The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1902-01-09
DEVELOPING GOLD PROPERTIES


The decline in copper has given a re-
markable impetus 10 gold mining in all
sections. This is especially noticeable
in the Clifton district, where in early
days gold mining was the chief indus
try of the camp, and while no big gold
mines were ever developed, there
probably would have been had not cop
per come to the front. The writer can
remember when there were large
number OF arrastraS alou. Chase creek
anu Gold gulch, and in those days
hundreds OF men found lucrative en-
ploymcnt placiering along the San
Francisco river. Gold mining will now
come TO the front and it is more than
likely that several gold mines will DO
developed in the district. John Mold
err, superintendent OF The Home Copper
company, who was down from the
mines this week, informs the ERA that
he and his old partner, Bill jenkins,
have recently decided three valuable
gold claims to the company. The com
pauy's property lies along aud in the
neigh borhood of Gold gulch, and most
OF the copper ores taken from the COM
pauy's mines, assays from 81 to S. in
gold. Several OF the old claims OF the
company. notably the Game Cock,
Black Hawk aud Buzzard's Shadow
have always been regarded as gold
properties. and for that reason but lit
tie development work has been done
on them by the company, but this will
now be changed, and the work of tho
company confined to tho gold leads.
The new claims recently generously
decided to the company by Messrs.
Molder and Jenkins, were worked for
gold many years ago, and from one Of
them about fifteen years ago a car load
OF ore was shipped tn Denver which
averaged $50 per ton, but ore OF that
class did not pay in those days hence
no effort WAS made TO work the proper
ty, but the assessment work was al
ways kept up. There are several strong
gold leads on the three new claims.
decided to the company. One OF these
leads is from to 20 feet in width. aud
has been prospected for more than
ouOO feet on the surface. showing mill
ing ore the entire distance This i'm
mense lead can be opened by tunnel
driven in directly on the lead, and sew
eral hundred feet of stopping ground
can soon be secured. Work on these
properties has already been commenced,
and all local stock oldsrs are quite CO.
thu=iastic over the outlook, as they
know that they have s. large amount
OF good pay gold ore in sight. The
prospects OF turning their copper mines
into gold mines are so hatteriug shat
the company expects TO be able to
easily raise money sufficient not only
for Ehe development OF the gold leads
but also for the erection OF gold mill.
The ore is free milling hence the erec-
tion OF plant will not be expensive.
The company still, has 200 600 shares OF
stock in its treasury. The group OF
mines now owned by the company con-
sists of twenty-seven claims and a mill
site. Development work will be con-
tinued on the Hobson, which is show
ing Il large body OF low grade copper
ore. The shaft has gone down through
this ore for more than so feet, and the
outlook FOR the property is SO favorable
that the management will not abandon
IL, at least not for a while vet, however
the principal development work will
be done on the gold claims.