Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-09-17
PROMISING COOKS PEAK.
Essentially a Poor Mans Campfire
Found in Large Pockets Near
the Surface.

A Silver City correspondent, who evil
IDENTIFY knows what be is talking about,
writes as follows respecting one of the
most promising mining camps in the
territory:
One of the best producing camps in
New Mexico and of which paratively
little is known to the mining world, is that
of Cooks Peak, situated in Grant county,
in the mountain range Of the same name,
lying about 20 miles north of Deming
The camp first came into prominence in
the early 1908 and reached it's greatest
prosperity from 1890 until the depression
in silver IN 1898. The ore is lead and
silver, averaging from so to rs per cent
of the former and 10 to 20 ounces of the
latter. The lead carbonates obtained
from this camp Ore especially valuable
for huxing purposes. The formation lie
lime, between irregular porphyry dykes,
extending from one to 20 feet apart in a
northeasterly and southwesterly direction
While the camp has been steady pro-
Queer for years, the lowest workings are
not over $50 feet, and recent strikes de.
monstrate that the ore at that depth ls
more abundant and richer than on the
surface. The camp proper is separated
by the mountain range, dividing it into
the western and eastern camps. The ore
on the east side runs higher in lead, while
that on the west side carries larger guam.
titles in silver.
QThe famous Graphic mine at Hadley, a
few miles below the Cooks Peak camp
proper, is the only mine in the district
which has been Systematically developed
and it has yielded its different owners sew.
eral fortunes. Its product is high grade
silver. The working on this property
has reached depth of 600 feet, but owing
to change of management has been
operated for nearly two years past. Work
will, however, be resumed very shortly.
Cooks Peak is essentially poor mans
camp, the ore thus far being found iu
large pockets near the surface and ex
tracted at small cost. The haul is made
from the mines to Florida station on the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, distance
of about 10 miles. About two years ago
William Keiff, a poor, but experienced
miner, obtained lease from the Consoli
dated Smelling & Refining company Of
Eel Paso, Tex. upon its Othello and Des.
demona claims. The lease has just ex.
pired and Kieff has cleaned up fortune
estimated at no less than 100000, and the
lessor has done equally we'll. This is
merely an example Of what has been done
in the camp.
Correspondingly rich strikes have been
made on the properties owned by the
Teel & Poe Mining company and on the
Surprise mine, owned by New York par.
ties, while miners working their owr
claims or under lease have frequently
made sums which have rendered them
comfortable for the remainder of their
lives. The rise in the price of lead has
resulted in a revival in the camp, which
is already noticeable and promises to be
permanent. The output averages three
to four carload per day and is steadily
increasing. The ore goes to Colorado
smelling points principally and is much
sought after by buyers. Every car will
yield net profit of $3.50 to $500. There
are now about 200 men employed and the
camp Is justly entitled to the distinction
of being the best lead camp in this ter
ritory.