Arizona republican., 1907-05-26

/ of five years, possibly within one or
two years there will be 10000 people
| in those parts and after that no man
knows, for il is not improbable that
some day Kelvin will be more famous
| than Bisbee as a center of the great
! copper industry. Men of conservative
judgment have predicted it.
II is the purpose of this article to
touch but briefly on the larger oper-
ations there, not for the special ben
eft of the mining interests, but as an
object lesson for the Phoenix CONNER
cial interests. The smaller operations
will be omitted entirely, or with the
brief statement that around. between
and beyond the properties that will be
mentioned. are scores and scores of
claims being developed by individual
prospectors in small way. any one
of which may some day be a bonanza.
Approaching Kelvin from the west,
one begins to note copper indications
from the railroad train long before he
reaches Kelvin which lies at the con-
fluence of Mineral Creek with the
ella river. There are side tracks and
ore bins every few miles, where ore Is
now shipped to Humboldt or III Paso.
When Mineral Greek is reached the
copper indications stand out clearly.
and from its mouth for seven miles up
to the Ray camp and even beyond 1t.
this creek runs through a country so
rich in copper its evidences are appar-
ent on every hand. The creek is well
named and its water is OF but little
value for camp purposes. owing to its
heavy impregnation with copper.
The Ray section is covered with a
vast blanket of copper, at or near the
surface, to say nothing of what may
be developed at depth. 1t has been
estimated that the Ray company can
supply its reduction works with ore
enough to last fifty years. from this
top" deposit or quarrying field alone,
and though it is low grade its vast
quantity makes its reduction prof
liable proposition. The company now
has 100 men under ground, another 100
at work on the surface and needs an
other 100 men right now. In addition
the force will be increased just as fast
as good men can be secured. Miners
are paid 1915 per day. The company
proposes TO remove ore from twenty
four different shafts, some of shallow
depth. and many hoists are now on the
ground and others constantly arriving.
At the present time work is going on
in the end of a mountain, in several
tunnels all of which are equipped with
air drills the compressed air being fur
nished from a central station. The
company owns over 200 claims, taking
in most OK the ground between Ray
and Kelvin. and while under develop
ment the ore is being stored. no effort
being made yet for its reduction or
shipment.
Above the Ray. on the same side OF
the creek. are the properties of the
Big Lead Mining and Smelling Co,
and the Kelvin Reduction company.
The former has a mill for crushing and
concentrating and the latter has
teaching and reduction plant. Both
are under the superintendency of w.
b. Twitchell and good forces of men
are employed.
Across the creek from the Ray. on
the east side of Mineral Greek. is the
property of the Arizona Hercules Co.
which is operating five shafts and
storing the ore taken out, against the
day when arrangements are completed
for its reduction.
Crude oil and gasoline are used en-
tirely for the fuel supply in the run
ming of the machinery.
The population of Ray has trebled in
the last thirty days. and 1t is now es-
timated that the settlement. which is !
largely a tented city, contains about