Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-25
TARASCA MINES
YIELD MILLIONS
PREHISTORIC WORKINGS HAVE
MODERN MACHINERY
LOS ANGELES CAPITAL is INTER-
EsTED THERE
Genius of New Era Making Work Prof.
table on Mines That Furnished
Cortez Gold-NeW
Plans

Among the many valuable mining
properties in which Los Angeles people
are financially interested is one owned
by the Tarasca Mining and Milling
company.
The mines are located twelve miles
west of Torres. station on the Sonora
railroad, eighteen miles south of Her
Inosillo, the capital of the state Oh
Sonora, Mexico.
The country for many miles round
about Torres is a historical one so far
as mines are concerned. There are evil
dences of ancient workings over nearly
ali that part of Mexico. The Tarasca
is an ancient mine and was heavy
producer of gold and silver in the early
days of the Spanish occupation OF Mex
leo. 1t was an ancient mine to the
Spanish, for long before their time
how long no one knows-it was worked
probably by the Aztecs. Much of the
gold and silver used by them in their
decorations was taken from the gold
and silver belt of Sonora. Old records
existing in possession of Spanish faml-
lies in Mexico show the Tarasca mines
to be very ancient Humboldt, the
great traveller, visited and made ex-
tended mention of them in his writ
ings. There are many ancient mines in
the republic of Mexico, but the Taras-
ca is one OF the OiueSt
Principal Veins
The principal veins on the property
are the Ubarbo, HermoSillo and La car
rena. These veins run parallel to each
other at greater or less distances apart.
There are several other veins that are
not mentioned here that carry fabu-
lousy high values. Old waste dumps
are scattered along the three big veins
mentioned, and while greatly dimin-
ished by erosion, and in many places
overgrown with vegetation, they con-
vey to the mind of the modern OBJ
server slight idea of the vast amount
of work done in bygone centuries. The
veins are all assures, and the three
above mentioned were from four to ten
feet in width, and can be traced for
miles over the mountains by their crop
pings and antique workings.
The pay Streaks in the Lodges vary
all the way from two feet to the full
width of the vein, and are rich in gold
and silver. They are a free milling
quartz and large quantities of 1t run
as high as 1000 ounces in silver, with
considerable gold. The formation is a
biotite (black mica) granite.
The present company was organized
and took possession of the property in
1902. r. r. Read, manager for the
house of Blake, Moffat & ToWne in Los
Angeles and San Francisco, is presi-
dent; w. c. Ames, a Napa banker.
and William Freyburger of Ellensburg
are directors. The company has only
three directors. H. S. Martin, very
capable mining engineer and business
man, Is general manager. Mines in
Mexico are not located in claims" as
they are in California, Nevada ana Ari-
IONA; but by pertenencias-one perte-
nencia being equal to 2.47 acres. This
company owns seventy-one acres of
mineral land, with perfect title direct
from the Mexican government. Their
title deeds all bear the signature of
President DiaZ.
Much Work Done
Since taking possession of the prop
erty the Tarasca company has done a
large amount of efficient work in Shaft
ing, tunneling, drifting, stopping, sink
ing wines, etc. 1t all figures into
many thousands of feet. From the
2OO-foot level alone the present COM
pany took out nearly $1,000 net. The
greatest depth it has attained is about
500 feet, and In almost every instance
the greater the depth the more valua-
BILE the ore. Millions of dollars worth
of ore is in sight, and much of 1t has
been blocked out and is ready to be
mined.
At the main workings the company
has splendid ten-stamp concentrating
mill, recently built. 1t is considered to
be one of the best in Sonora. The ores
are stamped and concentrated, or
boiled down" from ten parts to one.
They are then ready for shipment to
Ell Paso or elsewhere for final treat
ment. In Spanish days the ores were
sent to Spain in ships; and even since
the present company has had control
it has sent a big bunch of it to San
Francisco. But things are vastly
changed.
Modern Machinery
Today modern machinery marks the
ancient Ubarbo or the LOS Tarasca
Mines" mentioned in the old Mexican
histories. A hosting plant, air COM
pressors, a Bates-Corliss engine and
other machinery of improved make
show that the company is progressive.
From seVenty-five to one hundred men
are employed. At one time 225 were
at work. 1t Is the intention of the COM
pany at an early date to install a re-
duction plant at the mines and treat
their concentrates there, instead of
sending them away.
Timber is not plentiful: most of that
used for mine timbering is purchased
at Guaymas. Wood for fuel is fairly
abundant in the shape of mesquit.
Water is also scarce at the mines;
but it is available in sufficient quanti-
ties from near by irrigation bitches.
There is little doubt, however, that sub
terranean water exists not far from
the camp, and an effort will be made
by the company before long to reach it.
Much more might be said about the
ancient (and almost prehistoric) Taras-
ca mine, to show that 1t is big prop
osition, and one that should bring
wealth to its stockholders.
The production of this mine has
reached into the millions, and with
good management it ought to produce
many more millions
Big lVanpah Strike