Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-05-28
Established March g. 1884, The Pioneer Paper Arizona.
AN ACTIVE LOCALITY
WHAT THE RAILROAD IS DOING
 FOR EASTERN YAVAPAI.
Success of Big Bug Steam Shovel Enterprise.---The Big TreadweII Shelter. .---Crazy Basin to the Front. Mayer a Busy Center.

In and around the town of Mayer today there seems to be a substantial era of prosperity evident. The build ing of the railroad from that point to the Bradshaw mountains has not only stimulated the industry there, as it has done elsewhere, but it has given mining more of legitimate rating and regard that could not otherwise have prevailed under the old conditions in transportation facilities. The progress of this road is daily assuming an in terested regard. The project of building this road may be stated to be the salvation of the mining indus try of the Bradshaw mountains and points along its route, as well does it give the industry of the entire county a rating that heretofore it has never enjoyed. What the P. & E. early did for Big Bug and adjacent points, so will the Bradshaw branch do for the latter, only though on a more mag nifcent scale. In mining as in other pursuits, transportation facilities must be considered as of paramount i'm portance, and without such conven- fences capital can not be induced to invest. The Bradshaws are believed to be treasure vault of mineral, and so we'll established are they in this regard that the railroad is the only solution of demonstrating that claim. This road is now the scene Of much life in its work of going ahead, and as each rail is laid it may also be said interest grows in its construction. It is operated now for two miles from Mayer, while for a distance of eight miles from that place, camps are es- tablished and working. A force of over 800 men are now engaged, and as the work progresses more will be placed on it. The contract is for six teen miles from Mayer, and by the time snow flies it is expected that the road will be in operation that distance. This will take the terminus of the road to within ten miles of Crown King. Mining camps along the route of the road already feel the stimulat- ing effects of its building and invest ors are daily coming in to purchase and examine properties. The out look is certainly a bright and encourag- ing one, and when the road is com pleted to the initial point, or before for that matter, the universal belief is that there will follow for mining a deeper interest than has ever before been given it, and the production will according be greatly increased
 A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
 Some months ago the inauguration of the steam shovel at Mayer was at tended with open expressions of dis regard by the average miner, but to- day the opposite prevails. Under the of William Lester of the Mayer Placer company, who was the first to introduce this method of handling the soil of Big Bug, there has followed his efforts successful and continuous run, and now after five months of steady operation he publicly states that the machine han dies the ground satisfactorily and the ground yields proftably. A novel feature in connection with the enter. prise not generally known, is that the creek bed is not worked, but the mesa on table land adjacent is mined. The soil is gravel in some places and is imbedded in adobe. The latter carries the yellow metal, and through the mechanical genius of MT. Lester he now has a machine that handles this commodity that has heretofore baffied similar projects. So success ful is this steam shovel that four more have been ordered and will be put to work on adjoining ground. A force of twenty men are employed in this camp, and from the expense of run ming it, some idea can be formed of the production that follows.
 MINING MATTERS.
 The erection of the smelter for the Treadwel mining company at Mayer iS nOyU heinp prOSacuted with all