Arizona weekly citizen., 1881-05-08
In Patagonia

 gOnia must certainly have had de- prayed conception of the eternal fit- ness of things, for surely nothing could bc less suggestive of the barren pliins, ice and fOgs and gigantic sav- ages than this mountain paradise of Southern Arizona. Elevated about 7ODO feet above the level of the sea, its gently slOpIng mountains covered with luhuriant growth of grass and crowned with oak and cedar, with beautiful lawn-like valleys lying be- tween, it is the most delightful DOT tion of the Territory that your cor respondent has yet seen. Washing ton Camp, the present mining centre of this region, is situated about nine miles almost due south from Harshaw, and less than four miles from the Sonora line. About three miles from Harshaw is lovely little fiat among the hills where are the ruins of the smelling works of the "Old Mowry MIne,' owned and worked by Lieut. Mowry, of the United States army, before the civil war. A collection of adobe ruins Is all that is left of what WAS once the livelIest mining camp Tn Arizona. The lofty brick chimney Is extinct enterprise and former active life. IL is said that 400 Mexicans and their families were at one time employed at the mine and smelter, and the spot is yet pointed out-in the valley surrounded by beautiful oaks where there the festive Sonoran and his dusky mate Whirled in the dizzy msZes of the fandango and made the hills re-echQ with their joyous hilarity. Every SstuT- day at 12 o'clock the force stop work, and from then until morning there was q continuous round of dancing, drinking and gambling. Often, too, the treacherous Apache, concealed behind rock or bush, took hand in the performance, and with his pierc- ing war whoOp, changed the scene of joyous pleasure into shrieks of agony and bloody strife. But not a sound dislurbS the oppressive solitude of these ruins now, save perhaps the gentle basso prOfundo of some lonely prospector's burro, who has wandered hItler with master in search of some hidden bonanza. Apache warfare and civil war must answer for the de- slructioE of this once prosperous mIn- ing enterprise. The Old Mowry mine is now owned by parties in Tucson, and nothing is left 10 tell the stranger In these parts of the untiring labo-s and unceasing efforts of that true friend of Arizona, Sylvester MoWry, save the legend on the cap ping of stone near the top of the chimney, " Mowry Silver Mine, 1861"
 SlX miles south of these ruins, and the mines of N ashington Camp are reached. The hills are higher and sleeper, and the growth of timber heavier than at the Harshaw. The camp-a collection of tents, canvass covered houses, with a few frame and adobe slructures--Is situated on an elevated bench with the towering Patagonia mountains all round about. lt is a delightful situation, and the climate Is sand to be perfection itself From the town site beautiful view or th- Santa Cruz Valley and the mountains of Sonora behind il, is obtained The white tents of La Noria, at the South ern point of the mountains and just on the line, set oil most charm ingly this magnificent view. Al La NoIia are located the smelling works of the Holland Mining Company, and al the same point the w. C. Davis Company are erecting works of .a similar nature.
 The mines of Washington occur in limestone porphyry, and are gener- ally immense bodies of low grade carbonate and galena. The Davis mine has a shaft 1j0 feet, and is thor oughly opened by crOsscuts and lev els, slowing ore m places twelve feet wide. Jim Findley, formerly of the Tip Top, is foreman, and IS opening the mine in thorough shape. About forty men are employed on the Ohio, which is producing large quantities of sulphuret orc. IL Is owned by the Washington Pool Company, which has a dozen other claims The Bel mont is one of the oldest locations in the district, and was worked during Apache times. It hasa shaft down l over 100 feet, and has nearly thirty 1 feet of low grade ore. The Holland | is also a large ore body. It has been | under the management of Hon. J K. LuttTell, but the attempt at smelting | has not proved success, and it Is | claimed that the ores need roasting and milling. Work has been stopped on this property for the present, but il IS said will soon be resumed. The | Silver Bill is also fine looking prop | crty, which is now being steadily de | velOped by MT, Deleurs for an Eastern | company. There ale scores of other | mines in Washington Camp we'll i worthy of mention, but space forbids. One thing can be said, the camp con tains the largest bodies of ore yet | found in Arizona. That it is low grade cannot be denied, but with | of wood and the Santa Cruz river close at hand, they ought to be worked to Q profit.