El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-06

hmateriaI progress in 1914, achieved
L in the face Of adverse conditions
arising from the Euroyean war, was
eytraordinary. The year closed with
a distinct advance noticeable in every
line of industry.
Mining is Arizona's principal indus
try. and copper is her principal MIN
eral product. The war IN EUROPE 9ls
brought about severe drop IN the
demand for copper and Arizona sur
fered, but not to the extent that many
feared. The big copper companies
have cut dswn their forces 70 pc cent l
on the average, but only one-tne
Sbann0n-shut down entirely. The
new year began with notable boom
in gold mining and with prospects
hrighr for the copper producers tC
be back to normal ere many more
months.
Bie shelter Nearly Ready.
AT Clarkdale. in the Verde valley
the United Verde Copper company
new smelter is well along toward com
pletion. Its capacity will be 5O,O0O:OUO
pounds of copper month WINE
buiIding a model smelter the United
Verde company is also making Clark
dale a model town.
Two big plants are in process OF
construction in the Globe-Mlaml as
trict. one is a $2,000,0O0 smelter for
the international Smelling & Refining
company. The other is lO,OOO Ton
concentrator for the Inspiration Cop
per company. At Clifton the Arl-
IONA Copper company completed
50 100000 reverberatory furnace
smelter in 1914
.AlI the copper companies are mining
fhe richest ore thai they can take
from their holdings 1t costs no more
TO mine a ton Cf six per cent ore imam
a ton Of two percent ore. and the cost
OF treatment is about the same. There
fore, in this tima q lessened demand
For copper, the companies are cutting
their production costs TO minimum
and leaving their lower grade ore 70
be handled when conditions are more
favorable.
Although the copper producers are
curtailing expenses and production, the
development Of new copper properties
goes on the same as usual Arizona
mIripp .ner know that it is only
question Of limo Fill Europe ceases 70
war and the demand for the red metal
win 10 greater than the supply.
Renewed Activity in Gold Mining.
More attention is being paid to gold
mining in ARIZONA than ever before
Scores Of gold properties, particularly
in Yavapai and Mohave counties
changed hands in the latter part OF
1914 and are now being worked py
their new owners. 1t is no trouble
~ all TO obtain eastern capital for
legitimate gold mining venture IN Arr
iona.
In M0nave those two famous goi9
rr0ducers, the Tom Reed and Gold
Road continue to pour thousands Of
dollars a month into the pockets OF
their lucky stockholders. Extensive
improvements and betterments were
made in the Tom Reed and Cold
Road mills in 1914
Farther south, in Maricopa county
the Vulture is producing as in pioneer
days The Climax, Henrietta and other
properties in the vicinit5 of Prescott
which have been idle for years, are
now listed with the profitable pro-
ducers. Placer mining, practically a
dead industry in Arizona Tor more
than a decade was resumed on Lynx
creek and in other districts.
Seek OIL in Tonic Basin.
In the Tonic basin country at least
one company is boring for oil and IN
dications are said to be good Tor the
early penetration Of great pool OF
petroleum.
Farmers. cattlemen and sheep grow
ers all prOspered nightly in 1914 In
the Salt river valley. which is irrigated
from the famous Roosevelt dam, the
cultivated area was increased Dy ~
percent, OF to 10000 acres. Two new
electric pumping stations were estaD-
lished in the southeastern part OF the
valley by the United States reclama-
Dust across Salt river from Tempe
the Salt River Valley Water Users
association completed $90O,OOO cleo
trio mower plant. This plant IS capable
Of generating 5000 horse power. A
8 600 horse power addition to the old
plant at Roosevelt is being construct
ed. Practically all the power gen
Grated at Roosevelt is sold to the In
SEPARATION Copper company, which Dullt
its own transmission line.
Adds S5OO,OOO to Farmers Incomes.
one horse power is worth $50
year in the salt river valley. Ihere-
d To- nHnHn
ana the new unit at Roosevelt means
the addition of not less than half
million dollars to the annual income
OF the salt river valley land owners.
who must shortly begin to pay back
the government the SlO,OOO,OOO 1t eN-
pended on their irrigation project. As
they have 90 years TO discharge the
debt the chances are that the sale OF
electric power will relieve the farmers
Of practically all the burden and also
pay for the maintenance and operation
Of the system.
Dry farmers and farmers with In
expensive pumping plants are making
money in the Queen creek section,
southeast and east OF Mesa rms IS
a practically frOstless belt, where the
tenderest plants flourish II months
in the year One Queen Creek farmer
marketed the first Wagonload Of his
winter watermelon crop in Mesa on
UnIque Project at HigIey.
Arrangements are being made by
eastern capitalists 70 install a single
big pumping plant that will irrigate
5000 acres in the vicinity of Higley.
They expect to have this plant in op-
Grafton before the end Of 1915 and
then TO install others, for there are
miles and miles OF rich mesa lands
awaiting only water to make them as
productive as any under the reclama-
ton project.
Pumping plants have also proved
immensely successful in the Casa
Grande. san Simon and Sulphur Springs
valleys The year 1914 saw number
Of pumps installed around Casa
Grande. Modern engines using cheap
fuel, have made possible the reclama-
uou Of vast areas in Arizona that
were worthless a few years ago for
any purpose except grazing.
Pima county saw an immense In