Arizona silver belt., 1897-06-10
LASTING PROSPERITY DEPEND
 ENT UPON DEEP MINING.

Inc mlnlnG Industry Ill ArlZon1 may be said to be still passing through the formative period, a state of prepara- ton and transition from the primitive ways of prospecting and ore extraction to the skilled and comprehensive science of mining and the employment of modern methods and appliances for orc reduction.
 That mining in the southwest has been prosecuted in Q very desnltory manner is evident to the most casua. observer. Wospeak volubly of "mines" !" and properties" in referring to claims which have not progressed beyond the limits of prospects. In fac. the deSel. opment of nine.tenths Of tiie mining claims in Arizone has not reached below the water level, ut which depth changes in the chemical composition of the ore veins almost always occur, ue- cessitating modification of the pro- cesses of ore treatment and additional machinery, all of which means in- creased operating expenses. These obstacles too often prove fatal to meri- torious propositions Either the money or the faith to prosecute the work further is lacking; consequently the enterprise Is abandoned, and another monument to human folly is raised to the dIscrcdit of the district.
 There are few mining regions so fortunate as 10 escape this dishearten- ing experience, often many times re- peated. It is an epoch in mining, and from which the industry in Arizona is just beginning to emerge. Of course permanent and paying ore bodies are of infrequent occurrence. There are innumerable prospects whicL, while rich near the surface, pinch at compar. atively shallow depths, and it would be unwise to continue Co exploit them, but on the other hand every district has its neglected or abandoned mines which the best informed miners in the district regard as -meritorious propositions spoiled through misman- agement of some sort-but when once condemned how difficult to restore to productiveness?
 The progress and importance of Ari- zona's mining industry is remarkable, when we consider that the surface of our re.seamcd mountains has only been scratched! There are few ex- amples of deep mining in the territory, yet those exceptions (the Congress mine being notable instancc) cncour- age the belief that our mines go down, and as this opinion becomes generally recognized, an impetus will be given to deep mining.
 California furnishes much enconr- agemcnt to deep mining. The revival of gold mining has induced the re- opening of many neglected mines, which have been sunk to depths of from 1000 to 2500 feet, in most in- stances with most gratifying success. In fact most of the big paying prop critics in that state today are old mines which were abandoned for many years. In Montana also mine development Is being carried to great depth and the mining industry there is enjoying phe. nomenal prosperity. The Lake Su- perior copper mines furnish the most notable examples of deep sinking. The Whiting shaft on the Calumet .S Hecla, 1 which intersected the lode at $500 feet, has been completed to depth of 5000 feet. The Tamarack mine has five shafts varying in depth from about 1900 to nearly 5000 feet. In shaft No. 1 1 the lode was reached at Q depth of 1898 feet.
 These examples of deep sinking are mentioned to show the faith and en- ergy displayed in mining in the older districts of other states, and which are fuil of enconragamant f,r fba f,t,,o >f 1 the industry in Arizona. The past year has witnessed marked expansion Of mining operations in this territory, with an increase of large and profitable enterprises, which will greatly strengthen confidence in our mines and induce tho investment of new capital,