Mohave County miner., 1912-12-21
7OOO Foot Tun nel For
 Burro Mountain District

Last week there was started In the Burro Mountain mining district one of the biggest proJects that has ever been inaugurated in mlnlng district in this section, and one that is fraught with great import to the future of the Burro Mountains as a copper producer. It was the beginning of the driving of an immense tunnel, eight feet high and nine feet wide, 1000 feet through the heart of the great mineral bearing zone of the district. The BurrO Moun- tain Copper Co.,, owned by the Phelps, Dodge Company, is doing the work and the tunnel will crosscut every vein and slide within the Burro noun tain company territory, comprising an area of many hundred acres.
 The tunnel is being started opposite the No. ? shaft at Tyrone, which the Burro Mountain Copper Co.,. recently acquired from the Chemung Copper company. It will run a southwesterly direction, tapping the old St. Louis mine, the original famous producer of the company, at the 300 or 400 foot level. It is understood that the tun- nel is being made wide enough to ad- init the entrance of ore dump cars, which will operate by electricity. In this way an entire train of cars can be run into the tunnel and receive it's load with only one handling. The tunnel will eliminate much expensive prospecting. as well as facilitate the handling of the ore both at Tyrone and Leopold. It will eliminate expen- slve hoists and pumps to keep out the water, and will open up much virgin ground that has never been prospect ed
 Mr. Douglas and son, Walter Doug- las, high officials of the Phelps, Dodge, Company spent several days in the district last week, going over the ground. A force of fifteen men is em- ployed at present on the tunnel under the formanship of Alex Woodburn and it is expected that 30 feet day will be driven. Even at this rate it. will take them year to complete it. It is understood the tunnel may be driven farther than originally planned and that it may be extended to Dead Mans gulch, about 4.00O feet farther.
 The work of dsmantling the old con- centrator at Leopold commenced last week. The machinery is being stored in one part of the building.
 The Enterprise understands from un- official sources that by the time the tunnel is completed, large modern steel constructed mill will be ready for operation to handle the ore. If this be true then the completion of the railroad to Whitewater will also have been accomplished in order to handle the shipment of machinery, for the difficult grading through the noun tains is completed so that practically all that remains to be done is to lay the rails.
 Considerable speculation is being in- dulged in as to the ultimate destina- tion of this road. Many contend that unless the Phelps, Dodge Company make satisfactory arrangements with the Santa Fe for the handling of their ore, that they will extend their Burro mountain line to Deming on the south and Fierro on the north, passing through Silver City. There is a per- sistent rumor to this effect although upon how much ground it is based is not known.
 This much seems certain, the Burro Mountain mining district will see the greatest development within the next twelve months, that it has ever ex- perienced and this development will be of the solid substantial result-pro- ducing kind.-Copper Era.