Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-03-19
THE COMING Room.
IL VIII BE The Greatest Ever Known
In Mining Circles Of the South
Wesa. -.

ELIzABETHTowN, N. NJ, March 16th
1897.--'I'his camp Is arranging prclim
inaries for the presentation Of boom
which, according TO late wonderful
gol ddiscoveries and the opinions O
those expert in mineralogy, will thil
coming season outshine previous efforts
Even at this early date, freighter9 and
stage drivers from this point and Ia
railway outlet are unable TO cope with
the traffic. The way of egress to camp
is over the stage road from Springer,
on the Santa Fe railroad, o distance OF
about fifty miles. The road enters the
Cimarron canon at Cimarron, which II
traverses for twenty miles, where II
enters the Merino valley, 10000 feet
above the level Of the sea. Siy miles
across this valley, upon the mountain
side. and In the shadow Of Old
Baldy, lies the Mecca toward which the
trend Of fortune seekers is prevalent.
At this period, the trip across the
valley is most perilous one. Yet,
nevertheless, not day goes By unac-
companied with its arrival of score
or more of prospectors and tradesmen
of all designations. And q common
sight on this trail is the head and
shoulders Of foot traveller pushing bis
way through the snow and dragging
his pack behind him.
On the mountain sides, the snow is less
in depth and burro trains are constant
ly going back and forth with packs of
miners outfits and supplies. Hereto
fore, this district has been chiefly .
placer field, but late rich strikes have
turned the scales and the placer men
are neglecling their fields for the devel.
opment Of mines and the cutting Of
rich loads and leads. Several eastern
companies have purchased properties
ana several stamp and Huntington
mills are in operation.
The formation here is entirely unlike
that OF Colorado ground and has o
peculiarity all It's own. In most cases,
the ore is Of a paying quality from the
grass roots down, with but little of it
refractory. Its generality is free mill
ling and will show color in the pan
from the beginning of q lead.
There is an intense rivalry between
this camp and Red River City, abont
twelve miles distant, occasioned by the
rich strike made recently in the ssBlack
Copper mine at the latter place. Ac-
cording to answers given the inquiries
OF your correspondent, the ore there is
of higher grade, but of a more re-
fractory nature than smaller leads.
The "Yellow Dog mine in this dis
trict, owned by stock company and
managed by w. r. Williams, has a
fine lead OF $50 ore with an increase as
development proceeds. The "Senate'
and "Bob Tail'' mines, Harry Majores,
manager, are keeping a Huntington
mill running day and night on % ore,
and the ssBandana,'' with Lyrick
brothers, managers, is also using a
Huntington mill with full force Of
men. The "Tiger," as yet undevel-
oped, gives an assay Of $50 per ton.
1t Is owned by Mr.. Lyrick, Of Eliza
bethtown, and Mr.. Fugate, of Ration,
and is being managed by the latter 8
sons. The "Ajax,'' managed by J.
King, is running ten.stamp mill, and
is extremely rich, In present and ex-
pected prospects.
Heretofore, for years, this little town
has quietly nestled within its circle Of
quietness and severity, hidden from
the outside world by the shadows Of
the great mountajns towering above IL.
But that is past. The restiessuess of
American energy has been the Pygma-
lion that has kissed itinto life.
BY the middle Of April, the boom
will be felt, and already, though beset
by hardships Of the severest kind, the
advance OF civilization into the noun
tain fastness, wherever the treasures
Of the Creator are hidden, has begun,
and has already justified the expecta-
tions of those familiar with the district,
the realization of which will result in
the greatest boom ever known in the
Territory of New Mexico.