Mining Company are at work on a number of claims. On the Quick Relief they have erected hoisting works, and have a shaft down 150 fcet. The vein is small, but carries some good ore. The Gold Note Mining Company, of Chicago, own a number of claims near the head of the creek. The most promising is the Gold Note, on which a shaft has been sunk 200 feet. The ore is smelting, and the company are preparing to put up reduction works. On lower Turkey creek a company are operating on the Franklin. The claim is opened by a shaft 200 feet deep, and by a tunnel. The ore is an iron sulphuret, carrying lead and silver, the vein being from one to two feet in width. The Trinity, Compton, Sultana, Peerless, Succor, McLeod mine, Ne- vada, Yankee Boy, Tuscumbia, and many other fine properties are in Turkey Creek district.
LYNX CREEK .- This, one of the oldest districts in Yavapai county, is six miles east of Prescott, and embraces a stretch of pine-covered hills and spurs on the northern slopes of the Sierra Prieta. Lynx creck has been the richest gold-bearing stream in Arizona, and is yet mined successfully when water can be had. It is estimated that over $100,000,000 has been taken from the gravel beds of this creek. No spot in the territory is better supplied with wood and water. The ores, while rich in the pre- cious metals, carry large quantities of base material. This has been the great drawback to the camp's prosperity, but, at last, the difficulty has been overcome.
.
94
THE RESOURCES OF ARIZONA.
The Howell Mining and Smelting Company have lately erect- ed extensive works in this district, and are prepared to handle ores of every kind and quality. The smelter has a capacity of thirty tons daily. Attached to it is what is known as the Howell Chloridizing Furnace. The ore is first broken, and carried by an elevator to the furnace. In this furnace, the ore passes through a flame which destroys the sulphur and other base com- pounds. After leaving the furnace it is cooled, and then, in connection with lime and iron, which are used as fluxes, it is put through the smelter.
By this mode the most rebellious ores can be successfully worked. Although in operation but a short time, the process has proved a complete success, and at present, is turning out five tons of base bullion per day, worth about $250 per ton, in silver and gold. The company are buying ores from mines throughout the district, and have made arrangements to enlarge their works to meet the increased ore production of the camp. In connection with the smelter, a five-stamp inill will soon be erected for the treatment of frec-milling ores, and those that are dry and will not smelt readily. If base, they are first passed through the furnace, then crushed and treated by the pan process.
A refinery is also being put up, where the product of the mill and furnace will be treated and the pure metal extracted, the litharge being again used to smelt dry ores. The works, when finished, will be as complete as any in the West. The enterprise has been of great benefit to the mining interests of Northern Arizona. It has solved the problem which so long has puzzled the miners and millmen of this section of the Ter- ritory, and shows that the base ores of the Sierra Prieta region can be worked successfully and profitably. About 100 men are at present employed, and quite a lively camp has sprung up near the works.
Besides the ores purchased from the miners of the district the company own the Belle mine, situated about two miles from the smelter, on the divide, between Lynx Creek and Big Bug. This is a fine property, and is opened by two tunnels, which pierce the vein on the side of the steep mountain, on which it is located. The combined length of both is over 1,200 feet and the distance between them is 100 feet. They both follow the vein, and are connected by winzes and shafts, from the apex of the hill. The main shaft is eighty feet below the floor of the lower tunnel, and 380 feet from the surface, with good ore in the bottom. The ore body, wherever exposed, shows the same well- defined and continuous vein, averaging over eighteen inches in width. It is a heavy galena, which smelts readily, and is said to average $50 per ton, of which $30 is gold. It is estimated there are 15,000 tons now in sight. The vein is encased in solid granite walls.
95
MINES AND MINING.
The Hamilton and Poland adjoin the Belle on the south. There are two shafts on the former, one sixty feet, showing an ore body similar to that in the Belle. On the Poland there is a shaft 100 feet, and a body of ore fully as large as the Belle, and of the same character.
The Shelton is one of the most valuable claims in the district. It has been opened by a tunnel driven on the vein, 150 feet, and by a shaft. The vein is strong, well-defined, and continuous. It will average four feet wide, and has assayed as high as $600 per ton. The ore is a carbonate of lcad, with iron pyrites, and carries gold and silver.
The Pine Mountain shows a two-foot vein, that assays $200 per ton, gold and silver. It is opened by a shaft fifty feet decp. The Kitty is a strong vein, showing an ore body similar to the Belle, and fully as rich. A shaft has been sunk upon it to a depth of 100 feet. The Mount Vernon is an exceedingly rich gold ledge, carrying quartz worth $200 per ton. The claim has produced over $20,000. The Accidental shows more develop- ment than any mine in the district, and has produced some very rich ore. This mine has yielded over $75,000.
The Gray Eagle, Mountain Lion, Orion, Hirshel, American Flag, Real del Monte, Mark Twain, Eureka, Champion, Hidden Treasure, and scores of other fine prospects are in this district.
AGUA FRIA .- This district is sixteen miles east of Prescott, in the foot-hills bordering the stream of the same name. The ores are silver of a very high grade, and the veins are found in a contact between slate and granite. The Silver Belt is the principal mine of the district, and one of the richest in the county. It has already produced over $150,000. It is opened by three shafts, the deepest being 300 feet, and by many drifts and winzes. The ore is a carbonate, carrying large quantities of chloride, and yielding over $250 per ton. A rude furnace has been erected on the Agua Fria, four miles distant, where the ore is reduced, and the base bullion shipped to San Francisco. Hoisting works have lately been put up on this property, and the work of development is being pushed forward vigorously. The Kit Carson, Silver Flake, Agua Fria, and Raible and Hatz claim, are all very fine prospects, showing rich ore.
WEAVER .- This is the oldest district in the county, and famous as the scene of the discovery on Rich Hill. A Mexi- can, in the employ of Jack Swilling, who was mining on Antelope creek, in crossing over the mountains to the Weaver camp, happened on the wonderful deposit. In a depression on the summit of the mountain, about 6,000 feet above tide-water, the coarse gold was found lying on the bare bed-rock. Pieces of the pure metal, worth sever il hundred dollars, were picked up, and over $500,000 was taken from about an acre of ground. Butcher knives were used to dig the gold out of the seams in the rock, and it was not an uncommon thing to find from $1,000
96
THE RESOURCES OF ARIZONA.
to $5,000 under a small boulder. How the gold was deposited in such a place is a mystery which has not yet been solved. The gulches and ravines running down from the mountain con- tained considerable treasure, and are worked by Mexicans up to the present time. It is estimated that Weaver has produced over $1,000,000 in placer gold. The ledges are nearly all gold- bearing. The Marcus, two miles west of Antelope peak, has produced sulphurets that yielded $1,000 per ton. It has a shaft over 200 fcet. The vein is two feet wide. The ore from this mine has been shipped to Newark, New Jersey, for reduction. The Leviathan is a large ledge of gold-bearing quartz, and has yielded ore that worked $50 per ton in arastras. It is opened by a tunnel, which cuts it 100 feet below the surface. It is estimated there are a million tons of ore in sight in this immense vein. The Metallic Candle, the Sexton, the Buckeye, the Emerald, and scores of other promising claims arc in this district, which is one of the foremost guld camps of the Territory.
HASSAYAMPA .- The first discoveries were made in this dis- trict in 1863, and the creek has been worked for gold ever since. It is estimated that over half a million dollars have been taken out. The district adjoins Lynx Creck on the south, and em- braces the best wooded and watered portion of the Sierra Prieta range. During the summer months its beautiful glens and grassy glades are among the most delightful spots in the Territory. The ores of the district are a free gold quartz on the surface, which changes into sulphurets and a high percentage of silver, as depth is reached.
The Senator has been worked extensively, and has produced $150,000 in gold. A ten-stamp mill has been erected, which is now lying idle, solely on account of bad management. The vein is from two to four fect wide-copper and iron sulphurets-and has yielded from $20 to $40 per ton. There is a shaft 250 feet in depth.
The Davis is about four miles south of the Senator, on the eastern side of the Hassayampa mountains. It is a large vein, carrying gold and silver, traceable on the surface for many miles, and located all the way. The original location has a tunnel driven on the ledge, over 200 feet in length. The vein will average five feet in width, and has produced ore that yielded $300 per ton. Considerable work has been done along the vein, and wherever opened it shows remarkably well.
Southwest from the Davis are a group of mines discovered within the past two years. The Dosoris is the principal loca- tion, and has produced ore worth $1,000 per ton. It is now being worked, and the ore shipped cast. As admittance to the mine was denied, its present condition cannot be stated. The vein is said to be very narrow, put rich. The mine is opened by several shafts and tunnels.
SEE PAGE 61.
TOWN OF CLIFTON, ARIZONA.
BANCROFT-LITH - S. F.
97
MINES AND MINING.
The Blue Diek is west of the Dosoris. It is opened by two tun- nels, and shows a small vein of rich silver ore. The Mark Twain is south of the Blue Dick, and is a very encouraging prospect.
The Ruby is east of the Davis, and runs parallel with that mine. It shows a strong vein of high-grade sulphuret ore, aver- aging over a foot in width, and yielding over $200 in gold and silver. The sulphurets contain copper and iron, and are easily reduced. Two tunnels have been driven on the vein. One is over 200 feet and the other 160 feet. The vein is strong and continuous all the way, and this discovery promises to become very valuable. There are over 100 tons on the dump. The ore is shipped to Denver, and also worked at the Howell smelter.
The Dunkirk is east of the Ruby. It is opened by two shafts and a short tunnel, and shows a ledge two feet wide. Selected ore has gone $250 per ton. As depth is reached, the ore prom- ises to be of the same character as in the Ruby.
The Crook is three miles east of the Hassayampa, and has produced over $50,000 in gold. It is opened by shafts, tunnels and open cuts. A ten-stamp mill was erected, but as the ore changed to sulphurets, it failed to save the gold. East of the Crook is the Summer, a remarkable vein of micaceous iron, some of which is richly impregnated with silver. Ore from this mine has assayed as high as $2,000. West of the Hassayampa, and about eight miles from Prescott, is the Perry claim. It shows a large vein of sulphuret ore, and some assays show $500 per ton. It has a shaft 200 feet. The Sterling is an old location, and had a ten-stamp mill erected on it in the early days. It yielded some very rich quartz near the surface, but when sulphurets were encountered the gold could not be saved. These sulphurets assayed $200 to the ton. There is a shaft on the property 100 feet deep, now partly filled with water. With proper appliances for treating the ores, the Sterling will again become a bullion. producer.
The Grub claim, Pine Tree, Savage, Grovanor, Madison, Del- aware, Montgomery, Silver Trail, General Sherman, and hun- dreds of other encouraging prospects are met with in Hassay- ampa district.
TIGER DISTRICT .- This camp is thirty-five miles south- east from Prescott, in the southern spurs of the Bradshaw range. It has every natural facility in the way of wood and water for ore reduction. The formation is granite, the veins are large and regular, and carry silver and gold. The Tiger mine, which has given its name to the district, is a large ledge, being in places over seventy feet between smooth and regular walls. It has been opened to a depth of 400 feet, and is supplied with steam hoist- ing-works and a ten-stamp mill. The ore is a sulphuret, carry- ing considerable quantities of native silver. The property is at present idle, but with proper management should be made to yield a profit.
7
98
THE RESOURCES OF ARIZONA.
The Tiger has produced nearly $200,000. The vein is a true fissure and has been located for several miles. The Riggs and Hammond claim adjoins the discovery on the south. It is a strong ledge carrying some high grade ore, and is opened by several shafts and tunnels. The Linn claim, north of the dis- covery, shows a large ore body and is explored by several shafts and open cuts. The Grey Eagle is two miles east of the Tiger. It is a large vein of sulphuret ore carrying gold and silver. Assays give from $40 to $150 per ton. The Oro Bonita lies between the Tiger and Grey Eagle, It has been worked for several years by steam arastras yielding $80 per ton, in gold. The vein will average two feet in width.
The Eclipse and Cougar are two miles east of the Tiger. They are good-sized veins, and carry some rich chloride ores. The latter claim has a shaft 100 feet deep and 300 tons of ore on the dump. The Lorena is supposed to enter the Eclipse nearly at right angles from the east. It shows a vein eightcen inches wide which, it is claimed, will go $200 per ton. The ore is a black sulphuret carrying horn silver. Work is being steadily prosecuted on this mine. The Benton and California are supposed to be northern extensions of the Tiger. Both show considerable development and have produced some rich ore.
In what is known as the "Basin," north of the Tiger, are many fine prospects, surrounded by an extensive timber belt. The Buckeye is a small vein which has produced some rich gold and silver ore. The Union, formerly known as the Kansas, is south of the Buckeye. It has been explored by a tunnel 175 feet in length, and by a shaft seventy feet deep. The Esperanza is a two-foo. vein of sulphuret orc, carrying gold and silver. A ten- stamp mill was erected on this property some years ago, but failed to save the gold in the sulphurets. It is now worked suc- cessfully by Mexicans, who grind the ore in arastras and then smelt it in a rude furnace. It is said the ore yields as high as $400 by this process.
North of the Basin, in what was formerly known as Pinc Grove district, there are many fine properties, on some of which a large amount of work has been done. Among them are the War Eagle, which has been developed by several shafts, and has produced over $50,000, the Del Pascoe, Bradshaw, Basin Rock, Red Rover, Union, and many others, all carrying gold and silver.
BLACK HILLS .- This camp is twenty-five miles cast of Pres- scott, on the eastern slopes of the mountains, after which it is named. It is well supplied with wood and water, and has a delightful situation. For over three miles in width and one mile in length, rich deposits of copper are found in this district. The geological features of the range are eruptive rocks on the north end, and limestones, metamorphic slates, syenite and
99
MINES AND MINING.
quartzite in the center, and granites and porphyry on the south- ern end. Near these limestone zones in beds of porphyry and slate, the copper is found. The United Verde Copper Com- pany, an incorporation formed under the laws of the State of New York, are now prosecuting operations on an extensive scale in this district. They have built a road through the range which taps the farms on the upper Verde, and from which sup- plies of grain, hay, and vegetables can be drawn. This road has cost $25,000, and is one of the best mountain grades in the Territory. By this new route the distance to the railroad at Ash Fork is only fifty-four miles, and freight on bullion and coke is greatly reduced.
The company own the following mines: Eureka, Wade Hampton, Hermit, Chromo North, and Chromo South, South Azure and North Azure, Venture and South Venture.
The Eureka is an immense mass of copper ore, being at one point over 100 feet wide. A tunnel has been run on the ledge 274 feet, which taps it 190 feet below the surface. The ore body can be traced for over 500, and at no point does it appear to be less than twenty-five feet in width. The character of the ore on the surface is a green carbonate, and a red oxide, and at the end of the tunnel an oxide carrying large quantities of iron. The entire body will average twenty per cent. Some 700 tons have been taken from the running of the tunnel. The matrix of the ore is iron and the country rock that encases it metamorphic slate. The ore is self-fluxing, carrying all the lime and iron required.
A shallow gulch separates the Hampton from the Eureka, and some consider it a continuation of the same deposit. The ore is similar, and the formation the same besides its strike is towards the Eureka. There is a shaft on the claim 67 feet, which exposes a body of ore sixteen feet wide. Careful tests have shown that this will go fifteen per cent. in copper. The ore is as easily reduced as the Hampton, and promises to be- come equally as valuable.
The Hermit is a quarter of a mile east of the Eureka. A tunnel has been driven which struck the vein at a distance of seventy-one feet. A winze was then sunk on the ore body to a depth of eighty feet. The vein is regular and will average over four feet in width. The ore is a red oxide, carrying iron and lime, and large masses of oxidized copper glance. The ore averages twenty-five per cent., and with development the claim promises to become a valuable one.
The Venture is situated about two miles southeast from the Eureka. It is a well-defined and compact vein, encased in por- phyry and slate. The ore body will average about three feet, and is very rich in metal, yielding as high as thirty-five per cent. The character of the ore is a malachite, an auzerite, an oxide and a glance. There is a shaft down 100 feet. This
,
100
THE RESOURCES OF ARIZONA.
mine promises to become a most valuable property with develop- ment. The Chrome South and Chrome North adjoin the Eureka on the east. The ores are a carbonate and a silicate, and the veins will average from two to four feet in width. Although but little work has been done, they show fine ore bodics. The Azure North and Azure South are very encouraging pros- pects.
Near the Eureka the company have erected a water-jacket furnace, which is now in successful operation. The ores from the Eureka and the Hampton are brought to the smelter on cars propelled by hand. The works are erected just below the road, and a tramway leads from the floor of the furnace to the rich croppings on the Eureka, which are used to flux lcaner ores. The furnace is supplied with a Blake crusher, and is a most complete affair, with a capacity of forty tons daily. The present output of bullion is eight tons per day. The ore is rapidly running into silver, the bullion produced being worth from $400 to $500 per ton in that metal. The ores smelt readily, and no difficulty has occurred since the start.
The water to supply the works is brought in iron pipes from a spring two miles distant. The tanks, with a capacity of 5,000 gallons each, receive the water, and the supply is abundant for all purposes. This water also supplies the prosperous camp which has sprung up near the mines, and which contains several stores, saloons, restaurants, etc. All the supplies and material for the reduction of the ore are hauled from Ash Fork, coke costing, at the works, $32 per ton. This enterprise pro- mises to be of great benefit to the copper interests of Northern Arizona. It is the first intelligent effort made to handle the rich orcs of that portion of the Territory, and it has proved a most flattering success. The company own some of the finest copper properties in the Territory. The situation, in the midst of a well-wooded and watered region, is all that could be asked, and a long and profitable run is assured. The management is in the hands of experienced men, and a brilliant success is assured. Something like 100 men are at present employed in this camp, and no other in all Arizona presents a brighter out- look.
The high percentage of silver in the ore is a most agreeable feature, and makes the property one of the most valuable in Arizona. The average of 125 tons of copper bullion produced in August and September was $450 per ton, in silver. The copper runs from ninety-four to ninety-eight per cent. fine. The works are running to their full capacity night and day, the only difficulty so far, being the lack of transportation.
CHERRY CREEK .- This district is in the southern end of the the Black Hills, has plenty of wood and water, and a desirable situation. The ores carry gold and silver, and are easily handled. The camp is thirty miles east of Prescott, and ten
IOI
MINES AND MINING.
miles from the Verde river. A mill has been erected in the district, but ignorance and incompetency caused it to prove a failure. Recently, however, some new investments have been made, and the camp has taken a fresh start. The principal mines are the Mammoth, with a shaft 125 feet ; 350 tons of ore from this mine milled $20 per ton, while the tailings assayed $16. The Conger Mining Company, of Canton, O., own four or five claims on the Verde slope of the mountain, which they are now developing. On the Conger they have sunk a shaft, and are taking out some very rich quartz. The vein is from twelve to eighteen inches wide. On the Cactus a tunnel has been driven 100 feet, showing a vein with two feet of fine ore. The company have hoisting works on the ground, and pro) o to erect a mill, on the Verde river, five miles distant, to be driven by water-power. The Gold Ring and the Potomac are fine prospects. The former has been explored to a depth of 100 feet A mill test of 100 tons' yielded $100 per ton. The St. Nicholas, Gold Queen, Joe Johnson, and many other flatter- ing prospects are in this district.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.