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 9
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In the size of its veins, Tombstone stands pre-eminent among the mining districts of the Territory. Ore bodies of such size and richness have been found in no other portion of Arizona. The ores are generally chlorides and are very easily worked, yielding ninety per cent and upwards by the "wet" process of stamps, pans and settlers. Thus far all the ores of the camp have been reduced by this treatment, which has given very gen- eral satisfaction.
The mineral belt of Tombstone extends about eight miles east and west, and may be said to extend south to the Bisbee copper deposits. nearly twenty-five miles.
The geological features of the belt are an interesting study. Porphyry is the most widely distributed, and is the formation in which most of the large ore bodies occur. The veins and de- posits are nearly all covered by a capping of lime, and in some places large chambers of ore are found in this rock. As depth is reached the lime disappears, and considerable quartzite is en- countered. This also gives way as the work of development proceeds, and at the water-level a felsdpathic porphyry encases the ore bodies. On the western ledge of the district there is a well-defined granite formation, the veins being compact and regular with smooth walls. The country in the leading, in which the mines of the district occur, may be described as a se- ries of rolling, grass-covered hills, being the northern end of the Mule mountains.
In the work of development, Tombstone leads all camps in the Territory, and, although a greater depth has been reached in other localities, there is none where that development has been so general, or carried forward so systematically. The lead- ing mines are provided with the most-improved machinery, and immense pumps, capable of handling the heavy flow of water, are now being introduced. It is Arizona's representative mining camp, and well does it maintain that position. Its present out- put is about $500,000 per month, and the yield for 1883 is put at over $6,000,000.
The camp can show a brilliant record in the past, and has a bright outlook for the future. It is now undergoing the crucial test in passing through what may be termed the surface deposits to the ore chambers below the water level. That such ore bodies cxist has already been proved, and there is every reason to believe they will show larger and richer than those above. When they are fairly opened up, mining throughout the
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THE RESOURCES OF ARIZONA.
district will receive an impetus never before known, and a long and prosperous career assured to this camp. There are over 3,000 locations in the district. In this short sketch we can only notice a few of the leading bullion producers, although, no doubt, there are many yet undeveloped which will prove equally as valuable.
The Contention is the leading mine of the camp, and, consid- ering its bullion production, is the leading mine of the Territory. Since its discovery, it has produced over $5,000,000, and gives no sign of diminution in the size of richness of its immense ore body. Outside of the Comstock, there is no mine on the coast with such a magnificent record. As showing what development will accomplish, it may be stated, that the mine was at one time on the point of being abandoned by its original owners, and was disposed of for the insignificant sum of $10,000. The property was first incorporated in 1880 as the Western Mining Company, which, about the close of 1881, on the consolidation of the prop- erty with the Flora Morison, and 600 feet of the south end of the Sulphuret, was changed to the Contention Consolidated Mining Company, under which name it now carries on its business.
The claim originally cost. $10,000.
The Western Mining Company paid the following dividends :---
In 1880, 7 dividends .$525,000
1881, 12 950,000
$1,475,000
As Contention Company :---
In 1882, 11 dividends
$687,500
1883, 5 66
312,500
$1,000,000
Total dividends to May, 1883. $2,475,000
In 1882 the company extracted a total of 25,017 tons of ore, an average of 2,086 per month. This produced 632 bars of bullion, valued at $1,676,795.96.
In the first five months of 1883, the ore raised and treated amounted to 13,652 tons, which produced 205 bars of bullion, valued at $553,085.91.
In this mine there are five levels; the depth of the main working shaft is 550 feet, and the amount of underground workings on all the properties, including drifts, cross-cuts, winzes, raises, intermediary levels, etc., etc., measure very nearly twenty miles.
The average number of men employed is 110. The cost of mining is only one-third of what similar work costs on the Comstock, the rock being, for the most part, soft and easily blasted ; whilst, so far, the depth attained, has not been great, and not nearly as much timbering is required here as in Nevada. The ore is met with in porphyry, the walls being composed of quartzite, limestone, and shales, while the gauge is quartz. The water-level is about thirty feet below the present deepest workings,
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MINES AND MINING.
to which a winze has been sunk from these workings. To cope with the water expected to be encountered this company have lately gone to great expense in increasing the size of their main working-shaft and erecting substantial pumping apparatus. The cost will be about $350,000, and until operations are begun dividends have, in the meantime, been stopped. The work of raising ore, however, goes on, and the company's mill (twenty- five stamps), at Contention, is kept steadily going.
Before incurring so heavy an expenditure, the management have taken every means in their power to find, beyond doubt, that the ore body below the water-level will amply repay for such an outlay, and the engineer and acting manager, Professor I. E. James, speaks in the most sanguine manner of the outlook, and gives it as his opinion that the bodies of ore that will be opened up, as sinking goes on, will astonish the mining world, and none more so than the fortunate shareholders of this valu- able property. Josiah H. White is the local general manager and superintendent.
The Grand Central Mining Company, of Youngstown, Ohio, own and control Grand Central, Leviathan, Naumkeag, South Extension, Grand Central, and other claims. The company possess two steam-hoisting works, the old hoist being now aban- doned. The new hoist, one of the most complete and substan- tial on the Pacific coast, is with its present capacity capable of sinking 2,000 feet. There are six levels, and a total of under- ground workings of at least twenty miles. Depth of shaft, 750 feet, the level of the new hoisting works being fifty feet higher than the old. About 100 tons of ore are raised daily, and shipped to the company's thirty-five stamp mill on the San Pedro river, ten miles west of Tombstone. This mill started milling about March, 1881, and since then has produced $2,893,742.65, in gold and silver bullion.
To cope with the water in the lowest levels, extensive and complete pumping apparatus has been placed in position. For the short time it was in operation, it pumped about 1,000,000 gallons per twenty-four hours, and during this period it was found that the water in the bottom of the Contention shaft was considerably lowered, when further work was stopped until that mine (Contention) could get their own pumps going. When this great work is once fairly started, it is confidently expected that, together, these two mines will be fully able to handle the water and reach the great ore bodies which are known to exist below. The water appears to lie in large basins, and when once emptied will cause no further trouble. Everything con- nected with the mine is of first-class make and finish. Machin- ery, buildings and ore-bins are most substantially constructed and put together, while the underground workings are well ven- tilated and timbered.
The property joins the Contention on the south, and embraces
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THE RESOURCES OF ARIZONA.
over a mile of surface ground, all of which is mineral-bearing, and carrying, no doubt, within its lines, the extension of what is known as the Grand Central fissure vein. The Grand Central South, Naumkcag, Leviathan, Grand Dipper, Eme- rald and Moonlight are owned by this company, but the principal development has been confined to the Grand Central. The vein is a strong and well-defined onc, and has every appearance of a true fissure. It is one of the great mines of the camp, and has been ably managed by E. B. Gage, who is general superintendent.
The Tombstone Mill and Mining Company is a New York corporation, and was among the first to commence operations on an extensive scale in this district.
The company own eleven mining claims, having a total area of 16112 acres. These claims were first located in March, 1878. Mining began June, 1878; and milling, in June, 1879.
From June, 1878, to March 31, 1883, the company extracted from their claims. 73,56534 Tons of Ore.
Which produced in Gold.
$ 6.856 42 66 Silver. 2,863,930 70
Total bullion . .$2,870,787 12.
The total weight of which is about 98 1-5 tons, avoirdupois.
This ore has produced in Silver, per ton. 66 66 Gold, per ton. I 92
$50 29
Total. $52 21
Since commencement the company has paid out in the shape of
dividends. $1,250,000 Amount paid owners whilst incorporated under the laws of Arizona. . 400,000
Total. $1,650,000
At first, the claims on which the principal work was done were the Toughnut and Goodenough mines. The bodies or bunches of ore, were found in many instances close to the sur- face, mostly in limestone and porphyry.
The Goodenough main-shaft is down 350 feet, while the deep- est workings on the Toughnut are 268 feet deep. Latterly, owing to the litigation pending between this company and the Way Up Mining Company, for the possession of a large and valuable ore body running from the Goodenough into the Way Up ground, extensive developments have been made on the West Side Claim, showing this property to be most valuable and one of the true fissures of the camp.
The West Side main-shaft has reached a depth of 416 feet, and the work of sinking goes steadily on. There are four levels and over a mile of underground openings; the ledge being opened for a distance of over 1,200 feet. The average value of this ore, is about $63 per ton, silver and gold. The percentage of gold in the West Side, is much larger than in either the Toughnut or Goodenough claims.
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MINES AND MINING.
The past year has seen the cost of mining and milling sensi- bly reduced, viz: from $23.96 per ton, to $19.86 per ton; whilst the erection of a smelter and concentrating works of 100 tons daily capacity, enables the management to get the largest pos- sible percentage of mineral from their various classes of ore. - The average market value of the ore, has risen from $25.25 to $31; to $41.79, to $52.34 per ton. The richness of that ob- tained from the West Side being the principal cause.
Total of ore obtained from Goodenough since commencement . . 41, 588 tons. Toughnut 66 .24,700
Total of manganese ore obtained from Lucky Cuss for fluxing
880
purposes
No. of steam hoists on Toughnut, Goodenough and West Side. 5 Monthly average of men employed at company's mines 125
66 66 mills. 60
Total 185
The Toughnut, Goodenough, Lucky Cuss and other claims owned by this company, were the first locations made in the camp by Shieffelin, and have been worked continuously since their discovery. The company have erected a smelter near their mill, on the San Pedro, for the working of the tailings. It has proved a complete success, the manganese from the Lucky Cuss, making an excellent flux, and also carrying some silver.
Professor John A. Church is superintendent and manager of this property.
The Empire is a Boston incorporation. The property adjoins the Tranquility Girard, and Goodenough. There are two shafts on the claim, one a double compartment, being down 500 fcet, and the other a "whip" shaft, 200 feet deep. Both are connected by a drift 300 feet in length. Four levels have been run, 200, 300, 400, 450 feet respectively, making the total amount of un- derground workings about 3,000 feet. The ledge runs northeast and southwest and dips to the west. There are now on the dumps of this mine over 3,000 tons of ore, which will average $25 per ton in silver. This is no doubt a valuable property. The situation and the surface indications are good, and the ore is easily reduced. The mine has complete hoisting works, and although operations have been temporarily suspended it is ex- pected the work of development will soon be resumed.
The Sulphuret joins the Flora Morison and Contention on the northwest. The main working shatt is down 540 feet (which would be 650 feet in Contention), and there is an air shaft down 250 feet. There are six levels, and the total of underground work- ings is 10,000 feet. No ore has been milled, so far, from this pro- perty ; and there is now, it is supposed, forty feet of water in main shaft. In the fall of 1881, 600 feet of the southerly portion of this mine were incorporated with the Flora Morrison and Contention, whilst the remaining 900 feet of ground are now the property of the North Sulphuret Mining Company.
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THE RESOURCES OF ARIZONA.
The Girard Gold and Silver-Mining Company was incorpo- rated in 1879 as a non-assessable company with 200,000 shares.
It is not a full claim, only measuring 980 feet, by 600 feet in width. The main shaft is down 450 feet; from which there are four levels, viz .: at 150, 250, 279, and 349 fect. In the way of prospecting and development less work has been done here than in any of the group of mines that was started about the same time. Two thousand feet of underground openings being the entire extent. The location of the property leaves nothing to be desired, and there is a large body of ore, the extent of which can only be ascertained on further development. The ledge runs northeasterly and southwesterly, dipping slightly to east, but in the main it is nearly perpendicular. Three thousand six hundred tons of ore have been extracted, which averaged about $60. This was mostly worked at the Girard mill, described below. An assay of the tailings, from the one worked, showed them to contain $47 per ton silver.
An official circular shows that the company received from ore milled $83,355.00, and a profit on purchase and sale of stock, of $1,226.00. The expenses for milling the ore were $64,058.00, and with other expenses exceeded the receipts. The indebtedness of the company is about $62,749.00. The unwillingness of the shareholders to subscribe sufficient to keep things running shows the shortsightedness of non-assessable corporations. The minc, therefore, was closed down in May, 1882, and lately both mill and mine were attached and sold at sheriff's sale. The property was purchased by a syndicate of five Philadelphia men, and no doubt will soon be placed on a running basis.
The Girard mill, erected near the Girard mine, contains twenty stamps, and cost $85,000. During the short period it was in operation it milled 15,000 tons of ore, 8,000 of which was third- class Contention orc, which yielded $35 per ton. The Tranquil- ity supplied it with a further quantity, the grade being from $180 to $90 per ton. The mill is supplied with all the latest improve- ments, and is one of the most complete in Tombstone district.
The Boston and Arizona Smelting and Reduction company is a Boston incorporation, and non-assessable. It has a twenty- stamp mill and a patent roasting furnace (rotary). These works, as well as the Stonewall mine, which is also the property of the company, have been worked steadily, and have paid handsomely. The improvements noticed at the minc, as well as many altera- tions made at the mill, entailed an expenditure of $20,000, which, in addition to $40,000 or $50,000 paid in accordance with their articles of incorporation as interest on bonds outstanding, but which are in fact really to be considered as dividends, entitle this company to be enrolled as one of the dividend-paying prop- erties of the camp.
This mill, which is situated on the San Pedro river, between the towns of Charleston and Contention, three miles from the
NEYS DEPOT.
BLACKSMITH SHOP
SEE PAGE 60
MAIN STREET, GLOBE, A.T. LOOKING SOUTH,
PANCROF " - LITH - 5 F.
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MINES AND MINING.
former place and ten miles from Tombstone, have, since they started up work, reduced and treated ore as follows :
Customs ole. 12,500 tons. 5,300
Knoxville '
Total 17, Soo tons. Total bullion product therefrom was. $1,250,000
66 amount paid by company for customs ore . 540,000
bullion delivered to some of company's clients 140,0 00
Expenditure incurred since commencement in improvements . .. 20,000
The Old Guard is situated near the Ingersoll Consolidated. It has a main-shaft sunk 230 feet on the ore body, having followed the ledge from the surface. There are over 300 feet of under- ground workings. The last development work opened up an ore body three feet wide, averaging $100 per ton, on the fourth level. Considerable ore has been extracted and stoped from this property. The returns from 100 tons, in June, came to over $5,000.
The Vizina is a New York incorporation, and is non-assessa- ble. The main shaft is 485 feet deep, including a winze fifty feet.
The total underground workings amount to 5,500 feet.
No. of tons of ore shipped from this mine has been 8,022, producing in bullion . $592,880
Which. for the amount of ore, is the highest average so far obtained in the camp (being $86. 38 per ton).
The amount of dividends paid, so far, has been .. $140,000
Cost of claim in first instance .. 50,000
For year, ending December 1, 1882, average of ore, per ton 68.70
average net .. 44.85
The property is not being worked at present.
The Arizona Qucen is a Boston incorporation. There are 200,000 shares, non-assessable. The developments on the claim consist of two shafts, one being 100 feet in depth, and the other twenty-five feet. Twenty-five tons of ore extracted has aver- aged $100 per ton.
The Alps lies parallelled to, and west of the Grand Central. The property is opened by two shafts, one being down 133 feet, and the other 104 feet. A tunnel has been run on the side of the hill, a distance of 126 feet, which has tapped the vein, show- ing it to be five feet wide, containing streaks of rich ore. On the south side of the claim an incline shaft is down II0 feet. There are five other shafts on the property, making in all over 650 feet of openings. On the south side of the Alps float has been picked up, that went $7,000 per ton, which evidently has come from a rich chimney. A working bond of this property has been given to certain parties, who are now busily at work developing it.
The Helvetia group of mines are about three miles west of Tombstone, and embrace nineteen claim; and three mill-sites. On the Clara Dean there is a tunnel sixty feet, and a forty feet shaft ; on the Helvetia there is a shaft seventy feet. The
6
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THE RESOURCES OF ARIZONA.
Mason and the Jackson arc opened by two shafts, each fifty feet in depth. On this group there is a good showing of ore, which proves conclusively that the dimensions of the main ore belt in the Tombstone camp are much larger than has been generally supposed.
The Lima Consolidated Mining Company own Lima, Green Cloud, and Old Necomis mining claims, situated on the north slope of Military Hill, directly south of the Grand Central mine. An incline-shaft has been sunk on the ledge, 270 feet. There are levels at 85, 135, 190, and 250 fect from the surfacc. Amount of drifts and underground workings, 250 feet. The ledge at the bottom of the shaft is four and a-half feet wide. There are 200 tons of orc on the dump that will average $35 per ton, silver. A tunnel is now being run from the level of the road to connect with the shaft. This tunnel will cut the shaft at sixty-five feet, and from this point follow the ledge all the way. Some very fine chloride and manganese ore has been taken from the tunnel. An average of the ore has been milled, showing its value to be as follows :
First quality $ISO and $190 per ton, silver.
Second
80 and 35
The ledge is strong and well defined, with every indication of opening up a large mineral deposit with sufficient development.
This property was located in 1878, and the company incor- porated in San Francisco on the 22d of June, 1881.
The Bunker Hill, Mammoth, and Rattlesnake arc south of the Grand Central, and are owned by Chicago parties. The company also own the Watervale five-stamp mill which is kept steadily at work. Development goes steadily forward on these claims, and some very fine chloride ore is being extracted. At a depth of 160 feet the Rattlesnake and Mammoth have been connected by a drift over 400 feet in length. The orc body in the claims mentioned varies from four to eight feet in width. This group of mines are among the most promising in the camp, and give every .indicat.on of becoming steady bullion producers at no distant day.
The San Diego mine is owned by the Woronoco Mining company, and is about two miles east of Tombstone. The main shaft is down 490 fect, from which several levels have been run. The ore carries considerable galena and a smelter has lately been erected for its reduction which is said to give good satisfaction. Some of the ore reduced in the smelter has gone $400 per ton.
The Eden Lass is situated about three miles southwest of Tombstone. There is a shaft 100 fect decp, showing a small but very rich vein of chloride and carbonate ore, which has milled as high as $400 per ton.
The Ground Hog, one of the oldest locations in the camp, runs paralleled to the Eden Lass, and has much the same
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MINES AND MINING.
character of ore. The vein is four feet wide and will mill, by assorting, $75 per ton. Both these claims are owned by an .Eastern company who are vigorously prosecuting work.
The Prompter is one of the most promising mines in the camp. The vein is well defined and continuous carrying con- siderable chloride, and in places shows over forty feet in width. The formation is porphyry and quartzite. Shaft No. I is down 210 feet. The ledge has been crosscut at the bottom, and shows a width of forty-three fect. There are three pay streaks, five, seven, and nine feet respectively. The average of the ore milled from each has been $35 per ton, silver. Shaft No. 2 is 450 fcet east of No. I, and is down fifty feet. A crosscut shows the ledge at this point to be thirty-five feet wide, with ore of the same character as in No, I. Shaft No. 3 is 300 feet east of No. 2, and is down fifty feet, all the way in ore worth $40 per ton. Shaft No. 4 is 200 fect cast of No. 3, and is ninety feet in depth. This shaft is on a spur from the main ledge. At a depth of seventy feet a cross-cut connects it with shaft No. 5. In running this cut a body of carbonate ore has been encoun- tered, eight feet wide, assaying $100 per ton. Shaft No. 5 is down 340 feet, and has three levels run. Work is pushed for- ward vigorously, and the Prompter promises to become one of the great mines of the camp.
The Way Up joins Goodenough, Empire, and Gilded Age. The discovery shaft is down 280 feet, and the main double compartment working shaft, 180 feet. These two shafts are con- nected by a drift 435 feet in length. The ore incline, which commences on the 100-foot level, runs to the 200-foot level, a distance of 250 feet. No. 2 shaft is down 155 feet. The various underground workings are about 1000 feet. Since the commencement of operations the quantity of ore raised has been from 700 to 800 tons. Amount of bullion shipped, $62,- 000. The average of ore smelted yielded $310 per ton; milled, yielded $100 per ton. Twenty-eight tons of ore shipped some time back to San Francisco returned a gross yield of $3.551 .. This mine has been shut down for the last twenty-six months, owing to litigation with the the Tombstone Milling and Mining Company, the latter claiming the valuable ledge which runs from Goodenough into Way Up ground. The late decision is in favor of the Way Up company, but the case being hotly con- tested, will likely be carried to a higher court.
The Mountain Maid is a San Francisco incorporation, (assessable) incorporated in 1881. The claim covers a portion of the town of Tombstone. The main shaft is on Allen street, and is 160 feet deep. No. 2 shaft is between Second and Third streets, and is 140 feet deep The Combination shaft is on Fifth street, and was sunk by this company and the Tombstone Mill and Min- ing Company, on Toughnut ground. Several stringers of rich ore have been encountered. There are about 700 feet of underground workings.
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THE RESOURCES OF ARIZONA.
The C. O. D. is a property adjoining the Luck Sure, and in the neighborhood of the Lucky Cuss. The main shaft is down 172 feet. The east drift, on the seventy-foot level, has struck a fine ore body. On the surface the ore seems mixed with hard, flinty quartz, which in the shaft disappears. No. 2 shaft is fifty feet deep, and still sinking.
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