The Arizona sentinel., 1900-10-31
CASTLE DOME DISTRICT.

CASTLE DOME DISTRICT.
 The veins of the Castle Dome district may be said to have been rediscovered in l863 for it was evident that they had been anciently worked as already stated in the historical introduction. The metal had been taken out from many of the I veins by the ancient miners down to depth of l from to 15 feet and in continuous lines of trenches, in some places for 50 to 100 feet or more These old workings were found to be safe guides to good metal bearing ground a short distance deeper. Well worn trails leading | of from these pits to the banks of the Gila river, some IS miles distant, and the ruins there of some rude smelling furnaces, indicate | that the ores were carried to the Gila, probably On the backs of Indians, and that they were smelted there, whether by the AztecS or the | early-arriving Spanish explorer is not known. Since 1863 these mines have been worked almost continuously, and are now yielding silver-lead ore of most excellent quality, which is shipped to San Francisco. The claims were worked by the proSpectorS without capital until October, 1 1870. Up to January 1, 1892, there had not been | an investment of over $500 in building or per manent improvements. The climate is such that men can work he year round without no more protection than IS afforded by brush, hutS |
 or tents.
 The veins crop out on a rolling plain or mesa at the base of the Castle Dome range, a very rugged and picturesque group of mountains trending northwest and southeast, rising near the center to the remarkable dome-shaped sum- init with precipitous sides, looking like huge round castle or building with dome. It is a noted landmark, being visible from a great dis tance in all directions. It was originally called Capitol Dome" by the officers at Fort Yuma in 1853, from the fancied resemblance to the dome of the capitol at Washington. This mountain range, being but sparingly- watered, has never been convenient to prospect and very little is yet known of its structure or mineral value The mines are usually reached from Yuma by driving to Gila City and thence to the mine, from 16 to IS miles cast and inland from the river. The claims are numerous. Some have been patented and worked to a depth of 800 feet or more. The veins are re- markably regular and well formed. The ere is galena, carrying about 30 ounces of silver to each ton. The veins trend in a neral northwest and southeast course and are nearly vertical. The outcrops are in- dicated by outlying masses and weather worn crystals of flourspar. which is the chief veinstone. Calcite and gypsum are also found, and in some of the veins there is vein- stone of quartz dispersed in sheets or combs along the walls or in distinct sheets in the center. Manganese spar and barite are also as- sociated in layers. The thickness or power of | these veins is usually from to feet, sometimes from 8 to 12 feet, wide. There are veins also ! only few inches in width In general the veins are well filled with ore. This ore occurs in sheets or punches scattered through the vein- stone and commonly known among the miners as ball metal. In one mine in the district mass of nearly solid ore feet thick was found
 At or near the water level, where the galenite I has decompoSed, both carbonate and sulphate i of lead are found associated with pale-green ! luorite and an abundance of crystallized yellow wulfenite another occurrence giving evidence of the presence of molybdenum in galenite.
 The rocks of the district are compact fine grained mica and clay states standing nearly on edge and traversed by numerous dikes or intru- sive masses of a chocolate-colored porphyry.
 THE CHA VALLEY.
 The Gila valley extends from the Gila canyon near the junction of the San Pedro river, west erly to the east bank of the Colorado, distance Of slightly exceeding 250 miles, That portion ot it situated in the county of Yuma, known as the Lower Gila valley, is about 100 miles long and from 3 to 10 miles wide, all of which is suscept ible of profitable cultivation. The river from which it takes it's name cuts the | valley in two. It's watershed extends some 3( miles north and upward of 50 miles south of its channel the land from either extreme inclining moro or less rapidly toward the stream. The Gila traverseS a marvelously fertile country very great in extent, and splendidly adapted tC the cultivation of nearly all the products of the temperate and semi-tropic zones, besides many of the fruits common in the tropics. Nor i; this longer a matter of idle speculation, fol dourishing ranches in various portions of tho valley, drawing water from several important canals amply demonstrate the magnificent results that will ensue should the water supply be rendered permanent, equable and adequate through appropriate storage systems.
 This consists of broad expanSe of tillablt valley land, sometimes overfowed by the river which is at times mighty uncertain, and steer range of volcanic hills coming close to the high ways, for a dozen miles or so, hot. heavy, sandy It is hardly fair to say sandy as it is really friable alluvial soil of grayish hue and loose texture. Several ranches are passed, showing that the Gila bottom is cultivated With jrri gation every square mile of the Gila valley is capable of producing prolific crops of grain and semi-tropical fruits, as well as cotton and sugar in great abundance. The river is able to fur nish all the water needed and good deal more It would take no great skill in engineering and not very large sum Of money either to con