Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1904-11-16

1 ting good nlgnL rest. put alas alas "a short nap then Bedlam brok, loose. For few seconds 1 imagined 1 was in Chicago-saloons in full blast, the people were tramping, talk ing and laughing loudly, vehicles rat tling and this commotion was kept uI most of the night.
 The next morning early we visited the dump of the mine in search oi specimens. The ore was piled up in quadrangler shape on logs and brush which was set on fire. We learned this was done to cleanse the ore of sulphur and arsenic before putting it through the shelter. We stood gazing at the fiery mass, enjoying the gentle breeze which waited the birthstone smoke far away "o're hill and dale. y Our reverie was suddenly broken by the gentle breeze changing its mind blowing the smoke right into our faces almost strangling us, coughing and sneezing, we beat nasty retreat, climbing a steep embankment to get away from the stifiing smoke. The bottomless pit filled with fire and birthstone pictured itself on our minds, and with one accord we all i'm mediateIy resolved to lead better life hereafter. We were informed by the strenuous foreman, MT. Dave Evans, that the smelter was shut down for repairs but would be working when we returned, then he would take pleas ure in showing us around.
 While waiting for the mail stage (leaves Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for Camp Verde, we had the pleasure of meeting and convers- ing with Captain John Boyd, a genial, we'll informed young mining man of S2 years of age. The captain gave us some valuable information concerning early mining in Arizona. Captain Boyd said ''the Equator mine was To- cated in 1875 more than 2S years ago by myself and others. In 1876 we went to Deception g1lch and located Mich ols, Wells, and Bitter Creek prospects, now known as the United Verde mines We also located Hermet, North and South Venture, Cliff, Oak, and Nathan Allan. We put up an assay office at w. KelI's ranch. Dr. Dwight was the assayer, John D. Boyd, president, D. o. Dougherty, secretary and G. B. Bell, recorder. These claims were put on record in Prescott. Six months af- ter we went to Tonto Basin and located the first mines there, Prof. Douglas, Dr. Allan and Mir. Raymond from New York, were in the party. Prof. Doug las did not think the claims worth locating, but G. A. Treadwell and W. Logan got Prof. Thomas, MT. Jerome, of New York, and Gov. Tritle, of Arizona interested and named the mines Jerome. Senator Clark purchas- ed the mines and changed the name to United Verde, bonded them to the governor and MT. Jerome and they took them all except Cliff Oak and Nathan Allan and paid us S10,0O
 We did assessment work on the Equator to 1885 then abandoned it. It was relocated by Jordan Bros, W. s. Head and others. They bonded it to W. A. Calrk of the Iron King. After sometime again relocated by Wm. Furgeson of Prescott. He took in J. Duke and called it the Copper Chief. 1 kept up assessment work for nine years on these claims, travelling 100 miles every year to do my assessment work, making total of nearly 1000 miles.
 About 1G:30 the next morning we started for Camp Verde. Down grade, down, down, down, through dust, over stones, ruts and washouts; finally we reached real terra firma again, drew a long breath and felt thankful we were still in the flesh. On we went through valleys, over mountains, in front of us the Black Hills, the name is very ap- propriate for the hills certainly are black, with no signs of life. Behind, the black smoke of Jerome and other mines. Every few miles there would burst upon our vision bunch or a long line of green trees, an indication of water-an oases in the desert-nestl- ing among the trees, little home perhaps store and postotfice. A few ranchers waiting for their mail gave us friendly gaze.
 The Verde valley is we'll watered by the Verde river, Oak and Beaver creeks. The river is very serpentine in its course. We forded it number of times, in some places quite deep up to the hub of the wagon wheels. About twelve miles from Jerome we visited some ancient Aztec ruins on Oak creek.
 The stage driver, MT. Price, very