Arizona republican., 1897-09-29
Mines
 and
 Mining.

However, I think the greatest possi- bilities are in the ledges I have seen some of the greatest mineral belts in this country to be found any where. The copper deposits surpris- ed me. And the undeveloped condi- tion of these rich districts cannot help but impress any one. The future is all before them. They cannot re- main long in this way. I think the mineral sections of Sonora are on the eve of rapid growth, and I am go- ing to the Yaqui country to spend the winter in further prosecuting the in- vestigation I begun last winter
 Capt. Brent has travelled exten- sively in the Yaqui country, but he has never visited that section north of Cocorit which the late treaty with the Yaqui Indians opened to mineral development. He says that a large portion of the Yaqui country is rich in placer gold, but he does not regard them of sufficient value to cause an influx of prospectors dependent upon placers for sustenance. Where the strikes have been made the gold was
 
 banning was not large outside of the pockets. It is far from being another Klondyke. There is gold almost ev- erywhere in favorable spots through out the Yaqui region but only a small percentage of the ground contains values to yield good return for the time and money expended. Capt Brent thinks the lodges hold out bet fnr ind fr +o IL. the placer grounds.
 At Soyopa I met Capt. Tracy Dearth, an old mining man who has prospected extensively in Sonora. He claims Sonora to be the best cou ntry for mining men he has ever seen. ''I have been in Mexico nineteen years" said he, "and I think Sonora is the best state for the mining man in the republic. Eventually it will be great mining state. A great mineral belt of which Soyopa is the geograph- ical center runs into the Sierre Madre mountains from this point and I have traversed it for 100 miles, There is gold, silver, copper and lead, but I believe there is more copper than any thing else. I do not think the pIacers are equal to what they are reported I have never found placer gold in paying quantities and I have pros pected the placers a great deal"
 "Unc1e'' Dick O'Connell, who is the oldest prospector in the Fox party, is taking the remaining members of our party to the backbone of the Sierre Madre mountains. He thinks it is here that the placer gold comes from and he expects to find some good lodges. He has small faith in the Ya- qui placers, but the country lying be- tween Tecoripa and Sahuaripa he says is the best mineral region he has ever seen during his long experience in the west and southwest.
 Quitting in Mexico is probably more expensive than in the states. Burros cost from $10 to S20 in Mexi- can money, saddle horses sell from $35 to $100, riding saddles of Mexican manufacture cost about $40, and pack saddles are $20. Provisions are high in the interior towns. At Sahuaripa four is $7 a hundred, beans cents a pound, potatoes 6 cents and sugar, when you are fortunate enough to be able to buy it is very high. Pe- noche is used in it's place by the Mex jeans. It is made of sugar cane. Moses or guides charge from S1 to g day and board. Ranchers sell eggs for 2 and 3 cents apiece. Jerkey is cheap and can be obtained at almost every ranch. It is impossible to get any dried fruits outside of figs and dates and they are 25 cents a pound. There is an abundance of water and grass just now all through the section we visited. The rainy season began in July and is now about over. The heat was very oppressive owing to the increased humidity which the heavy clouds of the rainy period bring Travelling during the early morning hours and after the heat of the day is over has to be resorted to by tenderfeet. There are heavy dews evry night which your blankets never fail to remind you of at daybreak.
 
 At Sahuaripa there is a five stamp mill roasting furnace and teaching tanks owned by John Willem. MT Willem is working silver ore from a mine he owns near this place. The average value is eighty-fve ounces. He operates a grist mill and in a few months will begin to brew lager beer Beer is 15 cents a pint at Sahuaripa i at the present time, and MT. Willem's brewery will be welcomed by the na- tives-and the prospectors from the | United States.
 | Capt T. C. Cox of San Francisco | and w. B. Pomeroy of Mesa are now outftting at Nogales to spend tht winter in the Yaqui region. Capt 1 Cox is one of the best placer miner: on the coast and if there is any way to work the Yaqui placers successful | ly the captain will do it. IMr Pom l eroy is well known in Arizona and h,