Arizona republican., 1907-11-21
TOMBSTONE CONS.
 AND IMPERIAL cos.
Considering Disturbed Conditions Generally, These Big Projects are Moving Along Most Satisfactorily.

nix. returning south again last night. He was asked yesterday for the latest news concerning the operations of the
 Tombstone Consolidated and the Im- perial Mining companies of which he is the directing genius in engineering and mechanical matters. He said there was nothing sensational to talk about but that considering conditions in the mining world generally. these companies are progressing in most satisfactory way.
 They are going right along, devol- oping as fast as possible and getting as much good ore as possible into the smelters The only curtailment of work has been where it was necessary to limit the output of ore from the Inn perial to the amount the custom 'smelters are prepared to handle. and after the first of the year the new shelter at Sasco will be ready for operation and the company will then be practically Independent of outside conditions. At Tombstone the most pleasing facts to record are the gradu- ally lowering water level and the de- velopment of a new copper ore body. Concerning the water. Mir. Staunton stid the wetness of the Tombstone basin seems gradually and quite rapid ly lessening. The amount of water now being raised daily to keep the mines in proper condition for work ing. is 500,0OO gallons less than 1t was on october ]. In the Lucky Cuss mine a deposit of ore that assays very high in gold is now being developed. some 900 feet below the water levei. In the deeper workings Of the Emerald mine. about the same distance below water level. body of good copper ore has been encountered. that assays s per cent. beside good gold and silver values. The extent of il is not known yet. but the indications are good. The pleasing feature of this copper strike. is not entirely for the copper values contained, but for the fact that the existence of copper in considerable quantities has been demonstrated. This iS not because copper is better than gold or silver, but because there is a prevalent theory that the presence of copper is an assurance of continu- ity ot values to the limit of possible depth in working. Whether this be true or false. is immaterial, for it is a popular belief. IL is quite well dem orstrated that the big copper mines go down as far as they can be follow ed; they never play out. IL may be so with gold mines also. but the copper having been better demonstrated. is taken by the world as a bond of per- manency. MT. Staunton has never been doubtful of the ore bodies in Tombstone and cannot predict the magnitude of the copper. but the presence of it surely does not weaken his theories any, but rather strength ems them.
 Concerning copper at 13 cents. he said that did not bother the Imperial company in the slightest. There is money in il al that The only thing that irritates is the unsettled condi- tions. To illustrate if one is getting twenty cents for copper he will Send a lower grade ore to the smelter for reduction than when the price is 13 cents. If a large quantity of low grade ore is mined and its reduction is not profitable there is need of a higher grade ore. and a switching of opera tions and the flighty conditions keep the real mining men jumping to re- main in touch with them.
 However. operations are still going or at Silverbell as before, except as indicated above. the smelters will only take a smaller amount of ore daily. Until this notice of reduced service the Imperial shipped on an l.f.. gan. more than a hundred tons per day and when the disturbed conditions began the shipments amounted to 1855 tons per day.
 The new smelter at Sasco will have a capacity of 300 tons per day at the start, but ii is constructed so that more furnaces may be easily added as they are needed. The town of Sasco is located on the Imperial or Silverbell railroad. eight miles from Red Rock. and twelve miles from Silverbell, where the mine is. It was put at this point because of the excellent To- cation, an unfailing water supply and the very important fact that it is rongh and steep from that point to the mine It would be expensive to haul Iuel tue Ap luf liliilt anu it is designed to be a custom shelter, also. it would be expensive to haul custom ores up these grades. As now located. the ores can be sent down to the smelter practically by gravity and the fuel and custom ores can be laid down at the smelter at a minimum of expense. The name of the town is a contraction made of the first letters of the Southern Arizona Smelting Com pany. which owns the shelter. Though the entire project comprising the Im- perial railroad. the mining operations and the smelting plant. is the property of mutual and identical interests. to better facilitate the operation of each and keep closer track of the business of each feature of the project. each one is operated by specifically organ ized company for that purpose.
 Aiuavs the Politeness