New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-05

pack" usually, 800 pounds: After the ore IS
ground, or crushed in thus fashion, TO what y
technically known as pulp. II IS thrown ou i,Tt
inclination The lower end OF tins incline lloor or
table ends in puddle OF water, Dy ,;5 5he
side. of which the native laborers slt placialy
with large horn spoons upon the pulp Inc onIect
of this wori-which Is called concentrating
to get rid If the worthless dirt and rock by re-
peated washing the pulp is finally concentrated SO
that the cargo" of ore may be placed III an ordl-
nary quicksilver flask which will hold about two
gallons. In this 1t is placed with q necessary
amount of quicksilver, and the flask is then tied 70
the tail OF the patient mule winch pulls NJ the
sweep. In this way the gold is amalgamated Ire
silver in the is lost entirely as III the amaca-
nation Of silver 1t is necessary TO use salt. buesone
and other substances for chorinatnR. IL these are
not used, to brighten the particles of silver the
quicksilver fails TO take hold OF the metal, and IL
cannot be saved.
CURIOUS OLD TOOLS
To q Darwnian figure. the arastra is the
first step in the evolution of the hundred-stamp
mill, while the quicksilver flask was the hrst
suggestion of our modern amalgamator Ihe toois
in use to-day in these mines as primitive as the
machinery. No picks shovels were ever seen be-
fore the advent of the Americans the past Spring
An iron bar abont six feet in length serves TO break
down the ore. One end is shaped like drill, and
the other hammered fat and sharp like the
larger end of pick. with TINS heaVy
bar the is broken up III p''H
so that il NAV be the more readily loaded in the
rawhde bags. For shovels the natives use the
horns of cattle. split lcngthwse and spread open to
a standard width by soaking in water. All the
methods Of tho miners arc the most primitive OF
which IL is possible to conceive and yet from four
of the principal mines OF the Ca1t0s group, wltnih
the last forty years gold has been taken out 10 tne
vane of 81 900 900. and this at an average depth OF
ninety feet from the surface In the heyday or
mining in this camp, quarter of century ago,
$50 arostras. were running. Then ana for years
afteTwarG all the ore was carried on mule-back
across q plain to spring about eight miles away,
where the arastras were set up. 1t never occurred
TO the fat-witted people, sunk the rut of routine
that water might be found the mines. Until
about year ago they drove their pack mules 70 ana
fro. Finally enterprlsing native was seized WIN
the brilliant idea of digging for water: lie aug
twenty feet, and WAS rewarded by fine flow. Inns
was only half mic from the mines, and around
this well 100 arasTas were Duilt ana set III moron
The deserted site of the old alastras, elRht Hll9s
away, tx still marked by small mountain OF tal-
ngs. and assays show that il would not require
an Aladdn's lamp to get very Ilch results out Oh
these cast-Off remains OF other days.
THE JUAREZ DISTRICT.
The Jua1ez district has seventeen mines already
pf0spected, several of which have been worked III
the superficial Mexican style for many years, and
have Welded large returns. In all the gold ore
alone has been sought by the Mexicans. the silver
being entirely neglected because of its lesser value
and the lack of materials for its amalganaton.
Much ore has been rejected by the miners which
elsewhere would be called rich. An advantage
which Western Sonora possesses at the pres
ent time over many other INNING DIS
tricts which have heen opened mp lately
ON this coast lies in the small cost of transportation
to the mines and the cheapness OF labor. Freight
can be delivered at Guaymas. Port Lbertsd and
other ports on the Gulf of California ct So per ton,
and from these ports the plains which extend inland
from twenty to fifty miles make a good highway,
which renders the expense of carriage by mules
merely nominal. The best of workmen may be hired
at 81 day-a rate not greatly i'll excess OF
"Chjnese cheap labor" The mines here are not gem
orally over coo 500 feet above the plains, in hit
tie ranges of mountains when sklrt the Gun
coast. The country Is lar less
broken than it is supposed to be, and the
valleys on either side OF the large streams which
run from the interior are from One-half mile TO mile
WIDE. The soil is of great fertility, ana contains
none of the all1ali which ruins Nevada for farming
purposes Agriculture is carried on by the SGn0-
rams III the same primitive style as tie mInlng ne
| forked wooden plough drawn by oxen may be seen
here as in I'll parts of Mexico. But even this rude
farming is profitable, for TWO crops may be raised
every year There are TWO distinct rainy seasons,
the first beginning in December and ending IN March,
| during which wheat and beans are sown: I'm
Nav Che harvest Is gathered aud aoOut the middle
OF June the second RAINY season sets III anu con-
| tinueS until the first of September. Dung Ibis
period the corn is planted, and the crop harvested
late in October. The remoteneSS OF the country has
| preserved an Arcadan simplicity in regard 10
! prices Hay can he purchased at tho mines at $12
| a ton and wood brings only 81 80 cord. The hiii-
| sides arc thicky covered with heavy growth Of
| iron-w0od mesquite and pollveTde.
| The advance of the Southern Pacific Railroad
through Arizona has already had its influence
upon Sonora The Arizona prOspect0r Will
! soon yearn for new fields of conquest. The entire
northern pari Of Mexico abOunds in mineral wealth,
bnt sonora is acknowledged 10 stand at the head of
| Inc Mexican States in this respect, while 1t soon
promises to be one of the most accessible With the
| completion OF the road from Santa re TO Guaymae
! a broad highway for American influence VIII be
| opened. and Sonora in few years Will be com
| pietely Observation-Disclosures by the revOu-
| lion i'm trade aud industry. MIR. Hoffman's report
| concerning the mineral wealth of this country was
received with incredulity but bis representa-
tons were subsequently corroo0rated by tue mem,
| city.
MIDNIGHT WEATHER REPORT