Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1908-09-30
NEW OWNERS FOR
CASTLE DOME
PROPERTY
Famous Mine Changes
Hands After 81 Years
In One Family


was filed for record in the county re-
corder's Office Of Yuma county, deed
conveying TO James N. Barney of the
surveyor general = Office, the old Castle
Dome mine and the first north exten'
sion of the Flora Temple mine. These
are two patented properties situated In
the Castle Dome mining district In
Yuma county. The eonveyor OF the
property is Col. James N. Barney, one
of Arizona's early pioneers and now
resident Of England.
Col. Barney, william b. Hooper, A.
II. whiting, Geo. Tying, d. A. Barney
and five others located the Castle Dome
mine on March 10, 1871. II immedi.
ately became producer Of high grade
silver lead ore, the greater portion Of
which was shipped to the smelters near
San Francisco. The year Of its loea.
ton, 1871, il produced 600 tons Of ore,
averaging 70 per cent Of lead and 80
ounces Of silver per ton. 1t was ofici
ally surveyed for patent on March 2,
1876, and patent was granted TO Col.
James NJ. Barney on July IA, 1877. In
1879 Col. Barney became the owner Of
the grea, Silver King mine in Pioneer
mining district, Pinal county, famous
throughout the territory as one of the
greatest dividend payers Of it, day.
During this time he neglected ais
mining properties on the Colorado Riv-
or, but now after the lapse Of many
years he has decided tho Castle Dome
property to a younger member Of his
family. Several prominent citizens Of
Phoenix will be interested with Mr..
Barney in again working this well
known property and they will no doubt
again place it on the list of producers.
The mine is located eighteen miles east
from. Castle Dome landing on the Col.
orado river and on the southwestern
slope OF the Castle Dome Mountains.
Upto 1881 it was estimated that the
Castle Dome district had produced
81, 100000. II 10 one Of the very old
mining districts Of the territory. It
was discovered in 1853 and Professor
VIM. =. Blake, the eminent geologist,
II the author Of a very extensive report
upon its resources. On account Of the
constant danger Of attack from hostile
savages nothing was done in the way
Of formal mining until 1889. The dis.
trict derives its name from Castle
Dome Peak, a noted land. mark in that
section. The name was given TO this
peak by the army officers stationed mt
Fort Yuma in 1854, on account of its
great resemblance to the dome Of some
auge building.
When the first American pioneers
visited this region there were many
evidences Of an earlier occupation. 1t
was plain TO be seen that others before
them had mined it's hidden wealth.
Trenches from ~ to 10 feet had been
dug along side the rich veins, showing
the method Of mining the ore. Great
numbers Of deep, well beaten paths
leading southwark to the ella river and
to many remains Of what appeared 70
be primitive ovens, showed that the
ore after having been mined was no
doubt carried to the river in baskets
strapped to the backs of natives and
there roasted in their mud furnaces.
The superintendents Of this work may
have been the early Spanish explorers
or perhaps the energetic missionaries
wno followed. For in 1870, Father
6arees established three missions along
the Colorado and one OF these. San
Pedro, was located near Castle Dome.
But in 17sl the tribes arose in rebel.
lion, murdered the priests and destroy.
ed the buildings II may be that min.
ing in the Castle Dome district had its
beginning in those strenuous days Of
religious expansion.