Bisbee daily review., 1904-06-29
President CoIquhoun
 Answers Farmers
COVERING THE MATTER OF MILL TAiLiNGS IN THE CHA RIVER.
Shows the Dumping of Tailinss From 1ss6-And Only After Eighteen Years of Dumping Comes Any Com piaint-Output of Taiinss Mere Than Doubled since 1sse-A Letter Worthy the Closest Reading.


 Clifton, Ariz., June 13. 1904. Messrs. Kimban, Johnson and Layton.
 Thatcher, Arizona.
 Gentlemen:-On behalf of the Ari. zona Copper company, Limited, we beg leave to make the following re- sponse to your courteous favor of the 5th instant, copies of which appear. ed in the Bulletin and Guardian:
 At the outset We desire it to be un- derstood that it is our determination to abstain as much as is possible under the cii ciicumstpnces, from permitting anything to enter the river from our works which might be regarded by the farmers as hurtful to their inter- ests. We take a warm interest in the success and prosperity of the people of the valley; We recognize the splendid work they have done and are doing in the upbuilding of Graham county. and We earnestly desire continuation of the friendly relations which have so long and so happily existed between those who mine and those who farm The farmers cannot help themselves by killing the mining interests, nor can the miner profit by injuring or even appearing to injure the farming interests. Both have lived and pros pered side by side for twenty years or more. and both will, We venture to predict, continue to live in peace and harmony.
 A grave misunderstanding presently exists. We are anxious that the farm- CTS should not only understand the sit nation but also our intentions.
 We commenced dumping tailings in. to the river in 1Ss6. The quantity dumped at first amounted 10 .Uv tons per day; in 1896 it was increased tc 400 tons per day and in 1898 to 500 tons per day. The next and last ir. crease was made by the erection of our No. concentrator al Morenci in he year 1901. This mil produced 250 tons of tailings per day.
 IL would appear that this company has been dumping tailings into the San Francisco river for a period of IS years; that TO complaint was made by the farmers until the year 1899 when a committee headed by Presi dent Kimball was appointed 10 investi. gale and report.
 You will observe that it was only after 13 years experience of the tail ings that the farmers began 10 doub, their virtue Once their alarm was arou. ed they took prompt action. All inves ugation was not resisted, it was welcomed by this company which offered to defray all expenses.
 The investigation was made in the most thorough manner; samples Of the water were taken and forwarded to Chicago, here they were analysed by the eminent firm, which was as inde- dendent of the company as il was Of the farmers, and what was the de cision? IL was to the effect that the water was not injuriously affected by the tailings. and that no harm could result to the agricultural ill terests.
 The insinuation that the farmers representatives were won over by kind treatment was not only curelly unjust, but uncalled for The questions rais- ed were chemical ones which could on- ly be answered by competent chem ists; they were answered by compe- tent chemists and their decision was accepted in Clifton and in the valley without question or cayil.
 We are therefore in a position to prove that up to 1899 the tailings had