The Arizona sentinel., 1901-02-06
CASTLE DOME DISTRICT.

CASTLE DOME DISTRICT.
 The veins of the Castle Dome district may be
 said to have been rediscovered in 1863, for it
 evident that they had been anciently worked, as
 already stated in the historical introduction.
 The metal had been taken out from many of the
 veins by the ancient miners down to a depth of
 from 6 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
 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,
 lS7O Up to January l, 1892, there had not been
 an investment of over $500 in building or per manent improvements. The climate is such
 that men can work the 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, 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 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 it's 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 east and inland from the river. The claims are numerous. Some have been patented and worked to a depth of 300 feet or more. The veins are re- markedly regular and well formed The ore is galena, carrying about 30 ounces of silver to each ton. The veins trend in a general northwest and southeast course and are nearly vertical. The outcropS are in- dicated by outlying masses and weather worn crystals of fOurSpar. which is the chief veiustOnc. 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 3 feet, sometimes from 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 a mass of nearly solid ore feet thick was found.
 At or near the water level, where the galcnite has decomposed, both carbonate and sulphate of lead are found associated with a pale-green huOrite 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 slates standing nearly on edge and traversed by numerous dil1es or intru- sive masses of a chocoIate-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 25O miles. That portion of it situated in the county of Yuma, known as the | Lower Gila valley, is about lCO miles long and from 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. Its watershed extends some 30 l miles north and upward of 50 miles south of its | channel, the land from either extreme inclining | more or less rapidly toward the stream. The | Gila traverSeS a marvelOuSly fertile country, | very great in extent and Splendidly adapted to | the cultivation of nearly all the products of the temperate and semi-tropic zones, besides many of the fruits common in the tropics. Nor is this longer q matter of idle speculation, for fourishing ranches in various portions of the | 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 a broad expanse of tillable 1 valley land. sometimes OverhOwed by the river | which is at times mighty uncertain. and steep | 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 irri- gation every square mile of the Gfla valley is | capable of producing prolific crops of grain and | fruits, as well as cotton and sugar in great abundance. The river is able to fur nish all the water needed and a good deal more. It would take no great skill in engineering and pot very large sum of money either to cor