Arizona weekly citizen., 1881-10-23
FINAL.
It's Past Present and Probable Futurs-Moun- tsins Of Metal-very Promising Minss-Ths Silver King Business Matters.

tIlAs pr AeLal-sety froMlkAnb A-Hi-e ---S
 Silver King-Business Matters
 tSpec al Corres pondence of the CTTIzEN-l
 Pioneer District, in which the town of Pinal is situated, is probably less known to the outside world. il proportion to the mineral wealth it contains, than any cher district in Arizona. In early days
 ~as too much oyerrun by the Apaches to be a pleasant place to tarry in, and since then 1t has not been so fortunate as to become fashionable amongst capi talists; for there is fashion in capital as well as in dress. Tombstone is now all the rage, and a wildcat in that dis trict is G more saleable property than a rich prospect in less known regions
 The first settlement at Pinal, or Picket Post as it was formerly colled, and is still h. ;he older inhabitants, was
 A MILITARY POsT
 For protection against the Indians, who at thGt time made the venturesome prospector's life a very hazardous one in this section. The discovery of rich mines in the neighborhood led to the es- tsblishmcnt of settlement, which grew slowly until the winter of 1880, when it took fresh st.S> aud rapidly developed into a busy town.
 Pinal is situated on Queen creek, stream which runs for the greater part of the year, and by digging few feet will during the whole year, furnish sui icient water to run a large number of mills. The town is built on a plain at the foot of
 PICKET POST MOUNTAIN, Known to the Mexicans as Tortilla peak, that peculiar, fortress-liks rock which is visible and forms prominent feature in the landscape for fifty miles around. Although only ? miles distant from Florence, the county seat, Pinal has a city, the elevation of 3000 to 40O0 feet above the sea securing pleasant breeze for the greater part of the time, which considerably modities the summer heat. In winter the climate Is simply perfec- tion. Except for Q short distance on the west, Pinal Is completely surrounded by ranges of mountains, which contain tine rich deposits that have built up the town, and will eventually cause 1t to rank among the leading cities of the Territory.
 On the east, where Queen Creek cuts its way through the mountain range, about three miles from Pinal, are, amongst others,
 THE GEM,
 4 gold mine belonging to the Wide awake Mining and Prospecting O., of San Francisco, a company which has for over four years labOred steadily and with unswerving faith to develop their property. They have a tunnel 600 feet long, out of which they are taking ore which goes S30 a ton in gold, to supply their recently erected 10-stamp mill, which Is opposite the mouth of the tun- neL On the other side of the creek, Op- posite the Gem, and on the same ledge, is the
 sURPRIsER.
 Belonging to C. C. Hastings, of New York and San Francisco. It has recent ly been incorporated as the Hastings Con. Mining Co. The ore Is similar to that of the Gem mine, tunnel has been run some 600 feet and rumoI says that a mill will shortly be erected. A little fur ther north is the
 SILVER QUEEN,
 One of the oldest mines in the country, its discovery dating further back than that of the Silver King. The company ba--a cf,.f. ,,r-a,- .En1 f..aA la.r, they have very lately struck very promis- rated in New York.
 THE wANA wHAIA
 Was, in the early days of Picket Post, known throughout the Territory for the fabulous richness of its ores. It had a mill, shipped bullion, and the stock was quoted on the San Francisco Board But the rich streak of ore was run through, the mill was burnt down, and the mine was thrown into litigation, be- coming the subject of score of suits It now belongs to Judge Reymert of Pi- nal. Of the
 SILVER KING
 Mine SD much has been written that it would be superfiuous to go into detaI,s here. Suffice it to say that it Is without doubt. the most wonderful ore deposit on the Pacific Coast. Not many mines can ship blocks Of pure metal direct to the mint, but this the King frequently does.
 South of Pinal are the Mineral Hill District and the Silver Bell mine, and further east the Mineral Creek mines, in which latter region are found some wonderful copper deposits, destined to throw the Lake Superior mines in the shade as copper producers. The Mineral Hill mines are mostly low grade, con- taining from 40 to 70 per cent lead and S5 to S30 in silver. thus smelling easily. They were formerly overlooked on ac- count of the small amount of silver they contain, but the rise in the price of lead and better facilities for shipping have now made 1t possible to work them at profit and they are lt presentlattafcting much attention. Final is agitFinE for a road to Mineral Hill, all supplies hay- ing to be forwarded at present by pack trains.
 THE sLvER BELL Mine was sold, only few months ago, to a wealthy San Francisco company. who at once set to work in a most busi- ness like manner to develop the proper ty, and have since done a large amount of work, making some very rich develop [ ments. 4 road is being constructed, ten miAs long, from t;e mine to the Gila river, where reduction works will be erected. The mine IS incorporated as the Final Con. Mining O., and is listed | on the San Francisco Board, where the l shares are now selling at about S4 and | constantly rising.
 As before mentioned, the village of ] Picket Post advanced but slowly until | the winter of last yelr, when it took
 A SUDDEN START.
 Buildings went up on every side, the | sound of blasting, where wells were be- ing sunk, was heard from morning to l night, and speculation in real estate was very active. This lasted till the spring, | when a reaction set in and timesbecame | dull, partly owing to the usual depres- sion during the hot weather, and partly | to the rumor that the Silver King Co. | intended to build a railroad from the | mine to the Gla river and establish re- auction works there-a course which | would leave Final out in the cold as far | as those works were concerned. Another . reason for the dull times, which still continue, may be found Tn the fact that Final is overdone in point of | has, like many min ing camps. discounted its future prosperity. The whole population. which at present Is little short of 1000, depends for support, with few exceptions, upon the wages of the men employed in the Silver King mill. The amount of their wages, though large in the aggregate, is not sufficient to divide among so many. Hence money is exceedingly scarce and merchants loudly complain of the diff ,ulty they experience in making cOllec-