Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-06-26
SIERRA COUNTY
COMING TO FRONT
Hillsboro Pioneer
Tells of Existing
Conditions
MUCH MINING ACTIVITY
Properties Being Opened Up
That Bid Fair to Be
Bonanzas.

Among the visitors to this city last
week, in attendance on the com
mencement exercises of st. Michael's
College and of the Loretto Academy
was M. w. Robbins, of Hillsboro, who
had son at the college and a daugh-
ter at the academy during the recent
school year. Mr.. Robbins is one of
the old timers in Sierra County and
went to the Black Range before the
county's organization.
Mr. Robbins is native of the old
Keystone State and was born in the
city of Wilkesbarre, in 1853. He re-
ceived common school education at
his home and when he attained man
hood drifted West and came to Colo.
RADIO seeking employment as miner
The New Mexico fever seized him and
he with TWO companions in the spring
Of 1885, accompanied by their trusted
burros, carrying provisions and
miners tools 'hoofed" it all the way
from Poncha Springs In the Centen-
nial State via TERRA Amarillo to San
Ia Fe and thence down the Rio Gran
de to San Marcial. The gold diggings
at Hillsboro, the great silver deposits
at Lake Valley and the mining prop
critics in the Black Range were then
attracting great attention and he with
other miners went to the Black Range
working first at Grafton, then King
ston and finally settling in Hillsboro,
In 1884, the county seat Of Sierra be-
ing his residence and home still.
Prospectors Faced Many Dangers.
During those days miners and pros
pectors carried their lives in their
hsnds IN account of the marauding
Of hostIe indians. rs sa.tc az : 1893.
in the spring, three cowboys were
shot and killed by war party of
Apaches from the San Carlos reserva-
tion. This happened about three
miles north of the Grafton mining
camp. This was one of the last out.
RACES. From 1880 to 1884 about forty
miners, settlers and cowboys were
murdered by Apaches in the Black
Range and the Hillsboro districts.
Those were strenuous times that tried
mems souls in that section. Among
those killed was the superintendent
of the Lake Valley mines, James
Daley, Lieutenant Smith of the Ninth
Cavalry and several soldiers OF that
regiment. This happened in Gavelon
Canon in the summer of 1881.
Settled in HiIIsboro in 1884.
In 1884 Mr.. Robbins settled per-
manently at Hillsboro, engaged in
mining and mercantile business and is
prosperous today. He was elected
three terms county treasurer and
served one term by appointment as
sheriff. He is a staunch Republican
and although Sierra County of late
has gone Democratic, Mr.. Robbins has
always worked and voted for Repub-
lican success. He is happily married
and his son James was one of the
graduates at st. Michael's College this
year and carried off the gold medal
for proficiency in mathematics, al.
though the boy is but IA years of age,
Yet, the boy is five feet, ten inches
in height
Activity in HiIlsboro District.
"Hillsboro is doing we'll these days,
said Mr.. Robbins to representative
of the New Mexican. "The district is
not booming, but considerable work is
going on and more is in prospect
Among the properties now being
worked are: The Sierra Consolidat
ed Mining Company, Of which ex-U. s.
Senator Warner Miller Of New York.
is the president. The mines Of this
company are situated about two miles
from Hillsboro.
This company is now completing a
fine steel mill. 1t is a stamp mil
with capacity of treating 100 tons
per day. The properties of the com
pany contain great bodies of low grade
ore and have been worked off and on
with varying success for twenty-five
! years. 1t is understood that the com
pany expects with the operation OF
the new mill to declare handsome div
dends. Necessary water is furnished
| by large reservoir on the Perchs
River and by springs near the mill
Crude petroleum is used as fuel. Apou
fifty men are now employed by the
company at good wages.
'"rhe Ready Pay Reduction Com
| pany in which New York capitalists
are interested is erecting Hunting
ton mill which will be in operation ir
about a month for the treatment Of
Its low grade gold ore. This com
pany owns several fine and well de
veloped claims.
"The Empire Gold Mining Compan,
Is also working, developing and tax
i Ing out pay ore. Among the claim!