Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1908-08-02

In the summer of 1863 the late
Z Henry Wickenburg discovered the
Vulture mine. and in the autumn OF
the same year located on the Has
sayampa, on the farm that still bears
his name, One-half mile below town
This was the nearest point of living
water to the mine and here he built
an arastra in June, 1864. to reduce
the rich surface gold ores Of the
Nulture. He was assisted at the
time by Chas- B. Gerrung. now a
resident of Quartsite, Ariz, to whom
the writer is indebted for the little
data here related in reference to
the town of Wickenburg.
The success attained by Mr. Wick
enburg through his arastra process
soon attracted the attention of others
and he. being of a most liberal dis
position, sold the ore at the mine
for $500 per ton. the purchaser be
ing privileged to mine at any poir
he desired to select on the Vulture
vein. As a result of this, forty or
more arastras were operated here on
the river in the spring of 1871; but
the thriving Industry was of short
, life, for Wickenburg disposed of his
interes in that year and mills were
erected and there was no more ore
for sac 10 the arastra- Still it is
claimed that many were maintained
and operated upon Illicit ore up into
the EOS.
Thus it viii be seen that 1863 was
the beginning of the town of Wick
enburg. In 1866 she had the dis
tinction of being one of the largest
cities i'm the territory. and was a con-
Instant for the capital, losing by
only two votes In tine summer Of
1867. Wickenburg was attacked with
THAT was called at that time Pana-
fever, which was very fatal. de-
Toying some 800 people within
.hree months. In the wake Of this
catastrophe the milling of the Vul-
ture ore shifted to a place farther
down the river and the people grad
ually dispersed to other claims, and
the town for many years was steadi-
ly losing; and when the Vulture put
in her pipe line and S0-stamp mill at
the mine in 1879 or 80, her depopu-
lation was almost complete, for
Wickenburgers simply moved over to
Vulture.
The substantial era of Wicken-
bugs progress dates from the ar
rival of the Santa Fe. Prescott and
Phoenix railroad For the first year
or two after that event tents and
shacks were scattered promiscuously
over the town site. but their owners
were not "floaters," and by thrift
and industry they have acquired
until today many neat cottages and
comfortable homes mark the spots
when penury was want to stalk.
The second epoch in her history
was the beginning of the Arizona Ss
California railroad some two years
ago. II injected new blood into the
old residents and attracted new
capital, the truth of which is amply
demonstrated by a glance on either
side of the track as you pass
through the town. There is not a
week that the hotel, registers Of
Wickenburg do not show the names
Of strangers from all parts of the
country, who have been investigat-
ing business opportunities between
this place and Parker. Without an
exception all that l have interviewed
declare that it is the greatest gold
and copper section that they have
ever seen. This is only stated to
show its Importance to Wickenburg.
The back country, north and east
of Wickenburg, can never be detract-
ed 1t is worthy and capable under