Bisbee daily review., 1906-07-29
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The following story of the history of the United Verde mine at Jerome is taken from the first issue of the Ari. zona Mining Record, a new publica- uon just started in Prescott:
 The story of the discovery and sub sequent development of the remark able mineral wealth of the Verde dis trict-especially that portion of it now comprised in the holdings of the Unit ed Verde company-is one that has been told so many times, and with such a variety of versions, that those students of Arizona history who have a prediliction for historical accuracy will welcome an authoritative state ment on the subject from one who commandes their confidence and re- spect, and who was himself an actor in the scenes which he depicts.
 G. W. Hull, mayor of Jerome and one of the pioneer residents of the district, is probably in a better posi- connection than any other AriZonian of the present day, and his story, as related to a representative of the Ari- zona mining Review, may be depended upon as absolutely true and accurate. His statement, now published for the first time, will set at rest several CT TOTS and misrepresentations that have crept into the traditional stories of the Verde country.
 "1n the year 1S75," says MT. ull, Al Sober, a government scout, was the first to locate a mining claim in the Verde district. This location was named Verde Assessment work was done on the claim for over twenty five years and it was finally sold to a company formed and known as the Verde Queen Mining compan. Con- siderable money was spent in building a smelter and working the claim, which produced about fifteen tons of copper.
 Tn the month of October. 1875. my attention was called by Herman Ellis, of the firm of Asher & Ellis of Pres colt, to the fact that there were some good mining properties near what had been an old Indian reservation in the Verde valley, and he requested me to go over and make an examination, stating that if I thought it was all right, they would open a store there.
 MT. Ellis gave me letter of intro duction to c. " Keil, who vas living on and owned what is now known as the Haskell & Kerwagon Ranch, To- cated about four miles east from where Jerome now stands.
 T left Prescott the next morning and arrived the scond day at G. V. KelI's place, gave him the letter of in- troduction and spent the night with hiBl In the nOv ,.GS we took our guns and started to see what is now known as the Verde Queen Copper company's property. On examining the location quite thoroughly l found joining the discovery a heavy deposit of conglomerate, carrying gold, silver and copper which ran from $500 to s1O in value. I inform:u MT. kell that this cnEglomeratc was Icrmen from veins aDO re- w. went Ep what is now kno~n as Bitter Creek ard found water hat tasted bitter, from which it derives it's name. This water CarIied aboGt , O'i 'tht cN:'peT Hns came out on the south side of the creek bed or dyke now called the Crome North Claim Then we went on the northwest side and found the ledge of the Crome North, which car ried some copper. From there we went to the Sleeping Beauty dyke and then to another dyke now called the Wdde hanplOH.
 After my examination and looking over the veins and dykes, l said to MT. Kell that if I thought I would stay in the country I would locate these veins, as they had a great showing, and advised him that if he was going to stay here for ten years to locate them and do the assessment work, and he would have all the money he ever wanted.
 About the early part of the year 1877 John Dougherty and Capt J. D. Boyd came to the Verde Valley, be- came acquainted with G. V. Kell. To- cated the Crome North and Crome South, and organized what Is now known as the Verde district, C.. V. KeIl was appointed recorder, aud held that office tiii his books wers turned over to the County Recorder at Pres colt.
 The following year NJ. A. Ruffner came to the Upper Verde Valley and soon after commenced prospecting near the Crome NorIh and CTomc South, and discovered tho Wade hampton, Sleeping Be.s'v and Eu- rcka m:Ii:ng clai;I'- T.. located the sa-... his oxr name an1 in alt Of Rod McKcnon, commenced prospect in the ground, and found some very rich coper ore, also some very rich gold float on the Eureka and Sleep ing Beauty that assayed s122.30 in gold.
 They did a lage amount of work and tried to get others interested, but had hard time in doing so. Finally they sold the Eureka claim for 5000 on time and 5000 shares of the Min eral Belt mine, to parties who owned the Mineral Belt property in Big Bug district. These parties finally sol the same to c. P. Head & Co and Hugo Richards. These gentlemen put ment to work on the Eureka claim, running a tunnel under the cut into the mountain on the south side of Bi.- ter Greek. and took out quite q Iot