Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-11-23
THE SANTA RITA
COPPER MINES.
They are Being Systematically De-
veloped by the Company Now
Owning Them,
AN INTERESTING HISTORY.
They We're Operated Long Before the
American Prospector Game to Grant
County and Many Old Workings
Still Exist.

The copper mines of Santa Rita, To-
Gated IA miles east of Silver City, New
Mexico, began the production of cop
per long before the Aemrican prospect
or had come into being. According TO
accounts found in the archives of the
City of Mexico, the mines were aban-
doned by the Spaniards in 1850, having
been operated by them for many years
previous to that date, as is shown by
the size Of the dumps at the old work
ings.
History relates that two Spanish lie.l-
tenants, Romero and Charasco, with
number of Mexican poems and some
few soldiers, held the mines against
the Apache Indians and worked them
in spite of their hostility. Two old
adobe forts are still to be seen located
among the buildings occupied by the
present company. These two, with an
other recently demolished. are capable
of holding 30 men or more, and accord
ing to the historians We're often put
to good use in the hard battles with
the Apaches.
The Spanards hoisted their ore on
the backs of the miners, as is proved
by the discovery of some of their
buckskin sacks in the old workings.
The ore was carefully sorted and then
packed by means of burros either to
Chihuahua or the City of Mexico. His
tory also tells us that a large cave oc-
Cured in the workings; killing IA Mex
leans, and that on this account, and the
difficulties with the Indians, work was
finally stopped on the mine. Ample
evidence of this cave is shown on the
surface even today.
The present company, the stock of
which is largely owned in Boston, is
developing these mines after a system
attic manner for the first time in their
history. Three shafts are being sunk
by the company and drifts being run
to connect them, while about 40 leasers
are sinking shafts on the territory
| thrown open to them. Some of these
are working considerable forces on
! their leases. All of the leasers agree
to sell their ore, which runs above 10
per cent in copper. for 81 unit to the
company. which takes it on the dump.
The territory owned by the mining
company comprises an area of about
square mile. the center portion of which
| is reserved for development, while the
remainder is thrown open to leasers.
The ore occurs in stockwork of veins
! in a very soft, decomposed, porphyritic
rock, the veins varying in width from
knife blade seams of native copper to
bodies of low grade oxidized ore OF 3
or feet in width. The ore is OF al
most all varieties, including a consid-
cradle quantity of native copper. but
the carbonates and oxides predominate
at present depths.
A ton concentration, in connection
with which is a plant for teaching the
tailings with sulphuric acid, is work
ing on the various old dumps left about
the property by leasers and former
owners The water question, one OF
the most serious difficulties to contend
with, has been recently solved by en-
countcring stream of II miners inch
es in sinking one Of the shafts. This
supply continues and furnishes ma
terial almost as valuable as copper
ore in this region.
The mines support population of 800
, native and 200 Americans. The camp
is reached by spur from the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe railroad.