Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-01-18
MINES AT HILLSBOR0
Fine Showing Made by the Miners
Of Sierra County Gold Dis
trict in 1897.
THE YEARS OUTPUT $S76,500
Production of Gold Was 6,l80 Ounces
Average Value Of Ore Milled Per
Ton Was $37. 50-Lease
System.

According to the Sierra County Advo-
cate, 9,204 tons of ore were mined and
milled in the Hillsboro district during
1897. This ore yielded 6,180 nee OF
gold, 81, 023 ounces of silver and 90 tons
of copper and the total value thereof
was $376, 500. The average value of the
ore per ton was $3.50.
Included in the above total is placer
gold to the value of $27, 600, which is not
considered in the average value per ton.
The value of the ore is computed at the
mines and before treatment. Nearly
one-ifth of the amount realized goes to
the railroads and shelters. The per-
centage saved at the mills has been
higher than ever before, but there is
still room for improvement in this line,
says the Advocate.
The remarkably high average value
of the ore must be ascribed to the gem
eral prevalence of the leasing system.
Only one mine, the Wicks, has been
worked under wages and has itself been
productive of high grade ore. In other
mines, where the lease has been sub
ject to royalty of 20 and 25 per cent and
a mill loss of 20 per cent, it has not paid
to handle ore of less than $40 per
ton value. As a result the output of the
| camp shows a decrease in tonnage and
in gross value, while on the other hand
profits have been larger than in former
years. The leasing system is eminently
devised to effect the greatest good for
the smallest number and at the greatest
IN <bn ,~irn, lY,f &c thn nyunnNc
and leaserS are satisfied it is nobody's
else business. 1t is only fair to the
leasing system to add that the merchants
find that while the volume of business
has decSeased, on the other hand cOllec-
tions have been better than ever before
and they have incurred no losses worth
mentioning.
Even with leasing, a considerable e
pansion of mining would ensue if the
owners would adopt a more scientific
scale of royalty.
There have been enough miners sue
~cessful in realizing considerable sums OF
money during the past year to make the
business attractive to others and there
is scarcely an instance where men have
failed to make expenses. On the prin-
cipal mines extensively developed, the
Richmond, Snake and Opportunity, a
liberal policy of long time leases has
been inangurated and we may look to
see more than twice the present number
of miners find profitable employment
during the next few years.
Three considerable investments OF
capital in this district during the past
year claim attention, both for the mag
nitude of the expenditure already made
and for the promise and hope which may
exist in their future operations. The
Mesa del Orc Placer Mining company
has expended a large sum in actual pur
chase Of the largest and most valuable
placer claims of this district and has
also paid out a great deal of money fol
thorough exploration and sampling O.
these fields and for extensive surveying
work to determine the most feasible ant
economical method of exploitation. Thu
business-like procedure of this company
lisa guarantee of ultimate success, and tt
this source alone we look to see the golt
output of the Hillsboro district amour
to something Of national Importance
within the next few years.
The Llewellyn cyanide works in Dutcl
gulch, now nearing completion, is an
other matter of great promise and i'm
p~ortance. The cyanide process is NJ
longer a MATTER of experiment, for'i
is now considered more reliable and Ger
tain than even the old system of anal
gamation with mercury. Nearly 1O'
cyanide plants are in operation in diff
ferent portions of the western United
States and territories and to this proc
ess is principally due the rapid increase
in the gold production of the country
The Llewellyn company design to trea
custom ores at a fair rate, but will rel,
on some extensive mining to keep TIN
works in operation.
The New Mexico Dry Concentratin,
company has also made a considerable
investment here in purchase of mine
and in building of a mill. As to til,
merit of the process the Advocate is no
we'll informed, but hears favorable re
ports from those qualified to Judge ant
with all Hillsboro people hopes that i
may prove an unqualified success. A
to the value of the mines acquired b,
the company there is no doubt-the!
are first rate and bound to pay.