The weekly Arizona miner., 1868-12-19
The Resources of Arizona.

Recently, we have seen it stated that Gen 1 eral lialleck expressed the opinion, in his Annual Report to the Department, that the mineral resources of this Territory, were over rated, and that ts chief element of wealth lay in its agricultural and grazing interests. This announcement surprised us not little, when first we saw it, and at first We thought of "lecturingn the General for the error he had fallen into about the mineral resources of the Territory, but, upon reflection, con cluded it was all a mistake, and that the mis- take was made by the papers. In this we were right, as will be seen by the following which we find in the San Francisco AIta, of the 5th inst: "Maior General II. W. Hal leck writes to the Alta to say that the synop- sis of his annual report as transmitted by tel egraph is exceedingly erroneous; that he has not made any report on the mineral resources of Alaska, nor has he recommended that any additional troops be sent ,o that Territory; | but that he has recommended that additional troops be sent to Arizona. Furthermore, the | General says that be has not recommended | that the three southern counties cf California be made into a separate Military District, for | the reason that he has authority to make new districts whenever he deems proper; but | that be has several times recommended that ! Arizona be made a separate Military Depart mentn
 The Sacramento Uaioa had something to say about this matter, and, in its remarks, did justice to our farming and grazing re- sources, but thought the bottoms had dropped out of ous mines, which is mistake We were sorry 10 see the Uai0a fall into.
 The San Francisco Dispotch aud Tapgnari also published what General lialIeck was re, ported to have said, but its editor was not in fluenced thereby, as will be seen by the fol- lowing sensible and correct remarks, which he peuncd. immediately after, about our Ter ritory; "Of course General Haleok cx.
 presses tue views of an individual only, who
 has had superior opportunities to learn some
 thing of the resources of that Territory, but
 we seriously doubt the nialubiity of bis
 judgment in this case. IL is probably truC
 that most of the mining enterprises in that Territory have been unfortunate, owing part , ly to bad locations, and partly 10 the diff
 entities 10 be encountered. Mining has mol
 had fair trial there. The Territory ha, been beset by the maraudings of hostile In dians, and to-day there is but small spac,
 that can be occupied by whites with safety to their persons The country has been only partially and imperfec,ly prospected, bu enough is known 10 satisfy old miners, whos, experience and judgment are of far greate
 value than General IIaIleck's on this point : that there are rich mineral districts ther
 which could be profitably worked but for tn
 redskins. We have seen beautiful specimen of quartz from the mountains, and the pos : sessors declared they intended 10 return ans work the.r claims as soon as they could do s
 in safety. We know no reason why Arizvn should not be rich in gold and silver. Ne
 vada, to the north is proving immensel . rich in silver. Rich gold discoveries are be
 ing made in New Mexico, and, on the south :, Sonora and Chihuahua are known to eontai |, valuable silver mines. We do not d0ub; ths
 there are portions of the Territory yaluabl ' for agriculture and grazing, but we are als
 firmly impressed with the idea that, if th Government will but make it habitable fo
 white men, it will soon be found to be po, sessed of vast mineral resources after al
 Let the Southern Pacific Railroad open it u
 for settlement. and the Government affor
 adequate protection, and Arizona will 500
 take rank as one of the richest portions U the Union.