Arizona republican., 1901-08-11

could be ascertained, is a soft granite. At the 154-foot level a cross cut was run to striks the vein. This part of the work could not be examined owing to the fact that there was still about AS feet of water in the shaft; but the former owners stated that in this cross cut they passed through A fset of granite and 12 feet of mineralized vein matter when a great flow of water was encountered forcing them to abandon the work The water appeared to come from regular Assure, probably the same that was entered by the winZe above. They managed, how ever, to enter this Assure three feet and obtained some samples before they were driven out by the water. It was estimated that at this cross cut there must be from 12 to l5 feet of vein mat ter yet to cut before reaching the hang ing wall. The vein matter is more than double the width here that it is in the 50-foot tunnel above. and the quartz, feldspar and clay seams or tale are in the same relative position, hav- ing only greatly increased in width. The samples upon being assayed were found to contain a greater percentage of copper than the ore in the drift above. The Assure on the surface does not contain large percentage of cop per, but 1t is found in the form of sul- phidfs almost altogether. At a depth of thirty feet in the shaft the ore is much higher grade running from to per cent, and is quite uniform in char acter The assays taken as whole, show that the ore in the Assure contain from three to five dollars to the ton in gold and silver values.
 From the present development any practical mining man would be con- vinced that the property is a mine, for there Is every certainty of cutting a great width of vein at a depth of from three to five hundred feet
 The development work planned by the company on this mine after the water has been removed, is the exten- sion of the l54 foot cross cut until the full width of vein has been cut, and the continuation of the shaft to the d pth of 300 feet where another c,p5scut will be made. The water was being re- moved by means of a whip" and from the headway that had already been made since work was started the shaft must have been drained in ten days from that time. Some provision will have to be made for the constant flow of water. but the probabilities are that the great inundation of the shaft was due to the water ressrvored in the fis- sure above where it came into the cross cut, and that there will be little diffi- culty in handing it once the shaft and Assure are drained.
 The cost of labor is the same as at he Montana verdi. The company now have at work all the force that can be worked to advantage, and will con- tinue on at the rate of two shifts a day.
 There are three excellent prospects in the San Jose group outside of the mine itself. The ore in these Is in the form of carbonates and oxides and is found in veins three to five feet wide, one of which can be readily traced for a long distance. Another is capped on a hill by an immense hematite iron mass which itself carries copper. All these have good wagon roads from one another and to the mine.
 Ten additional pentenencIas have been taken up by the company along the side lines of the San Jose to pre- vent future possible interference.
 Although freighting by wagon to and from Altar or even Tucson is not ex pensve owing chiefly to the splendid roads, it will not be long that this means of transportation will have to be depended upon, for a narrow guage railroad is now under process of con- structlon from a point on the Gulf of California to Altar and probably to connect with the Sonora road. From statements made by MT. Holmes who Is the chief protector and manager of the road, it was learned that the route already selected will bring it within