Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-08
new MINING MECCA
Antonio Joseph Talks of the New Min
ing Section in His County and of the
Proposed Town at Anc0nes.
PROSPECTED TEN OR TWELVE YEARS AGO
The District Extends from Point Near
Ojo Caliente Hot Springs in Taos
County for 5 Miles North and
South to Vallecitos.

gress, president OF the last territorial
council, and proprietor of the celebrated
Ojo Caliente Hot Springs, was in the
city on Tuesday, and in the course of con-
versation with representative of the
New MEXICAN, had some interesting
things to say concerning the new min
ing boom in his section, and other mat
ters which 90 to make for development
and general prosperity. Frequent
notices have appeared in the New MEx1-
CAN during the past month or so, con-
cerning the mineral possibilities of Sec
tion of Taos county known as the An
cones district. Regarding the prospects
of mining camp here, Mr.. Joseph said
that the section in question extended
from north to south for distance of
Is miles from point near Oio Caliente
to Vallecitos. Some 10 or IL years ago
this district had been partially pros
pected, but since that time up to last fall
Mr.. Joseph asserted that little or moth
ing had been done in the way of develop
ment. Continuing he said:
"At this time about half dozen pros
pectors happened in that part of the
county, and in poking around as pros
pectors will, discovered that a few feet
below the surface there was to be found
very valuable ore. The good news got
out, and in a short time the original
prospectors were joined by others--some
of them men of means-and since that
time development work has been car
ried on quite extensively. A good many
of these men come from Cripple Greek
and other points in Colorado, while Others
hail from various sections of New Mex
loo. good many locations have been
made. The proposed town will be at a
place called Ancones, seven miles above
the Hot Springs of which l am proprietor.
There can be no doubt as to the value of
the ore. The formation is sandstone,
lime and porphiry with a good deal of
volcanic schist. The ore carries gold,
silver and copper. The highest assays
that have seen thus far run 10 OF. gold,
IS OF. silver, and 20 per cent copper,
while the lowest show l OF. gold, OF.
silver and 10 per cent copper. The only
question now is as to the extent of the
ore bodies.
"Old miners and the experts who have
examined this ground declare that the
combination which | have stated, as
ample assurance of permanencv. That
is to say that the combination of minerals
in the proportions found here indicates
that the ore comes from true fssure
vein. Personally believe that this is
going to develop into one of the richest
sections of the west, and / am not alone
in this belief. A good many experts have
examined the ground, and their reports
have been most encouraging. Constant
additions to the population are being
made and there will be a town at
Ancones before long. One big ad-
vantage that this section has, is in its
climate. Work can be carried on here
with the greatest comfort all the year
round, and Colorado miners are quick to
appreciate this difference over their own
camp"
Concerning the Ojo Caliente Hot
Springs Mr.. Joseph said that the season
had been an excellent one for business.
He has had from Is to 20 guests and as
many campers all summer-people who
come to experience the wonderful cura-
tive properties of the hot springs, which
are coming to be better known and ap-
preciated all the time, by those afflicted
with diseases of the blood. Hundreds
have found full and permanent cure in
these waters after single season of
constant bathing.
Mr.. Joseph stated that business gener-
ally in his section was looking up all
along the line, and in every industry that
he could think of incident to Taos coun-
ty. This he attributes principally to the
fact that live stock values have been
greatly enhanced of late.
Wool for example Is selling for IL cents
per pound. This in itself is big thing
for Taos, and the upward tendency of
prices in this one industry alone has set
other branches of trade on a small-sized
boom. Sheep and cattle are higher than
for several years. They are paying for
lambs to be delivered in October as high
as $1.25 and $1.40. These prices are
quite unusual. Crops are looking splen
didly. The first cut of alfalfa has already
been harvested, and on the 18th inst.
work will be commenced on the second
Four crops year is the rule here. Fruit
Is also looking we'll and good yield is
assured.