The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-28
Work Resumed on Claims That
Had Been Abandoned
Years Ago.
NEW BLOOD BEING INFUSED.
A Sturdy Reaction After the Depression
Caused by the Decentralization
of Silver.
Especial Correspondence Of THE CALL

PRESCOTT, ARIz., Nov. 23.-Diversiied
as it is, it is almost impossible to say at
present whether Arizona is distinctly min
ing or an agricultural country. The mill
ing interests just now are certainly greater,
but irrigation has reached the expert
mental stage only, ano no less an authority
than Paul j. Johnson, one of Arizona
best known mining experts, gives it as his
opinion that when the science OF irrigation
shall have been perfected agriculture in
this Territory will equal, if not surpass,
the mining interests. These interests at
present, however, are receiving great
deal of attention. Old mines are being re-
opened and redeveloped, new locations are
being made daily, and new blood is being
infnsed into those districts abandoned
years ago as valueless.
A notable instance of this is furnished
by the old Vulture mine, situated about
fifty miles northwest of Phoenix. This
mine was located in 1868 and worked until
1883, during which time $1,000 900 had
been taken from it. The methods were
crude, however, and when, in the latter
year, the gold-bearing ore fell from So to
81 per ton. it was abandoned. Within the
last few months, however, work has been
recommended, and from present indica-
dicatons the old Vulture will rise to its
quondam prominence as Gone of the finest
mines in the world"
Experts find their occupation has not
left them, under the new order of things,
and as a preliminary to big mining deal,
involving thousands of dollars, the Bull
G@1I I'D =
trict, located about forty miles west OF
Phoenix, is at present undergoing exami-
nation by an expert. 1t is impossible to
secure the names of the persons concerned
at present, but it is known that a big deal
is on.
The characterization of silver has practi-
cally paraiyzed the industry of silver
mining, and as a consequence some of the
one-time bonanza mines are now idle. The
Silver King, noted at one time as the finest
silver mine in the world, is an exception.
tits located in Pinal County, and is being
re-worked. 1t is said that the company
into whose control it passed few months
ago, has determined that even at the pres
ent low price of silver this mine will pay a
profit over and above the cost of working.
One OF the unfortunate ones, however, is
the Peck mine, located in central Arizona.
Years ago IL was the scene of busting
activity, but to-day it is actually deserted
the old saloons and cabins forming now a
shelter for the mountain lion and rattle
snake. Tombstone is literally fenced in
with these relics of departed glory. Al
though the cyanide process is being used
to slight extent on some of the low-grade
dumps near by, the slight commercial de-
mand is the sole excuse for even this ap-
| pearance of prosperity.
With all this. however, Arizona has a
great mineral future, because, as terri
tory, it is more richly endowed in min
eral sense. Coal, iron, copper, lead, silver and
gold are found in abundance, there being
vast beds of iron of which the world knows
nothing, and native Arizonans little.
About fifty miles north of Globe City, in
ella County, in the Sierra Arancha
Mountains, w. w. Woodson of Globe
City has about ten or fifteen locations,
which, although OF little worth just now,
| will increase enormously in value so soon
as the ella Valley and Northern Railway
now IN course of construction-reaches
that city Extensive coal deposits are
found near by. These have also been To-
Gated and will prove valuable properties in
the near future. Lead is found in all the
copper, gold and silver mines.
Included in the great copper mines OF
the Territory, which are now being worked
on a paying basis, are the United
Verde mines at Jerome, about sixty miles
north of here. These mines are now en-
ploying 400 men. The mines at Bisbee, in
the extreme southern part of the Terri
tory, are employing 500 men. The Old
Dominion, located in the Globe District. in
ella County, is employing 200 men. This
is comparative idleness, however, since
this mine is a great one, but. having
changed hands a short time ago, only q
small force is at work pending the arrival
of machinery, of which great lot has
been ordered.
The great gold camps now being worked
and attracting attention are: The Con-
gress mines, where 200 men are employed
and where 40-stamp mill is working day
| and night, treating about 200 tons or ore
per day; the Little Jessie, about fifteen
miles from here, running 15-stamp mill
employing forty men and treating about
thirty tons of ore per day; and the Nc
Cabe, which is shipping ore directly to the
shelters in Colorado. The ore is worth
from $500 to $500 per ton.
Altogether this will be a very prosperous
year for mining in Arizona. 1t is stated
upon the best of authority that the COM
bined mineral yield for this year will be
near $12,000000, which is equivalent to
stating that the yield this year will be
over 81, 000, 900 more than it was last year.