Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1871-03-25
Something About a Mine.


A week ago yesterday, we had the salts
faction of examining an Arizona mine that
has been worked on the staid plan in vogue
among Mexicans. Capt. c. E. Mowry had
occasion to make trip in an ambulance to
the Lee & Scott ledge, and wishing compa-
ny, we accepted an invitation and went with
him. The road there at present is round
the horn,' as it were, but the Captain sue
ceeded in doubling the cape (polite term
for horny as majestically as he ever made
it with clipper. The grand secret of nav
igation of any kind is keeping the main
brace (whateter that is) frequently and
well 'spliced.' In direct line westward
from town, the mine is probably eight
miles distant. By the road, it is at least
eighteen. A few hundred dollars rightly
expended would cut off five miles of team
ing between the mine and river, south of
town; nearer road could easily be made
to the northward The mountain range is
narrow and the divide comparatively low.
The present road is as good as natural one
can be; the ascent to the mine, but trife.
The dividing ridge above the mine in
question trends southeast and northwest,
and the vein lies parallel with the mountain
and dips into it abruptly so far as shown.
Development commenced five or six years
ago, but until lately work was suspended
for two or three years. A coyote hole of
q Zgzag character follows the ledge down
nearly $50 feet; first fifty, at an angle of 10
dogs, and the vein thence tending to the
Perpendicular itgets below the broken
surface. Near the bottom, vein of foot
in thickness, in addition to the main one,
is putting in a satisfactory appearance,
but what effect it may yet have remains to
be seen. The quartz hardens as the mine is
sunk upon. Everything has to be blasted
Out-thence is carried out on the heads and
shoulders Of the workmen. The dark and
narrow way is provided with steps cut in
the rock at the more precipitous intervals,
while half-inch raw-hide rope, pinned to
pack-animal to swing and slide in hand
over-fst fashion down andu To an odd
WashOe MINER this would appear an ex-
pressIve caricature on silver mining in this
age of mighty engines, and one can almost
hear him swear that more precious metal
has been extracted from the Comstock in
ten years than has found its way out of
Mexico during the past three centuries.
But comparisons may be out Of place. In
width, this Lee 81 Scott vein varies from one
to three-nay be called good 2-foot on the
average. A goodly proportion of lead
an advantage in smelling; assays in silver
from SIS to S675 per ton, and works.
well, from all accounts at hand, at least
$50 per ton Oh the average; several tons
reduced in San Francisco, went as high as
$250-from selected ores. A tunnel 600
feet would doubtless tap it 800 in depth
and this would be cheap venture as q
thorough prospect in the wake of such
substantial indications. The little district
recalls the outline and general appearance
of Battle Mountain, Nevada, the nearness
of which to the railroad gives great value
and attention to various veins of inferior
natural attraction compared to the one de-
scribed. There is abundance of superior
fuel in its vicinity, and if prOspected as we
indicate, sufficient water would most likely
be found to run steam-w orks-providing
the ore developed would justify, and thus
far the vein is surely well. enough defined,
and if anything more than holds its own.