Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1901-08-07

their visit to the properties of the Al tar Mining company, in Altar district Sonora, Mexico, so many inquirie. have been directed to them concern ing the results of their investigation, that they have decided to give out for publication a statement of what they saw and learned, for the infor nation of those who purchased the first issue of stock, as well as the pub lie generally. Accordingly they have authorized the following, with the as surance that special care has been observed to avoid exaggeration in every detail, and give only the exact facts. This assurance coming from these we'll known gentlemen is quite sufficient to satisfy those acquainted with their characters and high stand ing in this community. For the bene- fit of others, however, it may be said that they are both old residents of Jerome, and men in whom both friends and acquaintances have found reason to place implicit confidence. Mir. Mitchell, who is a metallurglst of may years experience, is the present superintendent of the United Verde copper company's shelter MT. Cor diner is member of the firm of Hoover & Cordiner, proprietors of the Fashion saloon in Jerome, and has had much practical experience in mining:
 The properties of the Altar Copper Mining company consists of two groups comprising 13S pertenencias, or about 345 acres, all under patent from the Mexican government. The Montana Verdi group which contains 62 pertenencias, or about 155 acres, is situated three miles from the Altar river, and about 40 miles northwest erly from Santa Ana, a town on the Sonora railway, 65 miles south of No gales. It is easily accessible from Santa Ana by splendid wagon road, and the cost of freighting to and from that point is only Sl0 per ton in Mexican money or 8 in gold. The town of Altar, the seat of the district. lis B miles distant in southwesterly direction from the group. by an equally good road. The altitude at the Montana Verdi is about 2,OO0 feet above sea level. Along the Altar river, within a few miles of the prop erty, are a number of productive ranches, and couple of four mills. The face of the country on and in the vicinity of the group may be said to be mountainous, though the noun tains are not high or steep, and re- semble more rolling hills. There is an abundance of timber suitable both for fuel and mine timbering within easy distance and accessible by wagon. The Altar river is a peren- nial stream, having a good flow of never failing water, more than suffi- cient to supply the ranches along its banks. Its waters can be very easily made available for use upon the Mon tana Verdi, by the construction of ditch to tap the stream short dis tance above the mine, and the com pany is now negotiating with the owner of large water rights in the river, for the purchase of the right to divert sufficient water to supply the property in this manner for all time to come.
 The group as whole is not espe- cially rough, being rather undulating, but the surface over nearly the entire area, is much broken by almost in numerable rock croppings and promi- nences of nearly all shapes and sizes. These croppings do not appear to be in ledge formation, but project in the form of great detached masses and bOulders without any regularity whatever in the manner of their em- placement. Everywhere they show vivid green in color, and examination shows them to be largely carbonates of copper, oxides of copper and OK ides of iron, of all kinds and grades, the carbonates predominating. In the depressions between these masses of croppings, the surface is earth which has evidently been formed to considerable extent from the decom- position of rock croppings, judging from its appearance, and is strewn over with small pieces of float of the same general character as the rock. This earth or dirt, however. is very superficial, and it is only necessary to dig a short distance before rock close ly resembling the surface croppings is encountered. Assays of this sur face rock made after returning to Jerome, show that it will run on an average six per ceEt in copper, and NIT. Mitchell is of the opinion that there is enough of it in sight to fully | justify the installation at once of d | lCO0-tOn blast furnace on the proper ty and the commencement of smelt- ing operations on a substantial scale. The cost of freighting to and from Santa Ana would be more than over come by the cheapness of both labor anI fuel. The established wages of dIill men is & per day in Mexican money, or Sl in gold. Outside men receive S1.75 per day, S7l cents in gold Hardwood for steam can be bought at S2.50 per ton in gold.
 The work already done upon the property is not extensive. A vertical shaft has been sunk to depth of 65 feet. An examination of the walls of this shaft shows an exceedingly irreg- ular formation and multiform charac- ters of rock, varying from rich sul- phides of copper near the surface. to blue slate impregnated to some ex- tent with quartz, streaked with sul- phides at the bottom. Assays of ore taken from the upper part of the shaft run from to 10 per cent copper. It is the intention of the company to continue the shaft to a depth of 10C feet, and then drift through the ore
 body. A large force of men is now at work.
 It is impossible for any person tc
 look over this group, to walk over anc among the masses of mineralized roch