Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-06-20
ON THE WING.
A Trip to the Cerro Bl lnoo
Mines.
A PICTURESQUE COUNTRY.
What Was Seen and Enjoyed by
Our Correspondent.
The Mine, M;Il and Eailroaa--One of
Tucson's Brave T2oys Distin-
gnishes Himself.

| mt OF about 4UOU II. was reached, thence
short distance a halt was made ri
Ensigna, meaning white oak, a most az
propriate name from the oak studded
hills surrounding it. Descending one of
the head branches Of the Magdalina
river fine view OF the surrounding
country was presented from the car
windows. The valley is narrow with an
occasional patch Of corn or wheat, the
latter garnered and threshed by the
primitive methods of the ancient Israel
ties. Scattering oaks adorn the grass
covered hills and plateaux, while beyond
may be seen the San Jose mountains on
the right and the Pinetos on the left
both clothed with magnificent growth
OF pine, not so large as the Oregon
species, though equal in quality for
milling purI oses At the foot OF the
Pineto rang ;, the great enterprise of the
Sonora Luu Der Company has been in
augurated, involving the erection of a
saw mill, l5,CJO it., apacity-distance
from Nogales about thirty miles. The
company has secured 100000 feet of
stumpage from the Sonora government.
Messrs Roy & Titcomb, Nogales, are
the financial agents of the company.
Passing through a similar country
and number of unimportaEt stations,
two hours run from place of departure,
brings US 10 Cerro Blanco, the site Of
the quartz mill, being erected by the
Imuris Milling & Mining Company
| Tie erection OF the mill is under the
management OF Z. A. Frise, master me-
chanic, who represents the great foundry
firm of Fraser d Chalmers of Chicago.
| This firm is the sole manufacturers of
the comparatively new steam single
stamp mill of 30 tons capacity. The
one here being erected is 40 ton mill,
with guaranteed capacity of 100 tons
daily, and equal to the ordinary 10
| stamp.
The novelty Of inspecting a mill cap
able of performing such a wonderful
feat was the quickenlng impulse with
me In concluding TO visit this place.
Many practical mining men whom |
have lately met are inclined 10 doubt
this kind of mill, hence l felt 1t must
prove OF some pubic interest TO get the
leading facts concerning the same, for
| publication. i was assured that the
steam stamp mill is no longer an ex-
pertinent. there being now over a dozen
of the larger size in successful operation
In the Lake Superior copper district more
| than half that number ID Australia, sew
1 aral Of tho Anaacp1a Mnr+ono apI ono
or mora in Japan. So successful have
they proven that in no case mentioned
| have they been discarded, but on the
contrary they are now being adopted in
| the mines OF the Black Hills and other
| large mining districts. The engine to
be used Is a 200 horse power.
By +. II. Seymour, general superinten-
dent, was generously accorded every
| facility OF obtaining the Information
sought. Four or five months at least
will be required to put the mill IN read
mess for work. 1t should be of interest
to state that saving OF labor equal to
three men is effected in its operation
over that Of any other mill, and also
that its durability is much greater.
| Furthermore, il is claimed that it is
more than 90 per cent cheaper than any
other plant Of equal capacity.
The mill site at Cerro Blanco is in
all respects pronounced admirable; be-
sides in a scenic point OF view it affords
| attractions. At this point the valley
proper is wider than above and -
adorned with numerous wide spreading
| oaks, while smooth, sparsely tin bered and
grass covered plataauX extend far out
on either side till lost III Il succession Of
mountain ranges. Upon the edge of one
of these flats 10 convenient proximity to
mill works aud gtfording a commanding
view OF valley, plain and mountains Mr.
Seymour selected site upon which he
has erected tor himself a handsome res
ioence.
The cowrany has under construction
/ p inch narIoT guage railroad TO the
Imuris mlDe. me altitude of which is
about 4.OCO lee, or LOO feet above the
site of tie mill. Ia l.n.;ta OF the line
is q fractlon over eleven miles, ten If
which is completed. 70 crafty my
curiosity and obtain a mere correct idea
of the operations at the mine, and the
ekill and labor involved in building the
the road, l accepted the invita-
tion Of VIM. Y. O'Daley the
railway engineer, to take ride ever
the road. The locomotives used we're
built expressly fer this style OF road by
II. K. Porter & Co, PIttshurg. Pa, and
the cars are small iron side bumpers Cf
four ton capacity. Mr.. Daley ha, had
charge OF the work since its inception,
and the skill displayed in the survey IS
sufficient advert isement of his ability.
Sharper curves are seldom If ever made
on any road Of the kind, being 127 feet
radius, or - degrees. The grades are
from to Gper ceLt, and average 800 feet
per mile. The trains are under the
management of Frank Salter. who
though young man possesses unusual
tact as locomotive engineer. 1t some
times happens that the professions Of
civil life afford as striking examples Of
heroism and nobility of soul as that of
the military. That they are less seldom
brought to public notice al Uses from the
fact that the occaelon is lacking to call
them forth. In the career of this young
man the opportunity did arise on the
2lst of last month, while descending the
San Imuris Mines r. Il. The train was
heavily loaded with rock; and through
some imperfection OF the brakes the To-
connective suddenly became unmanags-
bic and shot down the grads at a great
speed and finally jumped the track,
providentialiy turning over on that up
per side, killing one man, and was at first
thought, seriously injured three others
Mr.. Salter fully realized the imminent
danger to which every life on board was
exposed, aud implored all to Jump off,
which some did. He manfully stood to
the post till the wreck came. Pulling
himself from under the engine, though
badly bruised and bleeding, he set 10
rescuing others until By sheer exhaust
ion he lay upon the ground for some
hours till aid came. A man of less
courage might have deserted his post:
that he did not entities him to a rank
with great heroes, and fully justIfies the !
praise and esteem in which he is held by !
the officials as well as the employees of the !
company. Tucson people may well share |
this pride from the fact that he is well
known as one OF Tucson's boys. PA.
Moreno, the fireman was also badly hurt,
and we'll as mine Superintendent John |
Wright, who found still tied to his bed.