The Florence tribune., 1898-10-15
ABOUT THE VERDE.
The Great Copper Mine Was Once Con.
 demned.
From the Phoenix Republican,

From the Phoenix Republican,
 Senator Alexander Benham of Los Angeles spent yesterday in Phoenix re- newing old acquaintances. The Sem ator was seen by Republican reporter at the Ford last night just before his departure for Tucson, and he talked Interestingly of his travels in Arizona in the days of the Tombstone excite ment.
 "I came to Arizona first in 1884," said the Senator. My first visit to the territory was with John Parish, whom had engaged to examine for me what is now the United Verde mine. We spent some time there together, and Mir. Parish made careful exami- nation of the mine and the adjacent mineral country. He condemned the United Verde, and I relied upon his Judgment and did not purchase the property, although I had the money with which to pay for it. If I hnd known as much of mining then as do now the United Verde would have been mine. have since become familiar Ssish the property through many long -Fisits with Mir. ". A. Clark, the owner, 7athisshome in Montana: He is very proud ot the property. hear mining men speak of the 'ledge' of the Verde. There is no ledge there, and there never was one. On the surface there were large number of small stratas which lead from the surface to the great deposit in the heart of the noun tain. These stringers were sent out merely to invite the prospector's pick. You hear the ledge of the Verde var iously estimated at from 250 to 800 feet in width. }. There is, as a matter of fact, no end to the great deposit or zone up to the present development of the mine. The expression, there is a mountain of it. which you often hear in the hills, can be applied to the Verde with impunity. It is without question the biggest mine in the world. If it were more favorably located it would to-day be greater copper producer than the Calumet and Hecla."
 "Mr. Clark says the Verde will be- come the greatest producer in the world. As fast As he can build ground with slag he will add new smelting facilities. What has become of John Parish? He travels on the ceast and in Colorado and Nevada, and has the reputation of being very competent mining expert.D
 Senator Bepham was in Tombstone iu the early days. He believes that Tombstone will become an important camp again some day. ''You heard, :" said he. "of the project to open up the deep workings on the comstoek lode ? Well. the Tombstone mines will be opened up in the same way. There seems to be no end to the possibilities in deep mining. Tombstone will be better camp some day than 1t ever wHa."
 When asked his opinion about the recent discoveries in Arizona in the desert regions, he said: "There will be new strikes in these desert hills ire quently. Arizona is buta a part of the great mineral zone which traverses the western side of this continent. There are many lodes yet hidden which the action of time with it's erosive winds and floods will denude. Any person travelling in the desert regions can see that the formation of the mountains and hills are susceptible to this ten dency on the part of the clements. The blind leads will have to give up their gold some day. This accounts for the discoveries we hear of in the desert hills, to my mind"