Graham guardian., 1898-12-09
CLIFTON AND MoRENCI.
Notes Cleaned on u Recent Visit by the
"CItizen" Correspondent.

S ne discovery OF tne mines
the Clifton and Morenci district
Q in 1870 marks an epoch in the hi
/ tory of Arizona copper mining
, Great as may have been the prt
, diction at that time of the result
to follow, it could hardly have es
eeeded the realization. Today W
find busy, prosperous population
in the two camps of about 400
people. Two great companie
prosecute mining in these districts
which, on account of their clos,
proximity and the similarity of th'
ore in each district, may be regard
ed as one and the same.
| Up to the year 1882, on accopn'
of the isolation of the mines, cos
of labor, lack of proper machinery
etc, only about 30,0o0,G00 pound:
of copper had been produced, most
ly from the Longfellow mine, the
Oldest copper mine in Arizona
At this date the Arizona Copper
Company secured control, upon
which 20-inch gauge track was
built up Chase Greek to the Long.
fellow, and the ore of the mine
was delivered to it by means ot
two gravity inclines, Later 36
inch gauge track was built to
Lordsburg, N. NJ, a distanca Of II
miles, thus connecting the mines
aud the S. P. r. r. At the same
time the 20inch gauge was extend.
ed two miles farther up Chase
Creek, and gravity tramways con
structed from it to the Metcalf,
Coronado, and Queen groups. In
this year smelling operations IN
the new works commenced, and it
forthwith became the largest cop
per producing camp IN the terri.
tory.
AS showing the steady advance
ment of this company it is noted
that in 1892 the output was but
6,000,000 pounds of pig copper,
three years later The output was
nearly doubled, and in 1896 the
amount reached 100000 pounds,
and the increase has been constant
since the latter period.
The original owners could not
treat successfully less than 20 per
cent ores, while with the present
improved facilities, ores as low as
3 per cent can be treated with
profit.
Much of the remarkable success
that has attended the efforts of this
company in the development of
this great property is justly ac-
corded to the efficiency and iaitn- ,
Iulness Of those in charge from Us
ncipiency. Among these are
James Colquhoun, the general |
superintendent; II. A. Arbuckie,
The old time engineer Of the 20 inch |
gauge, still on duty; Mike Readon,
on the n. III & 4. II. r.; /
J, &. Hopkins, secretary and treas /
lrer; l.. Fraissinet, store manager, /
George Gamble, locomotive en- 7
gineer; Alex Mclean, superlntend-
.nt OF the Metcait miue; and nearly /
1 score Of others-later arrivals, /
Put equally worthy Of attention.
The Detroit Copper Company, /
With headquarters at Morsnci, are
making fully "a substantial pro.
gress III the development Of their
property as the A. G. Company ofl
having rebuilt their smelt-
n last year, and enclosed the same
n a complete steel fire proof build
ng. They have introduced the
attest improved machinery. The !
has u capacity Of zoe |
ouS daily, "A hours run, requiring
'nly "A men to operate il, a new
'teel melting building is about to
DC erected. 1t is difficult for an
ordinary observer to conceive of
nuch greater convenience than has
1een adopted already. Even the
sag IS removed by an electric
nort0r. Three eOnverters run bv
gas engines, handle 70 tons OF dust
Drlrk daily, while, to economize. !
he gas rs manufactured from the
'onl used. The main stack for
+ "a" gases is l65 feet 10
leIght by seven feet in diameter.
a 400 ton concentiator is planned
or erecuOn, and will, il is expect
ID, be ready for operation by nexti
darrh. 1t will be run by gas en-
,'nes OF so horse power. The
for the concentrstor will
'equIe IL its construction about
900 cubic yards OF masonry.
A new 8-lnch pipe line from the
san francisco river, six miles from
u orencl, ~ about completed. TO |
orce the water an elevation Of
oUO feet requires live enormously
,oWtiiGi engines.
For the comSort and well beng
If employees, the company have
viSeiy Instituted hospital, library
md reading room, and billiard hall.
VI alter Douglas, ihe general super
ntendeul, though young man,
Ippears amply qualified for lis
iutieS, Gordon Mclean, Superrn-
endent of the underground work,
\ Of nnnrONed capAcltY. and hns =