Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1900-01-10
PROSPECTING UNDER DIFFICUL.
 TIES.
A Yavapaian Writes of His Expert ence in Hunting for Mine
 on the Desert.

In Camp, Jan. l, 1900-A happy new year. As I promised to drop you few lines now and then I now do so. went by the way of Phe- nix and took in the carnival, then back to Wickenburg to get my In dians. had some little trouble to get them to leave their camp, but since we have been out have had no no further trouble with them. They seem to take as much interest in prospecting and getting information for me as I do.
 Wickenburg is the highest priced place on the railroad to buy supplies. Barley in Phenix at 90 cents co Sl.25 in Wickenburg, every thing else in proportion. Saw the De- vine brothers at Sunset. They are trying hard to sell their property and get back to Yavapai. They want to get out of this section. At Harrisburg MT. and Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Cnmble, Jack Raric, and the Vickers family, all old Yavapaians, are still holding out, Also Miss Carrie Gull yer, who is teaching school.
 But matters have changed some at Harqua Hala under the leasers. Last year the prospector was well come, water was free for both man and beast; eyen. assays were often made without charge. But under the present management water is 12a cents per head for stock and 50 cents per barrel. Anything you could touch with a ten-foot pole Is charged for. There are two rumors aaoat, one to the effect that they have struck it richer than ever, which the facts don't bear out, and the other that they ran three thous- and dollars behind in their last clean up. The mine is working some forty men, Mexicans and Indians. Ten stamps are dropping day and night, but not on ore, but granite from the mountain side which they clam runs from S2 to S6 per ton and it costs less than S2 to mine and mill it. One blast breaks down sev- eral tons, which takes several men to load and team to the ore bins.
 From Harrisburg we went to Finkbinder's camp, where we had plenty of company, as between thirty and forty Indians camped with us that night, and again the next night at the Alamo. There was an 18- year-old Indian girl with them by the name of Polly Ria Virelta, that had gone to school eight years. She could read and write and spoke Eng fish fuently. She said she was a good cook and good housekeeper. She told me she worked when she could get it and that she generally received S8 per month; that she had cooked and washed for a mining camp aud received $10 month, but tie work was too hard and she quit, and added, significantly, that they hired a white man and gave him $40 per month and he didn't have any washing to do. This tells the whole story; because her skin was a shade or two darker, although she did more work she received but one quarter the wages.
 There are several head of stray horses in the Alamo country. Pros pectors tell me that the old ones disappear and new ones take their place. That last spring there was a fine pair of sorrels there but they have been taken away. This seems to be horse exchange and it might be advisable for Yuma county offic- ials to investigate.
 There are three different tales among the Indians as to the loca- ton where the Frenchman was killed, and the story is getting badly mixed. One party was killed at A Peaks, the other at the Alamo, and the third at White Tanks. I have examined very closely into the first two. If any old Indians know it is doubtful if they will ever tell. After I am through here will look through the White Tank section,
 1 filled my water barrels and left Alamo Christmas morning. I am now in camp thirty-fve niles from Palomas. Met MT. Hubbard on his way into the Harqua Haia mine. He was passenger on the buck board. He was getting his money s worth as he was about three times as large as his fellow passenger. The driver should charge by the pound,
 The section where I am has been but little prospected. I have sent all the horses to Palomas and have the stage driver haul me water for which I pay him five cents a gallon. He leaves ten gallon keg by the side of the road every other day. We get it and carry it to our camp some distance away. This IS pros pecting under difficulties, but we may be happy yet. The King of Arizona has shut down for want oi water. In that camp water is worth ten cents a gallon and they don't want to sell It at that. Besides the Frenchman's mine I have two other special objects that I came dowr here after. Should not be success ful in either of these, in the future I will stay in Yavapai county. Ii may be little colder in winter, but it is not SD long between drinks.
 CAB.