The copper era., 1907-12-05
TAILINGS QUESTION A SERIOUS ONE

THE injunction granted by Judge F. s. Nave at the last session of the district court enjoining the Clifton and Morenci mining companies from dumping tailings from their concen- trators into the San Francisco river is a more serious matter than is gem orally recognized as it will eventually be the means of closing all the con- centrators in this district. The decision handed down by Judge Nave becomes effective about the middle part of next year. An appeal was taken to the supreme court of the territory and unless a reverse takes place the mining companies will haze been dealt a death blow. In bringing this issue the farmers of the valley seem to have forgotten that the mining companies are the very life of this section, and they seem to also forget that notwithstanding the injury they claim to have sustained from the tailings. the price of farm ing lands along the valley have con- @stantly increased. And the valley papers frequently boast of the ex- cellent crops being raised on the land. It is a fact generally known that the ore bodies in this district are of such low grade that it is impossible to treat them without con centration. Very few of the com panies here could afford to operate if they were confined to smelting ores alone. Companies operating on a large scale, must resort to the con- centrating system, and with that system tailings will, to a certain extent, reach the river. The Arizona Copper company has, during the past year, in its effort to impound the tail ings from No. concentrator, expended about S5O,OOO in the con- struction of d huge dam. The grade of ore treated at this concentrator was of an average of about two per cent, which, with a low copper market, made il unprofitable and this magnificent plant, employing several hundred men, had to be closed. No tailings were lost from No. since June. Tailings from No. concen- trator are run down the Morenci canyon and are being taken care of with considerable extra expense. The Shannon Copper company which has a favorable location for its con- centrator, is prepared to handle it's tailings for some time to come. But storage room will eventually be ex- hausted and then it will become neces- sary to either move or close down. It would more than likely be the latter. Would the farmers of the valley prosper under such conditions? Not much. During the past two years a considerable amount of water has been flowing down the Frisco river, and the ERA will venture the asser- tion. that very little damage has been done to the farming lands during that time. It is no doubt, however, that in dry seasons, when water in the river is low, the tailings are detrimental to farming interests. During such temporary circumstances the companies could take care of their tailings. The farmers, who are usually liberal minded people, will no doubt realize what this question means to the welfare of the mining industry of the Clifton-Morenci dis trict and the farming industry of the Gila valley. In order to have pros perity in Graham county we must have both. The mining companies should respect the interests of the farmers and the farmers sLould respect the interests of the mining companies. Concessions must be granted: the. decision as it now stands means that inside of five or ten years Clifton Morenci will be decorated with huge piles of tumbled down machinery.