Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-01-24

THE pros and cons on the free intro duction of Mexican lead ores into the United States are as far from 8 satis- factory solution today as there were when the question first came to the fore on the ruling of Secretary Windom nearly two years ago. On the one side have been arrsyed the smelter men and their interests, on the other side the honest hard working American miner, taught by practical and too of ten sorrowful experience of the effects of free lead ores on the mining industry of the west. The reciprocal features in the Mckinley tariff bill has again stir red the heart of the American miner 1 and meetings have been called in New Mexico looking to the repeal of an
 obiectional clause.
 At a meeting of miners held in the city of Deming, N. M., this 12th day of January, 1891, at which were present in person the producers of more than half the ore mined in the Territory of New
 Mexico for the year 1890, and by proxy more than one fourth more, thereby making a representation of fully three fourths of the ore producers of New Mexico, the following resolutions were offered and unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, We are informed that ef- forts are being made to have the tax by the Mckinley bill reduced or removed from Mexican lead seeking entrance to the Uuited States, we would respectful ly present for the consideration of con- gress the following brief statement of facts:
 l. Prior the legislation of last year, which resulted in placing tax upon Mexican lead, there was not lead mine in New Mexico working to a profit. Shelters that owned good lead mines had abandoned them and found it cheaper to use Mexican lead produced by peon labor.
 ?. As soon as it.sbesame apparent that the Mexican lead would have to pay the tax the smelters began to recov- CT their abandoned lead mines in our own Territory, and. so far as we know, they have, without exception, been put in profitable working condition. 3. Mining camps that have for many years been deserted at once showed signs of life. Hundreds of mine owners who have been without means to devel- op their properties because the price paid for lead has been two low, were at once enabled to begin operations. 1. The vast lead ore bodies that have been exposed during this short season of great activity have surprised all of us. There has been opened up twice as much lead as we had believed to exist. This is particularly true in San Pedro, Magdalena, Cooks Peak, Florida, Hachita and Pima Altos districts. 5. There has, then, by reason of this better price for lead sprung up an almost entirely new industry in this Territory. The lead production will nearly repre- sent the gross profits of the entire min- ing business of New Mexico flor 1889.
 6. This new branch of our mining industry, which has begun to be devel- oped and which holds much promise to us as miners, so long as Mexican ores are compelled to pay duty, has not four ished at the expense of miners of any other classes of ores. Dry or siliceous ores carrying no lead are now being treated for less than was charged by smelters in 1888 or 1889, when the lead came in from Mexico free; and
 WHEREAS, In 1890 thousands of dol lars have been actually produced from what was worthless lead ore before the Mckinley bill, not s1 of which appears to have been paid by the miner of dry ores.
 2. It is our opinion that there are in New Mexico a great sufficiency of lead ores to smelt all the ores of our Terri tory, therefore, be it,
 RESOLVED, That we most earnestly petitiont the Congress of the United States stol protect our new industry of lead mihing in New Mexico by refusing to allow the lead ores of Mexico produc- ed by peon labor to come in without taxation, and beg that the tax be not re- dueed as the margin for profit now Vouchsafed fis only such as insures 8