The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1901-02-28

only on written order from senator
Clark Few such orders have ever
been written, and success has even at
tended Clark's effort to prevent the
examination Of the mine by minor
stockholders, who have appealed 10 the
law for mandate to that end. But
enough is known 10 know that the ore
body Is an almost perpendicular chin
ney. much as was that OF the Silver
King Of Pinal county. There are
many valuable copper properties round
about, but none OF them can prove their
claims TO being an extension of the
United Verde ore body.
In depth. development has run about
600 feet, but the diamond drill has
found pay ore To a depth Of l.4O0 feet
farther. ST. Clark il not anxious to sink
deeper just yes. IL width the ore
varies, bat j. not less than 600 feet in
any developed place. There are drifts
OF 400 feet in solid 'ore-ore that Will
pass 20 per cent. in copper and that
will give almost equal value in gold
and silver combined. Throughout the
ore is a sulphide, chalco-pyritic, Of the
basest character. Yet within the mine
are TO be found all needful huxes for
smelling. Even the silica used to line
the converter pots runs high in gold.
To the skilled miners who came from
other districts the mine is never
ending marvel, to be talked over and
compared. with other mines in the
daily discussions that accompany in
vestigatiou OF the dinner-buckets. Ac-
cording to the figures Of one OF these
WORTHLESS. and he AYERS that he had
made them carefully and understands
ingly. there il every assurance that in
the great chimney, from the surface to
the depth of drill development, there
is more than FIVE billions OF dollars
worth of copper, gold aud silver. They
could double the capacity Of the works
and even then run them for hundred
wears on the ore that is in sight was
the way be put it.
The mine is great single stope,
sub-divided for convenience in the run
Ming of ore chutes and limited mainly
by the necessity Of leaving ore pillars
or OF erecting timber setts OF the
strongest character. As it is, several
serious caves have occurred within the
last few years, the last one, only few
months ago, fairly twisting the central
workings out of shape. The foundry
and other shops on the great Stag
bridge above settled six feet deep and
i'm places were holes far deeper. Be-
low the shaft was thrown out OF
plumb" several feet and it is far from
straight even yet. Senator Clark was
in Jerome and authorized the sinking
OF Il new shaft. That this work is in
progress is not generally known, but it
i Il fact. 1t is being sunk" upward,
from the 500 foot level 1t is a mon
stcr in size. 50X1S feet, with four cage
compartments and the usual space for
pipes and ladders. Within few weeks
through the surface 900 feet distant
from the present shaft and entirely
without the ore body, thus obviating
the danger OF further settling and
warping. The old shaft viii be con-
tinued in use, mainly for hosting the
roast, which is run back into the mine
after firing on the hillside. but the
other ores will be hoisted in the new
shaft.
The United Verde has about 1000
men on the payroll, a very small per-
centage being skilled miners. machine
men and timbermen. The best of
wages are paid and eight hours cOnsti-
tute Il days work in the mine. 1t is
not an especially pleasant mine to work
in. rs is common in sulphide proper
ties. many OF the workings are int use
ly hot. Several Slopes have had to be
bulk headed and left unworked. the
percentage oi sulphur being so high as
To render dangerous the introduction
Of oxygen. The water dripping from
the roof in parts Of the mine is so
strongly impreguated with sulphur as
20 burn like caustic when it touches
the skin. Iron left in Il wet drift is
ruined within few days and much OF
the mines profit comes through the
precipitation Of copper upon iron scraps
in the sluicos below the open tunnels
through which the mine is unwatered.
In many respect, the United Verde
il thp most NpnIprfui t,rinn on aartb
1t is a treasury of wealth that might
pay the national debt. 1t makes its
ow ucr richer than kings and, mayhap,
will make him As powerful.
Pneumonia Can be Prevented.
This disease always results from a