Arizona citizen., 1877-12-28
Progress in PinaI County During
 1877.


 home, and many abroad 10 review the past briefly with special reference to our OWE county, and note the advan. tages we have secured during our last revolution around the sun.
 During the past year the entire Pacif ic Coast has suffered from drouth. The season has been one of unusual dryness. In some sections of Cali fornia the farmers have plowed and planted in vain, and many have been almost beggared through want of suf ticient water for their crops- Arizona has not escaped the common misfor- tune; the dry weather has been a se- riOus drawback to many sections, and in this respect Pinal county has labor ed under a disadvants ge, but neverthe- less we have prospered. The effects of the dry season bore heaviest uTon our farmers, and yet none have been dis tressed by its effects, all have enough and to spare, while in other depart ments we have made proud strides forward
 Pinal county has not yet passed her third birthday; we are very young, and yet, when compared with the oldest counties of the Territory, we can point with pride to our position and prog ress.
 Our mining interests are destined to become our greatest source of wealth. A year ago little was known of our mineral importance beyond the devel- Opments at the Silver King. The now famous McMillen Mine had just been discovered; the Globe District was in its infancy, no foreign capital was here to lend a helping hand in developing our rock-bOund treasures. The poor, but hardy and hopeful prospectors toiled on alone, cheered with the belief that soon brighter days were to dawn bringing them rich rewards for their labor. It must be a source of great pleasure for them t0 contemplate the great progress we have made dur ing the year. Many rich strikes and important developments have been made iH our mInes, three new mills have been built, several sales of yalua- ble mining property have been made, 2 large amount of capital, and many willing hands have come in to assist in the development of our natural re- sources, numerous experts have visited our mining districts and reported in fat.ering terms of the formation and prospects of our mineral ledges.
 Many of these experts were sent in the interests of energetic capitalists who are intent on investment here. Other capitalists not satisfied with the reports of agents have come them selves 10 examine our hills, and have gone away well pleased, soon to return and add to theIr riches and ours. It is also a source of great encouragement 50 observe the notoriety our mining in- terests have attained in California and East, and the large consideration and space devoted to us by popular and wide circulating journals.
 Of our mines we can say that tue Silver King, the Connolly claim and several others on the same belt, the McMillen claim, the Little Me, Bixbys ledge, the McMorris vein, the Cham piOn nine, and several others have paid expenses and left comfortable profits for their owners. The McMillen mine was sold about three months ago for $120000, and since that time the purchasers have with little expense taken out enough ore to pay for the mine. The Bixby clam has about 800 tons of ore on the dump that will average $500 to @5OO per ton, and the expense of mining and milling this ore will not exceed S30 per ton.
 Of our mills we can justly be proud. The five-stamp mill Quilt last Sum mer) at the Picket Post, of which we speak more fully on our first page, is working constantly and well, and Is a complete success. The Miami Mill, Gust completed) on Pima. Creek has ten-stamps, was built at a cost of over $50,000, and of its size has no superior on the coast. The zlills at Globe City and McMillen's Camp are old but capable of good work. The Duryae mill at the Champion mine started up about month ago Mr Mason's little mill at Hewitt's Station will be in running order in a few days. MT Briggs has just brought a small two stamp mill into the Pioneer District, which he says will be put up soon. Thus the years progress shows an in- crease in mills from one To seven.
 Through a spirit of energy and a generous outlay of capital, over one hundred miles of new road has been opened, extending across some of our most rugged and mountainous sections and atTording the extremes of our county immediate and direct commu- nication.
 Several new stage lines and mail routes have been established. The old towns have greatly improved and rew ones sDrun0 m