The copper era., 1901-07-11
ARIzoNA's PIONEER COPPER CAMP.

/ renci country are more than promising,
| is the verdict OF all who are here or
are familiar with it, and although still
only third on the list Of copper camps
OF Arizona, the declaration Is made
/ by mining engineers OF international
reputation that this district viii in a
short time stand not only at the head
OF Arizona's red metal producers. but
will soon rival Butte, in Montana.
| They also assert this camp shows more
good ore on the surface than any other
camp visited by them, and when you
consider that our section shows min
eralized area five miles by fifteen, this
means much.
Our present producers are 1t work
improving and increasing their capa-
city as fast as money and men can do
i t, since the Arizona and New Mexico
railroad has been standardized. This
road is the property OF the Arizona
Copper Company, but other companies
operating here are focusing their ener-
gies in an effort TO increase the output
of this camp. Principal among these
is the Shannon Copper company, which
will erect smelling plant and con-
meet it by rail with the town of clifton.
The CliftOn-Morenci camp to speak
Of it as one camp, has population of
about 5000. 1t is really divided into
two districts-Copper Mountain and
Greenlee Gold Mountain-but to separ-
ate them would be like splitting an egg
in two.
In Copper Mountain district are To-
Gated such famous mines as the Long
fellow, the first copper producer of Ari-
IONA, the Humboldt the largest ore de-
posit of the Arizona Copper company
and many other good mines owned by
the same company; also all of the De-
troit Copper company's mines, besides
many other prospects of prominence.
Most of these latter prospects are now,
however, under bond to the General
Electric company, whose capital is
practically unlimited, and who spent
years examination before concluding
the deal, which includes over eighty
claims.
There are several home companies,
lately organized, operating in this dis
trict with flattering results. Among
them the Home Copper company, the
Santa Rosa Copper company, and 9TH
ers, which it is fair to assume, will in
time become producers, bat as | am
not thoroughly acquainted with this
part OF our camp, | will let others,
more competent describe its POSSIBLE
tiles, nor do | consider it necessary to
here enumerate all operations at pres
ent under way, since our local paper,
the COPPER ERA, keeps the public well
posted in respect to them.
In Greenlee district are many OF the
best paying mines of the Arizona Cop
per company, chief among which is the
Metcalf, about seven miles above Cliff
ton. Then besides the Shannon. which
is becoming famous for its large bodies
company, the Clifton-ArizOna Copper
company which controls some forty
odd claims; the New England Copper
company, reOrganized out of the old
Copper King company, and others, all
of which will help to increase the total
output of copper here.
But our prospectOrs are also waking
up out of their long trance and are de-
veloping their properties with zeal
never before attempted here
MIR. E. f. Frye of Clifton, is inter-
ested with Mr.. w. NJ. Griffith and Mr..
B. f. JOssey of Tucson, in two groups
the Last Chance, of six claims, and the
Yelled Prophet, of five claims; on the
latter OF which there has been found in
a crosscut at the end of a 200-fOot tun-
mel, a ledge fourteen feet wide, five
feet of which is sulphide copper ore,
ounces to each per cent. of copper.
This group adjoins old producing mines
of the Arizona Copper company, and is
located within 1000 feet of an incline
in operation. The group is also sur
rounded by other Arizona Copper COM
pany properties, It's nearest point be-
ing within a quarter of mile of the
"iewel' of our district-the original
Shannon mine. Mr.. Frye is also inter-
ested in the defiance group, -four
claims which, although undeyeloped,
has a very fiattering surface Indication
This group is on the same strike as the
Shannon mine, and within half a
mile of it. Besides these, there are
other good properties in this district,
which are only awaiting development
TO prove the high opinion in which our
camp is held by mining men.
When the writer of this sketch first
came to Clifton, the combined produc-
ton of the Arizona Copper company
and the Detroit Copper company was
between 500 and 600 tons of black cop
per per month. Today it is nearly 2OOO |
tons, and by the first of the year it is |
expected to reach $500 to 1000 tons per
month.
Some of our enterprising civil en-
gineers are now preparing map of |
the whole CliftonMorenci district, |
which will, no doubt, be much sought |
after by mining men.
In conclusion, l wish to draw your |
a tfention IN the eranaral DrOSDar;t,- Of |