Evening journal., 1899-07-08
IA GREAT COPPER FIELD
Thousands of Acres of Rich
Deposits.

ITS ROMANTIC HISTORY ANB |
DISCOVERY.
In 1868, during the late civil war be-
tween the states. when almost every
man in the State Of Texas, between the
ages Of 10 and so years, who was phys-
ically able to serve his country, was
in the Confederate Army and the Co
manche, Kiowa and Apache Indians
made frequent forays into what is now
the most prosperous and populous sec
tion Of Texas, Colonel J. b. Barry, in
command Of a battalion of Texas ran
gers pursued these predatory sayages
into what is now Archer county; then
a beautiful picturesque terra incognita
of gentle undulating hill and dale, COW
cred with wild flowers and nutritious
grasses, upon which were fattened
thousands of wild deer, antelope and
buffalo. making it a favorable hunting
ground Of the nomadic, primeval red
man.
A severe battle was fought, after
closing in with the Indians, in which
through greater prowess and equip
ment, the Texans We're as usual, vic
torious. When about to break camp,
copper ore of the richest quality was
found scattered all over an area OF
twenty-five to thirty square miles. on
the surface of the ground and Inn
bedded in the surface clay, and extend
ing several feet below, ranging in size
from a pea TO a goose egg Also In
solid veins running from the sides OF
the hills, and where the soft alluvial
soil had been washed away by rains,
the ore veins. protruding from the hill
side without support, would break on
and roll to the foot OF the hill in
chunks from two to five hundred
pounds in weight each, and sometimes
as large as a mans body; until, at the
time Of the discovery, 1t was estimated
that there had thus accumulated two
thousand tons of copper. IL was found
also in the blue clay, which beginning
at or within a few inches of the sur
face, would extend in depth from eight
inches to eight feet. This latter was
apparently almost exhaustless in guam
tity for whatever excavations were
made a few inches deep. this copper
bearing clay was always found. A
wagon load of the ore was hastily
gathered. and hauled to Austin, the
capital OF the state, some three hun
dred miles distant, and assayed by
Professor De Ryee. who was then and
for many years after, the state geolo-
gist and chemist of Texas. His assay
of the ore yielded from 43is to IS Ia
per cent. copper, and the copper bear
/ ing clay an average OF about Is pei
cent with an indefinite quantity OF sill
yer, gold. nickel, cobalt azurite anc
malachite. A large percussion gun cal
factory was at once erected at Austin
and operated successfully by Professor
De Ryee; and from that time to tn,
close of the civil war, in May, 1865
nearly all the percussion caps and full
minating material used in the Confed
crate Army we're supplied from thesI
copper deposits.
State GeolOgist William De Ryee wal
sent 10 investigate the source and vol
ume of these copper deposits, and he
reported that proper development
would demonstrate the existence Of tn,
greatest deposits Of copper, the cheap
est mined, the easiest smelted and tina
would pay the largest net profit Of am
in the United States. AT the Isbell lea,
or mine, which had been opened, h
made a cross cut about IS feet, and il
ten hours work, with men. raised g.,
600 pounds of ore. averaging go pc
cent, leaving more than as much agail
in small broken chunks, and nOdules
aggregating some or tons. or abou
1 800 pounds to the foot. He also fOunl
extensive deposits of similar ores ant
olays at various other places on tn
property, notably at the Douglas, Bal
and Winn leads, showing the great di
versity of the deposits, these four mail
leads being miles apart.
Professor William r. Cummins, VIII
was, during four consecutive admins
trations Of the states government, il
charge of the geological bureau of th
state Of Texas, and who subsequent
examined the property, confirmed Pre-
fessor De Ryee's report, and said
"The copper ore is practically on tn
surface. No great shafts to sink q
enormous costs, no 0ooding Of th
mines by water to cOnten
with: the ore, instead c
passing through seven different met
allurgical processes, passes throug
only two inexpensive ones, and instea
of yielding only two to five per cent. {
copper, as in some of the great payin
mines, it yields from 60 to 20 per cent
while the clay alone, running froi
eight inches to eight feet thick, YIELD
2 to 2S per cent, an average of PEI
! haps quite 10 per cent and instead {
Z requiring millions of dollars for
. plant to extract the metal, it will
b. lixiviated and precipitated by chemici
e means at insignificant expense.
J After the most careful and tho
I ough examination of this property
S different times for years past. my col
I viction is firm that no rational reasc
, exists why very great mine may M
be developed on the property, th
J would very soon return most gratif
9 ing results to the stockholders.
The Federal Government at Wasl
, ington, having learned of the existen
!, of this copper ore, the secretary of q
interior sent an exploring commissiC
under charge Of Professor ROessler.
most competent. experienced ohice
y