Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-07-22
BIG MINING MEN.
They Pass Through on Their Way Home TO
Arizona.

| Passenger train No. yesterday after
noon carried quite prominent delega-
tion of Arizona mining representatives
on their way home from q trip east.
William Melczer and J. j. Hardwicke
of Phoenix formed part of the party,
having been to New York City to COM
plete the details OF sale of mining
property in Mexico, which they recent
ly made for $3,0O0,OO0. Messrs. Melc-
zer land Hardwicke receive $1,000,OC0
in cash and $2O00,0OO in stock in the
new company.
Mr.. Melczer was accompanied on his
return home by his son, Ralph II. Melc-
ger, who has been attending college in
the east. The young man is an excep-
tionally bright and intelligent student
and is destined to make his mark in
the world, independent of any good for
time that may be showered upon him
through parental influence and sources.
Mr.. Melczer sr. took advantage of the
stop of The train here to stretch his
legs as the saying goes, on the depot
pavement. He evidently viewed the
Castaneda surroundings with interest
aud made inquiry as to weather condl-
tions here.
II should like very much" he said,
ito spend a solid month sometime at
the Montezuma hotel but know that 1
cannot this year, as | have been away
from home twice already on extended
business trips
Another member of the party was
Colonel q. q. Bean, who is known
throughout the length and breadth of
Arizona as a man of public affairs and
mining operator. Colonel Bean seems
to have made the strike of his life in
the famous Ojo mine, situated about
sixty miles south of ella Bend.
"Yes, have been to New York city,"
said the noted gentleman in response
to an inquiry. ~ went there to visit
wife, children and grandchildren. After
living twenty-five years in Arizona, l
found that the children had all married
off and we're living there. My wife told
me; we have lived in Arizona for
quarter of century and now I'm going
to New York to live. If you don't
come and visit us every two months,
I'll sue you for divorce,
$50 it keeps me-" said the colonel
with jolly laugh, "busily engaged in
making frequent trips back east to see
my wife"
"How is the Ojo mine coming along"
asked the reporter.
"Splendidlyl' said Colonel Bean en-
Enthusiastically. II bought the mine out
Of sheer evaporation. The first thing
l did after buying the fifteen claims al
ready patented was to purchase the
Copper King claim adjoining and sew
eral other claims as well, so that / now
have twenty three claims and control
an area l.500x60O feet of exceptionally
rich copper-bearing property. In de-
veloping the old property went right
down through the old workings and
struck big rich sulphide vein, 40 per
cent pure copper. l have been ship
ping the ore to the reduction works at
Silver City and have been realizing 500
ton on the ore shipped.
"While in New York City / called
upon Coils p. Huntington, president
| of the Southern Pacific railroad, in re-
lation to building branch line to the
| Oh mine. He assured me that If suffi-
cient traffic is assured he will build the
road. Well. think we can guaEan tee
shipments of from 200 to 300 tons a
| day"
i The interesting conversation was cut
short by the vAll aboardp' of the con-
dpctor of the train and the ARIZONA
/ mining men hastily mounted the Pull.
man car steps,
| The Oio mine is one of the oldest-if
mot, indeed, the very ollest-of any in
IArizona. It was operated long before
the advent of the Southern Pacific rail-
i road in a crude and limited way, the ore
being packed for hundreds of miles on
bnrros. 1t was so rich. however, as to
enable the operators to do this with
profit. The workings were shallow,
however, and the velus at last appar-
emily pinched out AMI the Ojo was al
lowed to remain idle. In looking over
she Territory for an opportunity for
mining investment Colonel Bean
thought of this rich, old mine.
He thought that ig some money
was epent II going deeper the
: Tsahlt would be the same in the
ease Of the 0io rs Ia numeFous other
instances ii AFIzoua. lie accordingly
applied his pluok and cash TO the ven
tnfe end saems destined to reap rich
land splendid reward,