The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-04-27

HNA ACh VI ON bblN llANAibs ~ itNo bNbh Duu
a very few years since the commence
ment Of any degree of practical mining
here, but III that time greater progress
has been made, successful mining opel
atoms have been more generally ex-
tended over the territory than RAJ ever
before known in any other country, ex-
cept, perhaps, the placer mining of Cali.
fornia.
When the hindrances to which min
ing in New Mexico has been subjected
are capdidly considered, it will be seen
that the progress that has been made
is by no means discouraging, indeed is
something phenOminal. As is usual in
Rey counties, especially IN mining
countries, the great need for develop
meat purposes, 10 capital. Large num-
bers Of prospectors swarmtd into the
country on the first authenticated ru-
mors OF the general presence of mineral,
But it was filed in all its unsettled por-
IiQns, and i was in them, generally, that
the nj eFm~ieposits were found, by
of hostile Indians which for
wars made systematic and continu-
or even prospecting, impos-
siDle. SO long continued and destruc-
tive were the periodical outbreaks of
these Indians, that the public mind in
the states is still impressed with the
idea that there is yet danger outside
of our principal cities. Though it is
a fact that there has not been a hostile
Indian within $50 miles of this range
in two years, strangers, and especially
capitalists, wishing to invest still ap-
pr6ach it with timidity. That is one OF
the drawbacks of the country.
APPETIZER, and n produced in part
BIZ timidity, is the lack of capital.
4 vast number Of good claims have
been located, are held by prospectors
who have exhausted their means in
partial development, and the work has
come to a stand. In too many cases the
holders put an e%Xtravagant price upon
their claims. which makes their sale
impossible. Instances are not infre-
quent where parties desiring to buy,
and with means to develop, have been
forced away by these ~eXtravagant fig
This is the fault Of the miners
themselves. Men with means to in
vest in mining cannot be expected to
pay the price Of a developed mine for
IA prospect hole and take the risk of get
ting their money out of it, for it takes
money, and generally a good deal Of it,
to develop even the most promising
prospect hole. Most of the prospectors
are holding a number of claims, often
from half a dozen to two or three
that number. BY holding them
at prices which forbid their sale, they
preclude all possibility Of develop
ment, and thus do a wrong not only to
themselves but TO their camp, the dis
triat, and the entire territory, while, if
by selling a portion for whatever they
could get, even a few hundred dollars
If necessary, to men who would develop
them they would have that much to
put into the improvement of the re-
mainder of their holdings, and at the
same time secure a degree of develop
ment for the camp that would enhance
the value of every other prospect in it,
and without any cost to the holders.
The lack of well managed and eff
fective facilities for reduction has also
retarded the developments of the mines.
Removed long distances from smelters
and mills, a. most of the mining pro-
are, the value of the ores is
consumed in transportation,
and it is useless to accumulate large
Quantities of ore or the dump to wait
Indefinitely for The erection of more
convenient reduclS works-with the
most of them impossible for the want
If capital to take out and hold the ores
waiting returns. With well managed
imelters and mills at convenient points,
where the ores could be disposed of on
reasonably prompt returns, there would