Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-29


in the entire territory. There is an
unlimited amount Of ore in sight, and
with the various improvements com
pleted there is no reason why the
output for the present year will not
far exceed that in previous years. The
average product for the past FIVE years
has crowded the forty million mark
very closely but It is predicted that
the output for 1905 will be nearer the
fifty million mark
The Copper Queen at Bisbee is the |
only mine I'm Arizona that outclasses
the United Verde in the production Of
copper, its excess being about 100000
pounds. However, the Old Dominion
Copper mine is now a close rival with |
the United Verde for second place
among Arizona copper producers.
Copper Chief Work
There is some activity around the
Copper Chief property near Jerome
which has lain idle for several years, |
but whether the present indications
mean a resumption of active operations
or the sale of the property cannot be
learned. Congressman Brooks of Color
ado, who is one Of the directors of the
company, visited the mine recently and
found everything in hrst-class cond-
tion. Superintendent Hendy Is still at
the mine looking after the company's
interests.
Negotiations for the sale of the Cop
per Chief to Michigan people were be-
ing made a few months ago but some
hitch in the proceedings caused the deal
to fall through, which was a great dis
appointment to Jerome citizens, as the
would mean much greater prosperity
for the Jerome and Verde mining dis
tricts.
1t will require at least 900 to
bring about the transfer of the prop
erty, and from the reports of mining
experts who have examined the ore
bodies the mine is fully equal to that
figure.
Vetura Mill Working
Work on the Ventura Hill, located q
Verde, progresses steadily with good
results. Lawson & Hawes, who have a
contract for several hundred feet of de-
velopment work are combining their
operations to the sinking of the main
shaft. Joe Larson is superintendent OF
the mine and reports encountering a
good ore body, which is increasing in
size as depth is attained.
Decatur Will Drift
AS soon as the unwatering of the
main shaft at the Decatur mine is
finished two shifts of miners will be put
to work drifting from the bottom of the
shaft. There is already drift from
the 270-foot level which is in something
over 300 feet, having passed through u
large body of copper and iron ore some
specimens of which assayed 10 per
cent copper The last work done in the
mine. just before it closed down few
months ago, was in body of low grade
ore nearly 100 feet in width. The soften
ing OF the surrounding formation and
the breaking of this immense body of
iron ore indicates the nearness of
vein of high grade sulphide ore which
1t is thought will be encountered within
! the next 100 feet of drifting. The De-
catur is one of the good properties of
the jerome district and its owners and
stockholders are cheerful over the pres
ent promising outlook.
New Group Opened
Work on the Pitts group of claims,
located near Senator Clark's Equator
property, was started recently and
will be carried on through the summer.
A 2OO-foot shaft will be sunk, and
drifting from this level will be done in
all directions. The Pitts group is owned
by Bisbee, Ariz people, who have suf-
ficient capital to thoroughly prospect
the claims. The location of the group
is very favorable for the encountering
of the Equator vein.
Equator Runs Steady
The Equator smelter is running day
and night. turning out bullion which
is being shipped daily from Jerome.
The gravity tramway is working sat
isfactorily, carrying ore from the mine
to the roast beds three-fourths of
mile distant. There is sufficient
supply of coke on hand to insure
steady run for several months to come.
Big Bug Activity
No richer mining section can be
found in Arizona than the Big Bug dis
trict. located fifteen miles southeast of
Prescott. During the early days of
Arizona that district was famous for
its rich placer diggings, quartz mining
not being profitable. About five years
ago some fabulously rich quartz ore
was discovered which led to active
quartz mining with good results. The
Dividend Consolidated Mining COM
pany owns the claim, on which was
originally found the richest free gold
ore ever found in the Big Bug section.
This was on the Ticonderoga claim,
and since the reorganization of the
company it has secured several more