Bisbee daily review., 1902-07-25
EARLY COPPER MINING.

The existence of copper in the region comprising the territories of Arizona and New Mexico was known at a very early time, as was the widespread ex istence of silver ores. whiteny in his Metallic Wealth of the United States published in 1854, contains this refer ence to the copper of this region:
 "The regions of the headwaters of the Gila is spoken of by travellers as rich in copper ores and were they nearer a market they might become of importance; at present they must be looked upon as of little value The most celebrated mine, according to Dr. Wislezenus, is that of Santa Rita de Cobre. It was opened in 1894 and worked from 1928 to 1885 by French man named Courcier, who is reported to have cleared a million dollars from it. This remark is corroborated by MT. Bartlett, U. s. Commissioner, who remarks tht indications of copper are abundant on the surface throughout the vicinity. The ore is chiefly the red oxide. The copper raised is said to have been coined in the mint of Chihuahua. Supplies were necessari- ly brought distance of 400 miles by wagon, and in 1888 a train was at tackled by the Apaches and taken pos session of and all further access to the mines cut off. They remained entirely abandoned from that time up to 1851, when the place was occupied by the Boundary Commission. Dr. Wislezenus remarks that the whole range is intersected by veins of copper and placers of gold"
 In 1862 several valuable copper de posits were discovered on Williams Fork of the Colorado river near Au- brey Here in 1863 Robert Ryland and associates, of San Francisco, be- gan work on the Planet mine at that place. The Planet afforded rich ores anu tue uiuc was q fdIuouS ouc ioi years. The ores were shipped down the river to the gulf and then to San Francisco and Swansea. The first ship ment gave a profit of s100 per ton aft CT the cost of taking it twenty miles to the river by pack mules. Near this locally is Mineral Hill, where some rich ores were discovered in 1858. In 1868 there were about fifty mines in this disrict and about 1900 tons of ore had been shipped There were quite extensive mining opera tions here during that period.
 The mining of the prehistoric jeo- pie who occupied the Gila and Colorado river valleys in far remote centuries is of extreme interest, and the many evidences of their mining operations are among the important archaeological remains of the territory. Silver, cop per and turquoise were among the obects of their industry.
 Lead mines were not neglected by those prehistoric miners" writes Dr. Blake. When the veins of lead ore at Castle Dome, upon the Colorado were first seen by our modern pros pectors, it was evident that the ores near the surface had been carried away. Deep trenches along the crop pings, partly filled in with debris and overgrown by mesquite and palo-verde, gave abundant evidence of the indus try of unknown miners. So also at the Moctezuma lead mine, between Phoenix and the Vulture, there were ancient excavations showing consid- erable extraction of ore. and in these excavations the prehistoric miners left their stone tools, such as hammers. sledges and mauls. This should dis pose of the theory held by some that this early work was done by the Pa dres. or Spanish explorers.
 We should not overlook the early utiliztion of the waters of Salt river and Gila by their successful diversion over the high mesas, through canals and 'ascequias, showing great boldness of conception and engineering skill of a nigh order.
 The early colonists of Mexico were stimulated and melted. to conquest and occupation by the mineral rich ness Of he country They were alive to the reputed wealth of then unknown northern regions, and many expedi-