Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-09-10
MINING INDUSTRY
IN GRANT COUNTY
Is Growing Says
Frank P. Jones of
Silver City
IS RULE
His Town is Benefiting BY
Renewed Activity in Sur
rounding Mines.

During the past few weeks the
| newspapers Of the country have con
tanned more or less about the trial of
the promoters of the Lost Bullion
Spanish Mines Company who were
| convicted on charge of fraudulently
using the United States mails In
vestigation revealed the fact that the
alleged fabulously rich gold mine of
the company was nothing more nor
less than an old cave about six miles
from Silver City. This old cave is To-
Gated on the cattle ranch Of Frank p.
Jones, president of the wholesale
grocery firm of Jones, Downes and
Company, the leading mercantile es-
tablishment in Southwestern New
Mexico, and the headquarters of which
are in Silver City
Mr., Jones is now in this city at.
tending the meeting of the Territorial
Board Of Equalization of which he is
a member. To New Mexican report
er last night he stated that the legiti-
mate mining operators in Silver City
and Grant county were gratified to
know that this fake mining scheme
had been exposed and the promoters
caught in the clutches of the law. He
said that the old cave which was
palmed off Oh an unsuspecting public
as a rich gold mine does not contain
any ore and had not even been salt
ed" The Yaqui Indian who rediscov-
cred this old Spanish mine is employ
ed on the Jones ranch as a COW punch.
er and is almost as fair skinned as a
Caucasian.
Mr. Jones in discussing the expose
OF the wildcat mining scheme lasl
night said the men who were behind
1t apparently made no effort to find
any ore, as there were any number of
promising prospects which could be
had for the price of locating. There
is plenty of good ore in the vicinity
he stated, and good returns were be-
ing received from mines on the op.
pOsite side of the mountain, but the
cave picked out by the Lost Bullion
Spanish Mines company was not ever
prospect hole. A Silver City news.
paper some time ago exploded the
myth about this cave and was threat
ened with a libel which of course
never materialized.
Although the grocery business re
ceives much of his attention Mr.. Jones
has number of other business in
terests. Among other things he is in
terested to an extent in mining and
he is sanguine of the future of the
mining industry in Grant County. He
is enthusiastic in particular over the
development and activity in the Burro
Mountain district which during the
past two years has been the scene of
unprecedented development. He says
he would not be at all surprised if it
rivals the famous copper districts of
Arizona. Arizona mining companies
are taking up claims in the Burro
mountains which has had stimulat-
ing effect. In speaking of the renew
ed activity in the mining industry Mr..
Jones told of the work the principal
mining companies are doing especially
in the section surrounding Silver
City. He said:
Renewed Activity in Burro Mountain
District
"The Burro Mountain mining dis
trict one of the most extensive in
the Southwest is scene of renewed
activity. The Chenung Copper Com.
pany has taken over the mine develop
ed by the Tyrone Development Com
pany and the ore is being blocked
out now. The mine is located about
fourteen miles southwest of Silver
City, 1t is high grade copper prop
OolClOu duu lilICC SHdllo dlG UClifS
developed.
"The North Burro Copper Company
is ore of the new concerns wien has
jus. organized with fine showing in
the Leopold district. The Leopold pro
rerties at Leopold are the biggest
Irodrcers in the district SO far. All of
their orc IS oncentrateG at tie camp
and the concentrates then hauled by
wagon to the smelter at Silver City
a distance of about sixteen miles
They expect to have railroad in
there In years time which will be
d branch Of the Santa Fe system. 4 he
leopold mines have been running
steadily during the past two years.
"rhe Mogollon country is one of the
best gold and silver camps in the
Southwest and it looks as If it will
Guido Cripple Creek. Theodore Garter
ret emily refused $1,500,000 fol tl.e
Last Chance mine and it has already
produced over a million dollars. There
are several other good mines in the
! Mogollon district. The only drawback