Arizona citizen., 1876-01-22
lCOmmunicated.l Let the Mines AIOnee

EDITOR CITIZEN Tt has come with in our notice that of late years on tn, Pacific slope there has arisen a class ot men, wise in their own concei., who seem to have adopted the calling in life of discouraging mining invest ments and operations generally. With a display of seriousness on their visages that would bankrupt an owl, they hoot 'let the mines alone, avoid all mineral lodges as a vessel would rock bound coast" and so on 10 the end of the lesson. Let the mines alone, and you let alone the sole chance of bring. ing thls Territory to her proper posi- ton, Every possibility within the scope of her resources depends for realization upon her mines, and discOuraging the development of these we virtually and most ettectually discourage stock raIs- ing, agriculture, manufactures, artesian wells and mercantile business itself.
 But let us inquire on what seeming grounds of reason or wisdom this per niciOus advice is based. Have mining operations here been a failure as rule, as some persons claim? We think not. The CerrO Colorado mining company had at one time three hundred men in its employ, of which not fifty worked in developing the claim. A well known citizen of this town aiiirms, that three dollars were taken out of this mine for every dollar expended in act ual working. Reliable authority states in 1858 that all the ores of this mine, worked to that date, paid $92O per ton. Other authority in 1859 gives the yield of 15 tons of the same ore, as $j4J to the ton. The mine failed in Its working, it is true, but the failure was caused by the groSSest mismanagment Since that time, numerous mines have been discovered and worked in close prOXim- ity to the Cerro Colorado, very in considerably to be sure, but the results have been fabulous. The Nulturc mlne, owing to the great disadvantages, and recklessness ill management has not been success; but we recollect tho time when a private firm, (Goldwater & Bro) who had large claims against the Eulture, took it, and liquidated the debt in a few months. Wm. Kirkland in a few months, with a rastra, took out a very large amount of money in .i.1 IT II.--l-annnra u'i-----,,ls ,rdoll..-- were, and still are being taken out near La Paz. Every person in Tucson knows of Harshaw S Hughes success during the past year in the Santa Ritas.
 It is very unfortunate that often the first parties to discover and work mines, even of the richest kind, are obliged to discontinue them for the want of means. It would indeed be a most singular freak of nature, if Arizona was left without rich and well paying mines, while on the north Nevada, and on the south Sonora, have supplied the world with so many millions. Prospectors bring in rich ore every day, and in the cabinets of gentlemen who have taken an interest in these things are speci- mems which cannot be surpassed in richness Tn any part ofthe world. 'Let the mines aloneg" Then l say let agriculture alone. Year before last, the first time the farmers had show in the Territory, large crops of grain were raised, and the result was that farmers could not sell at any price, many of them keeping it on hand until destroyed by weevil. If our mines were being developed this state of af- fairs could not exist, for the hundreds of animals working in our mountains and canyons would consume the grain, while the men would help the farmer by disposing of his beef, pork and beans. Ask any settler 1n Salt river, and he will tell you he would rather see a Vulture at work, than four companies of cavalry in the valley, while payments would be- prompt, and the carrying of Govern nent vouchers for months and months would be a thing of the past Cattle and sheep raising will prosper l think ln6er any circumstances, except Apa- ,hes.) in the Territory, but develop the mines, and the success of the ranch man would be enhanced a hundred fold. We have most magnificent water power in the Territory, and woolen factories, if our mines were developed, would arise on every stream. A mar zet would be found at home; no need of exporting wool to California, and i'm porting shirts and blankets for our miners. Our butter, our beef and hides could be sold at home, and no long drives over the deserts of California for a market. But let our mines alone, and the state of things cannot exist which we predict. We cannot export our grain, and compete with the States whose natural position gives them so great an advantage over Us, and with out developing mines we can never have a population to consume tEem.
 R.
 TIE London Builder recommends people who transplant, to mark the north side of each tree with red chalk
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