The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-20
SILVER MINING IN NEW MEXICO,
The Ralston Mines in the Burro
Mountains.
Tradition as to Their Early Discovery Great
Richness OF the ore-Another Reason for
Southern Pacific Railroad.
RALsroN, Grant county. N. NJ. Nov. 4 ,a7.-

the whole country, have deemed that some account
OF tho great silver mines OF this locality written a.
rectly from the spot would be or entertainmentand
interest to the numerous and vast circle OF readers
that wait daily the complete and worldwide
utterances or the NEW YORK HERALD.
The Burro or Ralston Mines, as they are soma.
times called were discovered about eight months
ago under the patronage OF gentlemen who now
compose what is known as the New Mexico Mining
Company. The location OF these mines Is not ex-
ceeding twenty miles north OF the thlrty-second
parallel while they only about three miles
south OF what was the Southern Overland
Mail route. They are in the southwestern corner
OF New Mexico, not far from the Arizona line, Gao
miles east OF San Diego and 1913 miles west OF the
town OF La Mesilla, on the Rio Grande.
There is something little romantic IN connec-
ton with the discovery OF these silver mines. Many
years ago party OF forty fifty Mexicans natives
OF Sonora left that State being duly provided with
supplies and tools, with an ample pack-train OF
asses, or ''burros," on a prospecting expedition.
The success OF these people was brilliant excit-
ing In about six weeks they returned to sonora
with their .burros laden with the richest OF silver
ore Shortly receiving an accession Of twenty per.
sons to their party, as the Apaches were Dumer.
Gus and hostile IN the region they were TO visit
they returned to the OF their first discovery
furtivey as possible, with view to efficient and
elapsed but no intelligence was received from the
expedition which had much excited the attention
OF the neignborng country. The friends or the
party, becoming very uneasy az to It's fate, formed
strong body OF men, sufficiently armed and provided
who started III the proper direction as nearly as
they were able either to afford succor II they
were fortunate, or, at least to ascertain what
lamity had beiaen their countrymen. After long,
uortuous, perilous and fatigulng search, they
found, amid the recesses OF some lofty
mountains full OF water timber, grass and
game, Two three s'bugros,n browsing among the
| cnapparai and u few fragments OF packing ma
| teria. Never more was anything heard or this
| party. These "burros', ana a lew straps at that
time, the only relics OF the terrible doom that
| came upon Inc sonora silver hunters among these
/ remote and solitu1inous mountalns which received
| the name OF .Burr0n from the incident above re-
/ lated. Amid the struggle IN winch these Mexicans
persisted at the hands OF the Apaches 1t Is probable
| that few OF The "barros' strayed into the noun
tains unseen. From ne 70 ne ever since me
Mexicans, as well as Americans, nave searched In
! vain for the locality OF the mines rrom which the
original party procured the extraordinarily rich ore
! they carried into sonora
Near the close OF last winter man named Brown,
successful "prospectorn and good Judge OF silver
ore travelling in the stage from La Mcsila TO San
Diego. ana walking for q distance to rest himself.
picked up rock short distance from the road the
appearance OF which arrested his attention. IL
proved to be very rich SILVER ore. The place being
In the heart OF the Apache country II was not saie TO
delay Tor further explorations, so he continued his
| Journey to San Diego and San Francisco. Here ex-
i
duly supplied with means, and. accompanied by two
| other experienced "prospectors," Mr. Brown pro-
eeeded TO prospect thoroughly the region ,, which
order from the late General Thomas to
procure an adequate escort at Fort Bowie. The
1 men proceeded with the escort from Fort Bowie,
and detecting to the south, opposite the point on
the road where nte rich .oroppng" was found, tney
| had no trouble IN hnding the Immense reef OF ar
gentiferous quartz, jutiug into the air from 100
10 700 feet above the surrounding country. and from
AS is customary a new district was at once
formed and named "vlrginia:" laws adopted,
and. IN accordance with Them, the vast mines were
sstaked of7' and possessed the new Mexico Mining
Company having the preference, as 1t was through
their money and enterprise that the discovery was
made. The news or the great discovery soon spread
the country, ana the richness OF the was
termined beyond doubt through the numerous assays
made OF it from boxes sent to San Francisco. A
town was soon laid out and called Ralston; people
focKed IN as rapidly as the remoteness Of tho To-
callly would permit and IN few months Raston,
at the headquarters OF the Apaches, contained about
800 miners some OF whom have sold out their inter-
ests for from S. 600 to $4,000, while the greater
number are holding on for the advent OF capital and
for the erection OF quartz mills and roasting fur
| naces wHen they hope TO realize more from the
Intrinsic value Of their mines
Mexico, California and the States or tile East all con-
| cur saying that the Burro' or 'sRaiston mines',
exhibit the most enormous body Of silver they
have ever known. The mass IN sight constitutes
mountains OF ore, and seems absolutely eXhaustlesS
while the assays rate from about $40 to $500 per
ton. There Is no doubt but that these mines will
rival the richest known In Mexico, and that they
WILL IN tme produce hundreds OF millions OF dollars
discovered by the Sonora Mexicans, al OF whom were
destroyed BY the Apaches on their second trip.
along the ledge While at one point near BY ~ IL ro
tnnd stone house may now be seen, which was built
a. se u go as ase imp
With the advantage OF these enormous silver
mines and the Northern Pacific Railroad Raston il
destined 10 be large town and an important com.
! mercla centre. Timber Is scarce in the immediate
vcin ty but there Is bountnui supply or the best
KIND in the Burro mountains twenty miles distant,
ana on the Gila, twenty-five miles distant
The New Mexico Mining Company will reduce
their ore on the CHA. This river affords beautiful
and fertile valley opposite Ralston, about five miles
| wide bv twenty miles III length. The ella is fine,
clear stream, lull or trout from six to eighteen
inches long and at the lowest stage 1t is ten feet
| wiue and foot in depth. IL has a fall OF from
thirty to forty fcel to the mile, hence with but
| moderate outlay, Will afford any desired amount
OF water power. The New Mexico Mining Company
viii build railroad to the CHA, at an expense Of
$35o,0U0. IL can DO made over q route not exceed
ing twenty-five mics IN length and there IS perfect
grade almost to the river. The mountains through
which the ella cuts It's way, are covered with I'M
mense forests OF excellent llmber composed OF pine,
oak and black walnut which can BE noated down
the river with facility during the spring season.
Antelope, deer, Wild turkeys and bear-black and
cmnamon--are common. kalston IS nearly 5000
feet above the level OF t1e sea; water Is abundant
and excellent while the climate Is indispensable,
either for pleasantness or sa ubrity. Such grazing
country we never beheld. Grass OF the most excel
lent and nutritious varieties grows everywhere,
from TO five feet in height. even TO the tops OF
Cha chi and Soon the market viii Be aSund
ant and cheap The mineral wealth OF
New Mexico and Arizona is the strongest argument
for the construction oil the Southern Pacific Rail-
road-an argument by no means sufficiently appro-
ciated by those so far removed from us, unfamiliar
with mining interests, ana ignorant OF that bound
less wealth OF gold silver and copper which we be-
hold with our naked eyes stored in the mountaina
around us.
Cienega some thirty miles northeast of Ralston,
is producing considerable excitement, and an I'm
| portanI 'mIning camp Is springing up. They are
great mines Tor poor men, and are more like SILVER
pacers.n The ore sometimes yields as high eighty
per cent pure silver; but there are no regular
md hnrp n N n na md
for capital. The .Raston lode' is evident, m -
| great "mother vein' oil the country aud 3 to that
re-, Tss Sg.N hs las sseRgatsa 'g2pstx lSde y .
gna dstrct,n Is for The most part, slate and graz
hl.e: =. one GE, Teallze the enormous extent Of
tll great Ralston silver vein seen for miles crop