The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1908-04-23
THE Clifton-Morenci mining dis


trict last month shipped out about
5000, 900 pounds of Bessemer copper
to the eastern refneries, which is
not bad showing by any means, con-
sidering the fact that most copper
mining camps are far behind their
normal output Ever since the slump
in the price of copper. other camps
have been falling by the waySlde,
while in the Clifton-Morenci district
the companies have in reality in
creased their outputs. Few of the
smaller companies ceased operations
during the panic and these have re-
sumed operations again. This dis
trict is one of the oldest in Arizona
and while it has not made much fuss
to the outside world, it has been busy
the past thirty years developing cop
per mines and shipping the red metal
until today it is one OF the leading
producers of the territory. Only one
other district-Bisbee- this dis
trict in production and the time is
drawing near when Clifton will take
the lead. We have continued to ad-
vance to the front by leaps and
bounds and the three big companies,
the Shannon, Arizona and Detroit,
are exerting their best energies to
make a record in production for 1908
that will astonish Arizonans, as well
as the world. These three companies
are in position to produce much more
copper than they are turning out
at the present date and as their ore
bodies are good for a few hundred
years, there is every reason to be-
ieve that the above prediction will
materialize, should the price of cop
per advance to 16 cents or better.
The Arizona Copper company is pre-
pairing to improve its Smelter.
1t is at present producing
about 1900 tons per month, which
no doubt will be increased to 1000.
The Detroit company at Morenci is
producing about 1000 tons monthly,
with a plant that is capable of pro-
ducing 1900 tons. The Shannon is
producing about 800 tons monthly
with plant that has a capacity of
better than 1000 tons. Hence it will
be seen that none of the big COM
panies are working at full capacity.
They are simply waiting for more
profitable price. Each company has
excellent ore reserves and are in
position to make the increase at a
moments notice. There are several
smaller copper companies operating
in the district and the prospects are
good for another smelter in the not
far distant future. In addition to
the copper industries, we have sew
eral gold prospects in the district
which will eventually assume the posi-.
ton of dividend payers, judging from
the large amount of milling ore that
is being developed. Negotiations are
now being made for the erection OF
at least two and possibly three gold
mills, any one of which will be a
drawing card for the district. In
fact Clifton-Morenci is bound to
be the most important mining dis
trict in the territory. 1t offers bet
ter opportunities for mining invest
ments than any other district and
there are hundreds of good prospects
awaiting the capital which it will
take to develop them. In the face
of the many big mines of the dis.
trict, it is a known fact that this
country is practically undeveloped.
What the three big companies are
doing others can do if they are pre-
pared to furnish capital for develop
ment purposes.