The copper era., 1904-06-16
desire it to be un- -Four determination
 as is possible uu--

IltS absz to euGer the river from our works which might be regarded
 by the farmers IS hurtful to their iD- terests. We take 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 Oi Graham county and we earnestly de- sire Il continuation of the friendly relations which have so long and so happily existed between those who mine and those who farm. The farm CTS cannot help themselves by killing the mining interests, nor can the bearing to injure the farming inter- ests. Both have lived and prospered side by side for twenty years or more and both will, we venture to predict, continue to live in peace and har- mOny.
 A grave misunderstanding presently exists. We are anxious that the farmers should understand not only the situation but also our intentions.
 We commenced dumping tailings into the river in the year 1886. Tho quantity dumped at first amounted to 200 tons per day; in 1896 this was in creased to 400 tons per day and in 1898 to GOO tons per day. The next and last increase was made by the erection of our No. , concentrator at MOrenci in the year 1901. This mill produces 2jO tons of tailings per day
 It would appear then that this con- pany has been dumping tailings into the san Francisco River for period of IS years; that no complaint was made by the farmers until the year 1899, when committee headed by Pres. Kimball was appointed to in- vestigate and report.
 You will observe that iu was only after 13 years experience of the tail ings that the farmers began to doubt their virtue. Once their alarm was aroused they took prompt action. An investigation 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, where they were anal yzed by the eminent firm of Mariner and IIoskins. The results obtained by this hrm-which was as indepen- dent of the company as it was of the farmers rs-decided the question, and what was that decision" It was to the effect that the water was not in- juriously affected by the tailings, and that no harm could result to the agri- cultural interests.
 The insinuation that the farmers kind treatment was not only cruelty unjust, but quite uncalled for. The questions raised were chemical ones which could only he answered by ion was accepted in Clifton and in the valley without question or cavil.
 We are therefore in position to prove that up to 1899 the tailngs had done no harm.
 Sine 1899 there has been very large increase in the total tonnage of ores concentrated by the different mining companies. In 1899 600 tons of tailings were produced, daily; this amount was proved to h ben harmless.
 In 1908 the u!fily output of tailings by all of the companies amounted to ,450 tons per day, or more than double the amount discharged fin 1899, and as this amount is likely to be in- creased in the near future the farmers are perfectly justified in asking the companies to take such steps as will so lessen the evil that it will he harm less to their interests. Last year President Kimball requested us to take action looking to the impounding of our tailings so far as was practi- cable nnder the difficult existing con ditions.
 The task set us was one of extra ordinary difficulty involving large outlays. It was recognized by Presi- dent Kimball that the change, affect ing as it did very large daily out put, and raising new and difficult problems for solution, could not be effected in day or in a month. We willingly assented to his proposition and we are glad to be able to report that the work is so far advanced that we are now impounding, in the can yon at Morenci, all of the tailings dis charged from our Longfellow eoncen.