The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-24
SOMETHING ABOUT RICHES
Data Relating to Mining in
Western Country,

| MI. Harry LOCKWOOD or the Midnight
Extension Mining company, was in good
humor yesterday to talk about mining
matters, and for half an hour or more
| he RECALLED a reporter for the Eagle with
some very interesting data relating to
mining in the west. He said:
'The mining business in general, and
gold mining in particular, has assumed
| proportions never dreamed of a half
century ago. Vast quantities Of gold
have been obtained and are still being
| taken from placer deposits, but it Is an
| acknowledged fact that the world supply
must in future come from the under
ground veins and deposits, and the peo-
pie Of a vast area in Northern New Mex
leo are today discovering and uncover
ing the surface strikes Of immense veins
of metallic ores. The area of vast min
ing districts ara 50 great that state
ments regarding the length and breadth
Of territory throughout which veins Of
gold and ether metal-bearing ores are
found, are often looked upon as alb
surd, but ar investigation will at any
tim. sustain the fact. The district OF
which I speak more particularly COM
prises the section known as the LeBelle
district % Northern New Mexico. Be
yond this the Elizabethtown placers
which have produced millions, and the
Badly mines, the product of which ex-
ceeds that of the placers. The LaBelle
fields where developments have been in
progress for the past three years with
the most fiattering results, the Cabresto,
where true assure veins Of gold and sill
yer are numerous, and last, but not
least, The Amizett district, where the
values of binerals, of formations and
varieties have long been a puzzle to
most geologists, and prospectors have
during the past two years developed
some very rich properties. All these diff
ferent parts or so-called districts, lying
in various counties, upon grants and
government: land, go tomake up one vast
mining district of over five thousand
square miles.
Away hack in the Sixteenth century
the old Spanish explorers were led north
from their lately acquired possessions In
search OF gold fields from which the an
Gent inhabitants of Old Mexico had OBJ |
tanned the vast quantities OF that metal |
which they possessed at the time of the |
conquest, and it is a well known fact |
that when the explorers came north they |
were led on the descriptions of the |
Aztecs and the traditions of the Pueb- |
los as far as Northern New Mexico, and |
though little is known of these first pio-
reeTs, it is a matter of fact that a great |
deal OF wealth was taken from the
mines during the first century OF Span
,;1a he I,ro
ed as slaves and poems, and the element
of progressiveness was greater factor
in their character, than ii is in that of
their descendants. However. the fact
remains that soldiers were at various
times sent into this part of the country
tc guard shipments OF millions OF dollers'
worth OF gold sent out to the mother
and ancient workings are found
the district which prove be-
yond a question that at least a part OF
this product came from this section.
THE first mining operations in later
years consisted Of a very limited amount
Of prospecting, performed during the la.-
ter sixties. and a few years later some
was done for copper. The
search for gold did not begin IN
III 1874 SkAtilS VI 1919, NAiSu |
practical prospectors and miners became
interested and began the actual develop
ment OF the claims and prospects which
have since been put upon a basis where
all tha. is needed 10 make immense
products is the putting in of a few re-
1uction plants and the necessary mining
machinery. The risk has all been run,
he value and extent Of the mineral de-
rosits have been demonstrated beyond
question. and the investment of capital
n good paying properties of LaBelle
mining district. II is no longer spec
lila ton. but simple business transac-
ion OF value for value received"