Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-01-26
HILLSBORO MINING DISTRICT.
Epome of Its Past Gloes As Productive Mineral Area and
Resume Of Present Development

The properties are now gradually falling
into monied h ands and the new owners
are planning extensive improvements.
There is ore enough developed to war
rant "A smeter here, but fuel is needed
and it requires the investment of capital
to procure that article. One thing that
should be disabused by the New Mexico
newspapers, is the apparent inclination
OF Coloradoans to believe that the great
Rocky mountain mineral belt terminates
at the Colorado line. Coloradoans are
prejudiced against New Mexico without
cause, for New Mexico has as good
mines as can be found anywhere in the
west and the production would keep
pace with Colorado localities If that
prejudice did not initiate against New
Mexico and retard the Introduction of
machinery such as is used in Colorado"
On the Porter group of mines 35 leas-
ers are working at a profit, and more are
assured of leases if they come to the dis
trict with practical knowledge of min
ing and sufficient money to hold them
selves up while starting work. The
management does not desire the class
who would prove burden to the local
merchants before demonstrating their
worth as miners. The Porter group
consists of eight claims, the Snake, OPP
portunity, Compromise No. l. Compro-
mise No. 2, Morning Star, Little King,
Quartzite and New Years. The working
shaft of the Snake is 800 feet deep and
that OF the Opportunity 470 feet. Be-
sides these, there are numerous other
shafts on the adjoining claims which
range from 80 to $50 feet in depth. The
Snake has about 1000 feet of under
ground development work and the other
claims about 1000 feet. Three veins
traverse the properties, the Snake vein
Opportunity vein and one cross vein,
The Snake vein has an average width of
20 feet and the walls are of porphyry and
diurite. In values this vein returns $40
per ton by straight amagamation. The
ore grows richer with depth, the best
values being found In the 35O-foot level
The width of the Opportunity vein is
five feet and that of the cross vein four
feet. The values in the Opportunity
vein average SIS per ton and the ore
chute is continuous so far as developed.
The Snake and Opportunity veins each
produce about 200 gallons of water per
day. Both shafts are provided with
complete hoisting works capable of sew
eral times more capacity than is neces
STATED by the present work of the leas-
ers. The veins are traceable a distance
of two miles. A Huntington stamp mill
and Wiley concentrating table treat
the ore for the easers at charge of "a
to S. per ton. The mill is located two
toiln hn IN
per cent royalties on all ores running
less than $50 per ton and 25 per cent on
ores running above that amount. The
mines are now producing under lease
about $4,000 per annum. The whole
average of the veins in the various
workings is $25 per ton. The Porter
group of mines is owned by Henry M.
Porter, of Denver, Colo, and Arthur
Hughes acts as local manager in Hills
boro.
Great interest Is manifested in the
Andrews operation nine miles from
Hillsboro. Success in this one instance
means success for the entire Las Animas
region, and the effect of Senator An
greatly enhanced value of surrounding
prospects. Although attempts were
made to discourage the senator and in
duce him to refrain from active develop
ment, he paid no attention whatever to
his advisors and pushed the work stead
ly forward. AS result he has prop
erty worth several times more than it
was when originally purchased. John
/. Thompson, an Old Mexico mining
man, is experimenting the general
operations and Pete Thompson has
charge of the underground workings in
the mines. Mr.. Thompson succeeded