Arizona citizen., 1874-03-21
OUR MINING AFFAIRS.
The following is taken from Hon. R. w. report for 1873:


 the miner, as it bids fair to be soon, the country will, by the time of the advent of the Southern Pacific railroad, be in for ward state for large and permanent pro- ductlon Of the precious metals.
 During the last year the yield of the Ter ritOry has fallen off considerably, princi- pally on account of the troubles of the Vulture mine, but the activity in several new silver districts promises to make up for this, as soon as the preparatory devel- opmentS of the mines have progressed sufficiently. 1 estimate last years pro- duct as follows:
 Gold from Vulture mine........... SI5O,OOO Gold from placer mines and arras- Silver in bullion and ore snipmeis f9gSS fgSSSS
 625,OOO
 have again to thank Mir. John Wasson, SurveyOr-General of Arizona, for notes in regard to the mining industry of the Ter ritOry; and Messrs. T. J. Bidwell of Yuma county, w. F. Henning and W. H. Hardy of Mojave county, have kindly furnished information in regard to their several dis tricts.
 The Planet mine on Williams Fork, owned by the Planet Mining Company and operated by the same, keeps about twenty men at work continually, and has shipped from 100 to l50 tons each month to San Francisco. The mine pays now, and has always paid. It carries copper ore of a high grade.
 The COnstancia mine, about fifteen miles from Ehrenburg is owned and operated by the COnstancia Mining Company, Charles BOrger, superintendent. During the past year they erected a 10-stamp mill. They have three shafts in the mine, over 150 feet deep each, in which ledge of about four feet in width is developed, paying from Sl5 to S25 per ton; at latest accounts about SIS in gold. Cost of mining and milling, from S6 to $S per ton. Work is going on now.
 In Castle Dome district, Capt. Polhamus & Co. are sinking on the Flora Temple mine. They are now down about 200 feet, and shipping about 50 tons of ore per month. They are mainly laboring to de- velop the actual worth of the mine, ai- though the receipts from sales of ore de- fray expenses. The ore is argentiferous galena.
 William P. Miller & Co. are operating on mine near the Flora Temple on same kind of ore. They ship about 150 tons per month, and are making money, and work is going on now.
 The Vulture mine, near Wickenburg, has been idle for over six months. En- deaVOrS are being made to procure capital to take water to the mine, with what sue cess l do not know. The product of the mine is about half that of foi mer years, or about Sl50,000. William P. smith Gc Co. are putting up lO-Stamp mill on the Has sayampa, about fifteen miles below Wick enburg, and will soon commence crushing ore from their claims, which adjoin the Nulture COmpany's ground. They express great confidence of success. Mir. Peter Taylor, formerly mine-Superintendent of the Vulture, is an interested party with Smith & Co. in the present operations, and is convinced that their ground, as we'll as the Nulture, will pay well under proper management.
 In Yavapai county no mills were put up | hpIieNn hI1f lp NIl ran at any time. Several arrastrars have been kept going in Bradshaw district, and patents for eight mines therein, mainly on the Tiger lode, have been applied for. The placer mines in Yavapai have been work ed with average success in most of this dis trict, and their yield is not less than in the previous year. In the extreme southeast ern portion of Iavapai county a copper district of great value has been discovered, and four surveys for patents to as many mines, and also one mill-Site, have recent ly been made. A Detroit company stand ready to pay large price for them and to commence work as soon as patents issue therefor
 In Pima county much prospecting has been done, and some new discoveries have been made. The necessary work is now being done to procure patents. Two mines have been patented, and more appllca- tiOns will soon be made. Returns have just been received of the working results of lot of ore sent to San Francisco some months ago by Samuel Hughes of Tucson; the ore coming from a mine located about thirty-five miles southwest of that town. The ore contains mainly copper, and pur- chasers offer for such ore S200 per ton, laid down on the San Francisco wharf.
 The MOwry mine is now being worked by some men who have put an engine thereon, and I understand with good re- suits. The parties being "jumpers," keep very still, waiting for the time to expire which is given by law of Congress to own CTS of mines to do the necessary work on their claims or forfeit them.
 Ore from Pinal district, near Florence, (abOut tOnSD was sent to San Francisco last Summer, and yielded about S200 per ton. The parties were, however, driven away from the mines by Indians. They intended to commence work again soon, as they were certain of profits, judging from the five tons worked in San Fran cisco.
 the year 1871 little else was done by min CTS of this district than running over the hills and locating mines, and doing what work on each claim was necessary to hold it in accordance with the local laws of the district. Early in 1872 5-stamp mill (wet cruShing) was completed; there were also two furnaces completed. Both mill and furnaces were owned and managed by men of but little experience in this matter; the mill would save only from 30 to 50 per cent. of the gold and silver, and the furnaces were total failure.
 In December, 1872, third furnace was completed and managed by an expert. This furnace has been success; yet there is @ question now about good smelling ores, as experience proves the ores of this dis trict to be base milling ores, which require