The Arizona sentinel., 1893-12-30
THE NEAHR GOLD MILL,

THE NEAHR GOLD MILL.
At the old Picacho landing on the
west bank of the Colorado, 80 miles
above Yuma, stands the famous
Neahr gold mill, Built of that mag
nifcent pink, and blush gray por-
phyry, which beauties the hills in
that section, and renders the contrast
so strong between them and those
covered with the dark brown or black
volcanic rock. The old mill is still
model of beauty, its tine cut walls, and
approaches laid up with the same ma
terial, attracting the attention OF the
traveller, as soon as the steamer
energies from the wild whirl of the
Eureka pool and rocks. Nearing it,
the interest is increased, as one comes
in contact with the older five stamp
mill, now crumbling to ruins, its fine
assay office, its supply of general ma
chinery. rusting, not wearing out, the
old boilers. engines, and other ap-
pliances, crumbliug- back to dust and
the general appearances Of. what there
has been is anything but inviting:
But all of those are lost. in the per-
manent appearance of everything
about the newer and better mill.
Entering it, though standing idle for
years, everything looks as if it had
been closed down but yesterday.
The engine, boiler, stamps, pulleys,
belts and plates, appear as it ready
for the engineer to grasp the lever and
open her wide. The fine stone steps,
the great stone head blocks are as
bright as when the whistle blew its
shriIl blast for the last time. 1t 10
more than quarter of century since
the late David Neahr, with his well
established reputation for doing every
thing, he undertook in tip-top shape,
began the erection of the mill which
today bears his name. The fine rock
work in its construction, is due to the
workmanship of our well-known me-
chanic Silvestre Ramires. When the
new mill was built in 1867 FIVE Of the
Is stamps we're new, five had been
used at mine on Williams Fork,
which afterwards with another five
had been used at the Comorant mine
at Las Flores, and then removed to
P,cacho to do work on still another
mine. When the mill was completed
it was supplied WITH ore, brought
down from the Picacho mines i've
miles distant, on wagons carrying
$4,000 pounds each. Three Of these
wagons can yet be seen near the mill
With the mules, they cost $4,000.
The mill started up, and was put
in charge of trusted employee OF the
owner. Every ten days, it turned
out from 40 to so pounds of hard dry
amalgam, worth from $4,000 to S., 900
equal to $500 or $500 per day. 1t
was bonanza indeed, but the mana
ger could not stand the pressure.
Wine and women, monte, faro and
poker, were too much for him. To
these he yielded. These he made the
treasurers and with them, in pIac'
of with his, employer, he deposited the
proceeds of the mill, until the owner
woke up, to find himself, so far as the
mill and mine were concerned; bank
rupt. It closed down and there it
stands, having passed into other
hands, who hold it, hoping to again
put it to production. The manager, so
we are told left Yuma with $1,000 i'll
his pockets, which proves, that while
he ruined his faithful employer, he did
not forget to feather his own nest,
which is truo of more than one leglti-
mate mining enterprise.