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 15
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and Cerbat promises to become one of the liveliest camps in Mohave. It would occupy too much space to mention all the meritorious properties located here, therefore allusion can only be made to a few of the most prominent. The Fontenoy has produced over $30,000. It has been opened by two shafts, one being over 100 feet. The vein is two feet wide, and assays $100 per ton. The Cerbat is a strong vein of sulphuret ore and has yielded over $25,000. It is opened by several shafts.
The Seventy-eight carries some very rich chloride orc. The mine has produced nearly $300,000, the average of the ore ship- ped to San Francisco has been $350 per ton. The claim is more thoroughly developed than any in the camp, showing more than 1,000 feet of shafts and tunnels. The Flores carries gold and silver, and has yielded over $40,000 from the arastra pro- cess. It is opened by 300 feet of shafting and tunneling. The Black and Tan is opened by a 250-foot shaft. It shows a two- foot vein and has yielded over $25,000. The Silver, Vanderbilt, New London, Bay State, and Tulare are all fine prospects. Cerbat has paid its way from the start. Nearly all the ores taken out have been shipped to San Francisco by poor miners, who had no capital except muscle and determination.
Stockton is three miles east of Cerbat, on the wooded slopes of the range above the wide Hualapai valley. It has a delight- ful situation, and is not over seven miles from the railroad. The veins are silver-bearing and the formation granitic. There is plenty of wood, and no scarcity of water. As in Cerbat, the ores from this camp have been shipped to San Francisco, there being no reduction works in the vicinity. Some of the ship- ments have been marvelously rich, and it is estimated the Cupel has produced $150,000, by this mode of working. It shows a two- foot ledge, and is opened by 500 feet of shafts and drifts. The Little Chief is a small but very rich vein. The ore shipments from this claim have gone from $400 to $1,200 per ton, and the total yield has been over $50,000. The Tigress shows an eighteen inch vein, that assays over $100 per ton. It has yield- ed more than $25,000. The Prince George, IXL, Infallible, Silver Monster, and dozens of other encouraging prospects are met with here.
MAYNARD DISTRICT is in the Hualapai range on the east side of the Hualapai valley, through which the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad passes. The mountains are covered with a heavy growth of pine, ork and juniper timber, and the water supply is abundant. The ores are a sulphuret, and of high grade. The American Flag is opened by over 2,500 feet of shafts, drifts and tunnels. It has produced over $80,000 from ore shipped to San Francisco. The vein is not large, but the product is very rich. The Dean is a large ledge carrying sulphuret ore. It is opened by 600 feet of tunnels and 200 feet of shafting. The Antelope is also a strong ledge, averaging
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four feet in width, and opened by 400 feet of shafting. It has produced $20,000. There are many more fine properties in this district, which is only ten miles from the railroad, and has, besides its wood and water supply, a perfect climate.
HACKBERRY .- This camp is in the Peacock range, about three miles from the railroad. The discovery of the Hackberry mine attracted a large number of miners and prospectors to this point, some years ago, and for a long time it was the most prosperous spot in Mohave county. A ten-stamp mill was erected on the mine and ran successfully for several years, producing over $300,- 000. The Hackberry ledge is nearly forty feet wide in a forma- tion of granite and porphyry. The pay-streak is confined to about eighteen inches, which has averaged $200 per ton. The mine is opened by nearly 1,000 feet of shafting. The property has been idle for several years, but work has lately been resumed and is being pushed forward with a large force of men. The mine has long been considered one of the leading properties of Mohave, and under proper management will again become a regular bullion producer. The Hester and the Hackberry South are extensions, and have produced over $30,000.
Gold Basin is some forty miles north of Mineral park. The ledges are large, gold-bearing dykes, the ores being of a high grade and free from base surroundings. A five-stamp mill has been put up in the district and has turned out a considerable amount of bullion. Water is scarce, but an abundant supply can be had at the Colorado, some thirty miles away. A narrow- gauge road from the mines to the river has been projected and will doubtless be built. The supply of ore seems inexhaustible, and with cheap facilities for reducing it, Gold Basin will become one of the most productive camps in the Territory. The North- ern Belle, Golden Rule, El Dorado and Indian Boy, are among the principal claims.
OWENS DISTRICT .- This district is situated in the southern part of the county, near the line of Yuma. The discovery of the McCracken mine, in the latter part of 1874, created a lively excitement, not only in Arizona, but outside of it, and a "rush " ensued to this part of the Territory. The McCracken lode, which cuts across the country for several miles, is one of the great mines of the coast, and wherever opened, shows from five to forty feet in width. The ores are mainly chlorides and bromides, with some sulphides and galena. In the extent of its ore body the mine has few equals on the coast. A large amount of work has been done, and the fact demonstrated that it is a permanent fissure. For several years the McCracken was one of the leading bullion producers of the Territory, and the yield during the period of its activity reached $1,000,000
The property is owned by a San Francisco company, who put up two mills, one of twenty, and another of ten stamps. The cost of supplies and the heavy charges on freight compelled
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SOME NATURAL PRODUCTIONS.
BANCAOFT - LITH-S.F.
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the owners to suspend operations, and for several years nothing has been done. The deepest workings are about 400 feet, the vein at that depth showing a large and regular lode. There are thousands of tons in sight in this mine and on the dumps, which will yield $30 per ton. Now that the railroad lessens the cost of material it is expected that work will again be resumed on this fine property. East of Owens district, on Burro creek, is the Burro mine, a vein over thirty feet wide, and carrying ore that assays from $5 to $300 per ton. There is a shaft 250 feet and several open cuts.
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT is in the Union Pass range, ten miles cast of the Colorado river. Here is located the famous Moss mine, whose extraordinary richness created such an excitement some years ago. The noted frontiersman, John Moss, after whom the mine is named, was guided to it by a Mohave Indian. The mine has produced some magnificient specimens of gold quartz, and has yielded over $200,000. It has been worked at intervals, since its discovery, in 1863, but no attempt at systematic development has been made. Drifts, cross-cuts, and coyote holes have been run in search of the rich pockets, leaving the larger ore bodies untouched. The ledge will aver- age nearly thirty feet in width and is said to yield $10 per ton. With such an immense mass of free-milling ore, and with the water-power of the Colorado only ten miles distant, this should yet become a valuable property.
CEDAR VALLEY DISTRICT .- The mining camp of Cedar Val- ley is sixty miles cast of the Colorado, and about the same dis- tance south of Mineral Park. There is a good supply of wood, and all the veins carry water. The formation is a granite, the ledges being regular and continuous. The ore is a sulphuret of silver. A ten-stamp mill has been put up in the district, and many of the mines show a large amount of development. The camp has produced over $60,000, with very crude and im- perfect appliances for ore reduction, and with careful and intel- ligent management promises to become a steady shipper of bullion. The Hibernia, Hope, Silver Queen, and Bunker Hill are the principal mines.
Pima county is the oldest mining region of the United States, and before a pound of ore was worked in any other State or Territory of the Union, silver bullion was produced here. At what time the first discoveries were made is a matter of con- jecture, but it is known that the Jesuit Fathers opened mines in this region as early as the latter part of the seventeenth century. When the bells of Independence Hall tolled out the immortal Declaration, mining was prosecuted with vigor in this remote corner of the continent, and in the Baboquivari, the Santa Rita, Arivaca and Patagonia, silver bricks were being manufactured and many mines worked. On the borders of Pima county were found the famous planchas de plata, the largest lumps of the
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pure metal ever discovered. The causes which brought to an ending this prosperous industry in Pima, have already been alluded to, and it was not until after the American occupation that it began to revive. In 1856, American capital was enlisted in the development of the rich silver veins in the Santa Rita and Arivaca districts, and the venture was meeting with marked success, when the breaking out of the civil war brought the enterprise to an abrupt ending.
For more than ten years thereafter, but little mining was attempted in Pima, and it was not until after the hostile Indians were placed on reservations, in 1874, that operations were again resumed on a scale of any magnitude. The opening of the Southern Pacific railroad gave a marked impetus to mining in this county and throughout southern Arizona. A large amount of capital sought investment, and many valuable claims were opened up. Ignorance and dishonesty in the management of mining properties have done much to retard the advancement of the county, and injured its reputation abroad. But despite these drawbacks, the industry is in a healthy condition, and is steadily advancing. Gold, silver and copper are found in almost every hill and mountain range.
Outside of the Papago country there is abundance of wood and water, and even there a sufficient supply of the latter can always be had by sinking. Granite and porphyry are the pre- vailing formations, but lime, slate and eruptive rocks occur in many places. The ores are of high grade, and the ledges generally compact and well-defined.
EMPIRE DISTRICT .- This district is seven miles south of Pantano station, on the Southern Pacific railroad, and twenty- five miles east of Tucson. The ores are found in a formation of limestone, and are large and rich. The Total Wreck is the leading mine of the camp, and has been one of the foremost bullion producers of the Territory. The ore body will average six feet wide, and has been opened to a depth of 360 feet by an incline shaft, which follows the foot-wall. Levels have been run every fifty feet, and a tunnel from the surface taps the shaft at a depth of 200 feet. The mine is worked through this tunnel. A great deal of stoping has been done, and the mine is thoroughly opened by winzes, crosscuts, etc. The ore is a chloride, carrying considerable carbonate of lead, manganese and iron, the average mill test being about $60 per ton. One hundred yards from the hoisting works a fine twenty-stamp mill has been erected. It is furnished with all the latest im- provements, and has a capacity equal to three and a-half tons per stamp, in twenty-four hours. The ore has been worked to eighty-four per cent. and the tailings concentrated and saved. It is estimated the cost of mining and milling does not exceed $8 per ton. Water is brought to the mill from a spring about four miles away. At this point a pump has been put in place,
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which raises the water 500 feet to a reservoir on the summit of a hill, three miles distant. From this reservoir, which overlooks the mill, the water is conveyed in pipes. During a run of five months the mill produced $450,000. It is now stopped, for what cause is not known, as work still goes on in the mine, and large ore bodies are in sight.
The Forty-nine claim is about three miles west of the Total Wreck, and on the same lime-belt. It is opened by an incline shaft, 116 feet in depth. The vein will average eight feet in width. It is of the same character as the Total Wreck. Aver- age assays, across the vein, give $40 per ton. The mine is pa- tented, and has 350 tons of ore on the dump. The Empire shows a good-sized ledge of argentiferous galena. It is also patented.
ARIVACA DISTRICT, is about sixty-five miles south of Tuc- son, and is one of the oldest mining camps in the Territory, hav- ing been established long before the settlement of the country by the Americans. It has a delightful situation among the rolling, grassy hills bordering the valley of La Aribac, has a fine climate, and abundance of wood and water. Two or three mills have been erected in the district, but for some cause they are not running at present. The veins are strong and regular, and the ores of a high grade. There has been a good deal of misman- agement in this camp, and to this cause more than to anything else must be attributed the present condition of affairs.
The famous Cerro Colorado is about ten miles north of Ari- vaca. It was one of the first mines worked by the Americans in Arizona, and has produced over $2,000,000. At the breaking out of the Civil War the Apaches destroyed the buildings and hoisting works, and compelled the abandonment of the prop- erty. Large quantities of ore have been stolen from this mine by the Mexicans, and it is said the town of Saric, in Sonora, was built up on the proceeds of the plunder. There is a large num- ber of patented mines in the district, upon which considerable development has been donc. Among the most prominent are the Arizona Consolidated, with a 200-foot shaft; the Arkansas, with a shaft 150 feet and a four-foot vein of chlorides and sul- phurets of silver; the Longarine, assaying $80 per ton, with three shafts, the deepest being 100 feet; the Union, a four-foot vein of milling ore worth $50 per ton. The Silver Queen is a new discovery, and a very encouraging prospect.
The Albatross is one of the most promising mines in Pima county. It has been incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, under the name of the Inca Gold and Silver Mining Company. The place of business is Tombstone, and the directors, L. B. Pomeroy, Alpheus and Robert A. Lewis. Several shafts have been sunk on the property, the deepest being 120 feet, showing an ore body from five to twelve feet in width at the bottom. There is an adit level on the vein which con-
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nects with the shaft at a distance of 195 feet. There are between 300 and 400 tons of high-grade ore on the dumps. The ore is a chloride carrying gold, the average assays being $88 in silver and $34 in gold. The owners will soon commence extensive developments on this fine property.
In the Baboquivera range, west of Arivaca, there is a number of fine prospects, assaying from $50 to $100 per ton, silver. The most promising are the Black Hawk and the Silver Chief.
ORO BLANCO .- This district is seven miles southeast of Arivaca, and contains many good mines. The ores carry silver and gold, and there is abundance of wood and water for reduc- tion purposes. The San Jose is opened by 400 feet of shafts, drifts and tunnels. The ledge is nearly 100 feet wide, the ore occurring in seams. Some of this ore has assayed as high as $15,000 in silver per ton. Over $10,000 has already been taken out, and the work of development is being pushed steadily. The Yellow Jacket has been opened to a depth of 120 feet, showing good ore all the way. A cross-cut on the eighty-five foot level shows the vein to be twenty-five feet wide. Large quantities of ore are in sight, estimated to be worth $15 per ton. The mine has produced over $25,000. The Old Stiff has produced 100 tons of ore, which yielded at the rate of $100 per ton, at the Arivaca mill. As yet but little work has been done on this property. The Montana is an immense vein, 100 feet between walls, and is opened by several hundred feet of drifts, shafts, etc. The St. Patrick has over 100 tons of ore on the dump, worth $150 per ton. The Warsaw is a vein from three to four feet wide. The ore has worked $So per ton, and the mine has pro- duced over $30,000. The Nil Desperandum shows a strong vein of free gold, that has yielded $40 per ton. The Ostrich, Waterec, Herman, Idaho and California, are all fine prospects. The Orion mill, so long idle, is being overhauled and will soon start up on the rich ores of this camp.
HARSHAW DISTRICT .- This district is about seventy miles southeast of Tucson, in the Patagonia mountains, and was one of the most active camps in the county two years ago. The Hermosa mill was then running and the mine being worked. It is estimated this property has produced over $700,000. The mill is idle at present, but some work is being done in the minc. The ledges of this district are large and the ores generally easily reduced. Patents have been obtained to the following claims : American, Blue Nose, Garfield, Iron Cap, Commonwealth, Cos- mopolitan, Salvador and Bluff. With plenty of wood and water and large bodies of milling ores, Harshaw must again become a prosperous camp.
Washington Camp is nine miles south of Harshaw, and has a delightful situation in a heavily-timbered region overlooking the valley of the Santa Cruz. The ledges are large, but the ores are low grade, carrying a heavy percentage of lead. There is abundance of water at the Santa Cruz, four miles away.
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MINES AND MINING.
The Old Mowry Mine is in this neighborhood, and was worked extensively before the breaking out of the war, employ- ing, it is said, at one time over 400 men. The Apaches de- stroyed the buildings and reduction works, and all that remains of a once prosperous camp is the tall brick chimney which yet stands a monument to the energy and enterprise of Lieut. Mowry. A great deal of development has been done here and several attempts made to work the ores, but, owing mainly to bad management, these ventures have not proved a success. But the opening of the Arizona and New Mexican railroad has con- siderably lesened the cost of material, and no doubt many of the mines now idle will start up. The leading mines are the Davis, opened by several shafts, Belmont, San Antonio, Holland, Blue Jay, Grasshopper and scores of others. With its water and wood facilities and immense veins, this camp should yet become a steady bullion producer.
PAPAGO DISTRICT .- This district lies southwest of Tucson. It contains some large ledges of copper and silver ores, which show very encouragingly, as far as developed. The Pichaco mine shows a vein four and a half feet wide, carrying silver, cop- per and lead. The Montezuma is a three-foot vein of copper and silver ore. There is a fifty-foot shaft on the property which has been patented. The Silver Crown is also a promising prop- erty, but has only been developed sufficiently to obtain a pat- ent ; it carries gold, silver and copper.
CABABI DISTRICT, is west of the last-named mines, and em- braces a large area of the Papagueria. It has produced some exceptionally rich ore, large quantities of which were packed on mules to the reduction works in Northern Mexico, before the American occupation. The Pichaco mine was worked many years ago by Mexicans, and a great deal of high grade ore ex- tracted. This ore carries silver and copper, native silver occur- ring in considerable quantities. The mine has been opened by several shafts, and is now owned by a company who intend to put up hoisting works at an early day. The Desert mine has been explored to a depth of seventy feet, and shows a strong ledge of silver and copper-bearing ore. El Cantivo, Santa To- mas, Copeska and Cabriza are in this district, and are all prom- ising prospects. West of this group of mines are the famous Ajo copper properties, which were worked extensively in early times, and the ores shipped from Port Libertad to San Fran- cisco. Those mines have recently changed hands, and it is ex- pected that work will soon be resumed. The principal claims are the Pinto, Pinto No. 2 and Pinto No. 3, all carrying some of the richest copper ore yet found in the Territory.
MYERS DISTRICT .- This camp is in the heart of the Papago country, seventy five miles west of Tucson, and on the line of the proposed road to Port Lobos. Some very high grade ore has been found, but, outside of the Gunsight, little work
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has been done. A shaft has been sunk on this mine to a depth +of 380 feet, when water was encountered. The ore body is large, but the grade is not high. A ten-stamp mill has been erected on the property, but has not yet started up. The East- ern, Silver Girt, Crescent, Glance, Southern Belle and Keystone are very flattering prospects, but show very little development. On the Burro Burro mine two reverbatory furnaces have just been erected for the working of its ores.
In Pima district, the prominent mines are the Patterson, Ari- zona King, Arizona Queen, San Xavier and Democrat. On the San Xavier there are about 300 feet of development. A large body of somewhat rebellious ore has been struck, and a smelter is now being erected for its reduction.
SILVER BELL DISTRICT has many fine copper 'properties, upon some of which a great deal of work has been done. The Young America Copper Company have a twenty-ton smelter, which is kept steadily at work, and has already turned out a large quantity of bullion. The Blue Coat, Old Boot, Navajo, Aztec and Young America have been patented.
OLD HAT DISTRICT .- This camp is in the northern end of the Santa Catalina range, thirty-five miles from Tucson. It has an abundant wood and water supply and a charming situation. On the Ada a five-stamp mill has been erected, and is producing about $10,000 per month. The Bonanza is a large vein opened by two tunnels; it carries gold and silver. The Braganza has produced ore worth $300 per ton. The Old Hat, Bandit, American Flag, Palmetto, Pioneer, Lookout, Black Bear and many more are located in this neighborhood.
The Helvetia camp is on the eastern slope of the Santa Ritas. It is well supplied with wood and water, and contains some rich placer claims. It has also some large copper deposits, which are being worked successfully. On the Omega claim a smelter has been crected, and, although in operation but a short time, has produced a considerable amount of bullion. The ores are high grade and easily reduced.
TYNDALL DISTRICT .- The mines of this district are situated south of the high peaks of the Santa Rita Mountains, sixty miles south of Tucson. The mines are favorably located near the Santa Cruz river, and there is plenty of wood, close at hand. The camp has suffered much from bad management and un- scrupulous speculation. The bonanza mines, known as the Day- ton, Mills and Tizwin, have shafts from 50 to 100 feet in depth, and carry gold, silver and copper. The California claim is a very promising property, and shows some magnificent ore. The Con- gress of Beauty, Thunderer, Delta, Bradford, Sandwich, Magno- lia, North Star and a large number of other promising properties are in this district. A mill is shortly to be erected here, and with the abundance of high grade ore will no doubt give satis- factory returns.
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The Aztec district may be considered a continuation of the Tyndall. The ore bodies are large and regular, but not so high grade. Among the claims deserving mention are the Missouri, General Craig, Montezuma, Empress of India, Old Salero Mine, Rosario, Toltec, Coronado, Santa Rita and Yuma.
In the Quijotoa mountains, ninety miles west of Tucson, a ยท discovery of rich silver-bearing ledges has lately been made, which promise to become very valuable. The formation of the mountain is quartz, prophyry and conglomerate. The ore bodies are exceptionally large, and assays go into the thousands. A working test has been made of several lots, the yield being from $300 to $500 per ton. The ore is rich in chloride and silver glance. The principal claims are the Wide West, Piper, Ibex, Peerless and Crocker. The Emerald is an immense copper de- posit, which has been explored a length of 120 feet, and a cross- cut run thirty-five feet, and is said to average eighteen per cent., copper. There are many other promising properties in this neighborhood on which work is now being prosecuted with the most encouraging results. Water has been struck at a depth of sixteen feet. The mines can be reached over a natural wagon road, and there is every indication that a prosperous camp will spring up here.
The history of mining in Yuma county begins with the dis- covery of the placers at Gila, twenty-five miles east of the Colorado, by Col. Snively, in 1858. The diggings were found to be rich, but a scarcity of water has prevented their profitable working. The first mining, north of the Gila, by Americans, began at La Paz, in this county, in 1862, and has been carried on with varying success ever since. From this placer ground, and from the dry diggings along the Colorado, it is estimated that over $2,000,000 has been taken. With the decline of the placers, valuable deposits of silver ores have been found in the ranges bordering the Colorado. Many of these discoveries are proving to be among the most valuable in the Territory. Gold, silver, copper, lead and all the minerals found in other parts of Arizona exist in Yuma county ; and on the gravelly mesas along the Colorado, beautiful specimens of opal, blood-stone and agates are found. In the variety, richness and extent of her mineral deposits, Yuma will compare favorably with her sister counties, and like them, all that she requires is capital to develope them.
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