Arizona citizen., 1879-06-20
Nsit to and Into the Silver KfHq.

ent left Tucson June ,, with a light
 wagon and good double team. and
 made the trip, no miles via Florence,
 in less than two days, reaching the
 fiourishing little town of Picket Post
 Friday about dusk.
 A thorough exploration of the King shafts, the ore on the dump, the man.
 moth excavation seventy feet square, the hoisting works, mill and machin- cry, convinced me that if all other
 mines peter out we have in the Silver
 King a mountain of bullion Gas you
 may call iD to which we can point
 with gratified pride. As this is the
 only developed property in our Terri
 tory so far which from the first has
 been self-sustaining and yielding large
 profit, brief sketch of its situation and discovery will perhaps be of in
 terest.
 The mine is situated in the northern part of Pinal County, Pioneer District, in basin at the foot of steep noun tain range, was discovered in 1875, by c. e. Mason, B. w. Reagen, w. L.. Long and Ike Koplin, and was the first location placed on record in Pinal County. Long and Koplin sold their interests to the other partners in June, 1876, and in December following Ma son sold his half interest to Col. James NJ. Barney for S3OO,OOO. Six months later the Silver King Mining Company was incorporated with a capital stock of S10,0O0,OO0, in 100000 shares. Pre- viouS to incorporation S260,00O had been divided among the owners, de- rived from sales of ores, and since its formation the company has paid to its stockholders in dividends $450, 900. No assessment has been levied. The property has paid all expenses since discovery, built a ten-stamp mill complete, which is now in full opera tion, and furnished expensive hoisting works, which will be in operation some time during this coming week.
 If this is not magnificent and sat isfactory showing, it k difficult toI please the critics of Arizona mines. The first work done was in the shapet of a seventy foot square "hole," which is now worked, and from which rock of marvellous richness is being taken. The vein matter is quartz, the minerals consisting chiefly of chlorides and black sulphurets, with quantities of pure silver in nuggets.
 The old shaft is down 257 feet and drifts and tunnels in all directions show that the mineral is not only de. posted on top of the ground, but eX-i tends down into mother earth. Al new working shaft has also been con- menced which is 10 be sunk 1000 feet There is now in sight. by actual mil ner's measurement $2,000,00O besides S750.O00 worth of ore on the dump and tailings at the mill, which latter are to be reduced by amalgamation, al process the Company is about to in iroduce to their otherwise perfect mill and thereby save that which is lost by present process. The entire cost of. the mill was $60.000 Wood and wa ter are in the vicinity of mine and mill, and the property is distant from terminus of the Southern Pacific Rail. road but sixty miles. The ore is haul ed from the mine to the mill, four miles in wagons.
 About fifty men are emploped by the Company Picket Post and theI town of Silver King both show con- activity.
 Your correspondent is indebted to Col. J. M. Barney, MT. Aaron Mason. MT. Robert Bowen, Foreman. Dr. Tonner and the Con- pany's obliging Secretary for kind at ientions which contributed to the plea sure of his visit. With such corps of capable and active business men, the successful and profitable manage nent of the Company is not tO bel at. HENRY BUEHMAN.