Arizona weekly citizen., 1895-06-22
MINERAL RICHES The Great Mines of North ern Sonora Tributary to
 Tucson. IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS Made by General Manning, One of TucSon's Enterprising
 Citizens.
IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT

,, The mineral riches of the great Mex 8 ican State of Sonora have long beer 8 known In history and have been dis
 cussed by such men as Humboldt snc
 Ward In their volumes of observation
 and travel. But being the most remote ; state of the Mexican republic and unti the construction of railways compara lively inaccessible for mining operations on large scale many of the most lm.
 portant mines have lain dormant or
 have been feebly worked at long inter.
 vsls.
 II There has however been a notable re- vival of mining in Sonora within 8 few years. One of the most striking exam pies IS the resurrection of the old camp known as the Prietss, which for years was almost abandoned but is now one of the most important gold producing g centers ot the continent. Other exam plas might be given, but it suffiUes to direct attention to the continued ex- portation of mining machinery from the United States along the line of tbe Guaymas branch of the Atchison eys. tenn southwsrd from Nogales to the var ious towns along the line nearest to the mines which are being worked on both sides of this railway.
 But there are great stretches of min er8l bearing mountain ranges lying te the north and west of the region made accessible by the railway to Guayma-, |, A vast expanse of territory extending north westward towards the Lead of the Gulf of California and lying between the shores of the gulf and the southern line of the Gadsden purchase. This is a region which IS more directly sccessi- ble from Tucson and from the line of the Southern Pacific railroad. It comprises the mineral district of Altar and has a special interest for the people of Tue son as by the configuration of the coun- try and the lay of the mountain ranges and valleys this ancient pueblo is the natural outlet and supply point for northwestern Sonora.
 THE zEPEDA FAMILY.
 Amongst the many distinguished fa- miles of Sonora which have kept thelr individuality and integrity during the many generations since the conquest, but who yet boast of the strength and value of their aboriginal blood mixed with the best of Spain, the Zspeda's stand forth prominently. The writer had last winter the privilege of meeting four staiwart representatives of this noted house around camp fire at EI Plomo, four out of family of six, each the head of a family of ten or twelve grown up sons in active life in different parts of Sonora and identified with Its past snd present prosperity in agricul- ture mining and the professions. The mineral wealth of northwestern Sonora was discussed and many legend and fact was given which should in some way be put upon the records of this sec rancho of the Planchas de Ia Plata the fame of which is worldwide, but of which there is but little reliable inform
 
 silver had to be chopped in two in order to load them upon mules for trsnsporta- ton.
 The members of this family by their position wealth and intelligence have had unusual facilities Of acquiring knowledge of all the varied resources of Sonora. One of them, Jesus Maria Ze- peda, the n of Don Fernando of Altar, daVnfQ6 fn ho tiou and development of the mineral riches of the mountains lyiug north of Altar, and after working for years in a small way with srrsstras. he was so for tunate as to secure the aid of General L.. Fl. Manning of this city in the opening asd development of some newly discov. | cred veins of silver and gold ors near the San Joaquin rancho about twenty five miles south west of Sasabe and one hun. l dred miles from this city.
 CONFESSION FROM MEXICO. In recognition of the importance of this discov.ry the Mexican government Rrar ted mining concession to Mir. Zs- peda and General Manning covering the veins already discovered and such others | as might be located over zone several miles in length and located in the Cara patR mountains. Active prospecting in this zone soon added to the list of prom sing claims ore of them called the Dos $ .nderas or Two Flags being exclusive | ly gold and the others containing a mix ture of silver ore with lead ore and all | carrying notable value in gold. From these veins several shipments were made of high grade ore direct to the smelter averaging about S200 per ton in value in silver and gold. It is docile clean ore suitable for either smelt- ing or milling. To more efficiently work | these mines and the several veins which have been discovered in the vicinity the aid of eastern capital was secured by General Manning and 8 company known | as the
 FL GRUPo MINING COMPANY
 was organized under the laws of Arizona in which General Manning and Mr. Zepeda retain large share. The gener- | al management was entrusted to Prof 1 Wm r. Blake we'll known upon the Pacific Coast since 1853 as sn industrious | explorer of its mineral wealth from Mex | icO to Alaska.
 It was decided to erect ten-stamp mill at the San Joaquin rancho and work upon this has been in progress for some months.
 It was necessary to find water and a trial we'll was successful at 8 depth of 40 feet by striking an underground flow Of great promise as to quantity. It will bs remem bered that last winter the Sierritas camp consisting of hoist ing worke, buildings and store was purchased and train of forty wagons was despatched from there to the E. Grupo mines. The store and dwelling houses were re-erected in Sonora and