Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-09-26
The Old Camp Threatens to
Boom Once More.
CONTRAST THEN AND NOW.
Preparations to Increase the Min,
ers Soon
The Mill to Start Also-Eacts Per-
tairing to the Chief Mines
Other Notes

Leaving Tucson on the 18th inst, a
$50 q. m, a stage ride of about so mile
west, brought me to this camp at
o'clock in the evening. The road 70
most of the way is excellent, and the &C
commodations provided by the proprie
tor of this line, is as good as the presen
patronage would seem to warrant
though the traveller will find squar,
meals along the road a luxury, con
spicious by their absence. The stag,
stations are generally kept by Mexicans
who are not prepared to furnish all tht
delicacies of the season, which the
market affords. There is but a Sigh
up grade in reaching Quijotoa, it being
but a few hundred feet higher thar
Tucson. The vast flats intervening
would make model ranches were irriga-
ton practical, or should the rain
makers test prove a success in Ari-
IONA.
On my arrival / soon formed the nc.
qusintauce of VIM. Pickett, superintend.
ent of sthe Bonanza mines, which in
cludes five corporations, all under one
general head, w. s. Lyle, of San Fran
cisco, .president. The names of the
several companies are the Peer, Peer
less, Croker. Combination and We'll
don.
QIt being mail day, which is not every
day in this camp, all the boys had gath
cred around the postofice window in
hopes of receiving some late message
from the outside world, so in due time
my acquaintanceship became general.
The population Of the camp is about
60, exclusive OF Indians, while along
about 80 and 80, it will be remembered,
it contained fully $500 people. 1t is Mr..
Plckett's opinion that history Will have
repeat itself sooner than many suppose,
and that relapse is not likely to follow
as soon as before. During those excit-
ing days there were stores, 20 saloons,
and everyother accompainm ent IN e
business line, which the jingle OF coin is
sure to attract. Every evidence Of a
deserted and dilapidated townsits is
here to testify to the truth Of what the
town has been. Buildings that cost
thousands of dollars are In various stages
Of decay.
The discovery of the Emerald mine in
1873 by T. Adams, Alex. Mckay, Dan
Crocker and Al. Weldon was the be-
ginning of Quiiotoa, which, in the Indian
tongue, is said to mean basket noun
tain. 1t was not until 1882, however,
that mineral of great account was taken
out. In 1884 the present owners got
possession Of the mines and shipment
of fifty or more tone of very rich ore
raised an excitement, which brought the
rush of people. Nearly half a million
dollars are known to have been extracted
from the Peerless and Croker mines
Mr.. Pickett is now laying in the largest
amount Of supplies ever provided since
the palmy days. and is preparing to make
another run on the Peerless, and also the
Peer, which he believes will prove the
best mine in the group. He has assays
TO justify this conclusion. He proposes
to let some large wood contracts soon.
Burley drills are being employed TO
thoroughly prospect the property, and
at the same time a small force OF men
IS engaged in stopping, which is soon to
be increased, where upon the mill, which
is 20-stamp, will be started up again.
About 20 men are employed here.
Through the courtesy of Jas. Neil, the
skilled machinist and engineer, l was
permitted to inspect the mill to my sat
isfaction. 1t was completed in 1885, and
has always done good work. The main
engine is a It's horse power with 6 /
boilers, equal to 300-horse power. The
second engine, used for COMPRISING in
running drills, etc., is 125-horse power. |
To operate both IL requires cords of |
wood at cost Of $3.50 per cord.
The mill is run on the "boss process"
employing rock crusher of the Blake |
patent. The mill and mire are connect |
ed by an incline of 100 #. in length. |
three rails, the empty car passing up at
the same time the loaded car descends.
The head of the incline, or entrance to
the mine, is about 1000 fl. in verticle |
hight above the mill. The ore is run
out Of the mine by hand cars, dumped |
into $50 ton bin; thence into the tram |
w dI CdI5 anu lOHClCd W WIG
hosting works for the lower levels en-
ploy 40-horse power engine.
VIM. Pickett, the popular superirtend /
ent, is ably assisted by his twin brother,
d. c., between whom there is striking |
The foreman, JOHN |
has the credit of being a ma
tural miner, and much improved by long
experience here and elsewhere on the
coast.
The company's water works are st-
lated five miles distant in valley 775
It. lower than the mill. The capacity |
Of the pump is 10000 gallons per day
rom well 475 feet deep. 1t is believed
20 be the most powerful pumping plant
n the territory, and cost SS5,0OO. The
.anks at the mill, of which there are
,hree, hold 10000 gallons each. The
engine used is 150-borse power. Jas.
Neil, who has charge of all this machin-
nv also, is the junior partner of Stevens
Neil, the leading mercantile establish
nent Of Quijotoa. He is also undis2ut
I'd authority on past, present, and
sporting events.
Nick Warlaumont, I'd engineer, fought
or the Union, but has not yet applied
or his pension.
On the opposite side of the hill, less
han two miles west of Quiiotoa, is sit
late the Locomotive mine, through
which l was shown by Isaac d. Smith,
he superintendent, and a stakeholder
4 the same. This mine was operated
our months during 1886 and produced
{, 900 from the run. SiLce then only
work has been done. The
developments are two shafts, the chief
4 which is It's it., a drift 800 feet in ore,
lower drift from main shaft 325 IT.
ong, tunnel on second level 45O It., and
n upraise Of 40 #. The ledge has
,een traced 1900 It. and is estimated to
verage #. wide. First grade ore will
verage $50 OF. silver, second grade, S25.
rha formation is lime. porphYrY and