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

"TO undertake TO write history OF
/ mining in that section of the
southwest comprised in what is
now New Mexico, Chihuahua and
trans Pecos, Texas. would be large
undertaking, requiring a treatise in
! several volumes. It would, in fact, be
practically the complete history Of
the section in the early period, at least.
after the coming of the white man.
The Pueblo indians, a semicivilized
tribe, who practised the art of agricul-
ture before the time of Columbus. are
believed to have worked the turquoIs
deposits in New Mexico But mining IN
the southwest really began with the
advent of the Spaniards in the 10Th
century and was probably confined at
first to mining gold in gravel deposits
EuInIia Discovered in 1903.
Silver was discovered by the Span
iards in Santa Eulalia in 1908, but it IS
quite probable that it was mined there
by the A5tecs long before that date.
This was probably the first important
discovery of the white metal in Chi
huahua of which there is authentic
record.
That mining was carried on by the
Spaniards at an early day in Texas IS
certain. Just when or where IS not
definitely known, but that at least one
mine whose existence was real DuL
whose location is mythical was actu-
ally worked in an early day is well
authenticated fact This is the san
Saba mine.
It does not necessarily follow that it
was located in the present county Of
that name, but from the records it IS
probable that il was located in the CEN
trail mountain region of Texas, known
in general as the Llano district. How
ever, all that is really known about
this property is that it has long since
Joined the ever swelling ranks Of lost
mines.
Begins with @BOnanza Days"
Mining in any section generally be-
gins with the bonanza days and
these nave practically always been fol-
lowed by a more or less lengthy period
Of depression succeeding the exhaustion
OF the bonanza. Then there sets in the
period Of substantial development
which rises and falls with the metal
market and local causes peculiar TO
the district. Although there was an
era of placer mining in New Mexico in
the early part Of the 10th century, be- !
fore it became part of the United /
States, the bonanza days of New Mex |
leo really began with the coming of the !
Southern Pacific railway.
The Period Of Discovery.
From 1873 to 1882 according to Lind /
gren, there were discovered "practi- !
cally all the mining districts now /
worked. It was an era Of silver min /
ing; copper and other base metals not (
being sought for"
The exhaustion of the bonanzas and .
the depreciation in the price of silver /
was followed BY the usual period of in |
activity. At about the beginning of
this century. the demand for the base /
metals in this section, due to the extern
sion of the smelling facilities at FL
PasO, brought revival of mining in /
New Mexico which began her period Of
development.
Panic Causes Curfailmenf.
The panic Of 1907 cut copper pro-
duction from over 100000 pounds to
less than half that amount in 1908.
The production of copper in 1914 was /
over 65,000,00O pounds. of which 3d.
100000 came from one producer, the
Chino Copper company.
As q result Of the war in Mexico
there has been a further activity in
mining in New Mexico in the past IS
months which has caused the opening up
1f many new properties. One hears it
frequently said that New Mexico was
q great mining state in the bonanza
lays, but she is now back number"
pr words of similar import.
They Lack Information.
The man who makes such a remark
brands himself as being about quar-
er Of century behind the times in his
Information on the subject. The value
If the mineral output in New Mexico
asst year was in excess Of that of Chi
luahua in her banner year, or one of I
hem at least. 1905, a fact not re-
,lized by many
chihuahua Wonderful Producer.
The state of Chihuahua has since
he days of the Spaniards been a Won
serful producer, chiefly in silver val
les. There are y legal mining dis
riots in the state ana it would be diff
icult to say which is the more won
erful. The silver mines of Batopiias,
ianta Eulalia were worked in a fash
ropably the most noted. Those of the
asst three are partially known to the
writer. The most violent superlatives { I
re pardonable in speaking of Chihua-
ua and her mines. Although many
Unfortunate investors would substitute
xpletive for superlative in the pre- {
1ous sentence, it must be remembered {
nat We are discussing mines, not COM ]
anies.
Worked by SDaniards.
Under the Spaniards the mines in {
anita Eulalia, Parral and OcampO are :
on that we now delight in calling
primitive" Men carried the ore out I
n their backs. There are places where t
nimal pack trains were driven far
Underground and carried the ore out !
the mine and down to the village or 8
way to Chihuahua, where it was j