Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1915-12-05
MINING CONDITIONS
IN SONORA AND NEAR
BY STATE EXPLAINED
H. w. LOOMS, Mining Man, Tells
of Conditions Found in Several
Months Trip in the State of
Sonora and Chihuahua.

tOA. VI Lao wv IL w AabgAAAANf
the well known mining man about
whom there has been some uneasiness
lately. returned from Mexico yester-
day morning on the train that return
ed here after being attacked by the
Villistas north Of Nacozari. Mr.. Loo
mis- left his home in this city six
months ago and since that has put in
most Of his time in exploring a wild
and isolated section Of the Sierra Ma
DIRE mountains about IS miles square
between Casas Grandes. Chihuahua.
and the Moctezuma district in Sonora.
Mr. LOOMS has for several years held
valuable copper properties in the vi
cinity Of Nacozari, Sonora.
When he left Douglas it was for the
purpose of visiting these properties,
but on his arrival there he decided
that it would be useless to attempt
any work, and having heard many
Legendary stories from MeXicans and
Indians about the lost mines in the
wild and uninhabited country in the
Sierra Madre, he decided that It would
be a good time to do some explora-
ton in that country. He remained in
this territory for several months. hav-
ing taken bountiful supplies with him
when he left Douglas. He found this
20 be fine camping country. abound
ing in game and water. so that he was
able to take good care of himself. Oc-
csssionally he would visit the little
pueblos on the edge of the wild coun-
try and secure such supplies as he
needed from the inhabitants. In these
pueblos he found the people practical
ly naked and with no sugar or salt.
In the Loomis larder was a quantity
Of soap and he found that a bar Of
| soap was good for a dozen eggs, where
ever he could find chickens
Regarding the wild country Mr.
Loomis said that he did not find any
mineral indications that would war
rant exploration in that isolated dis
/ trict
He made several trips to the Nor
mon colonies where he found a few of
these people holding on TO their homes
and orchards and hoping for the com
ing of peace when they could resume
their prosperity, He said the Nor
mons yet had a few fine cattle, but
/ that they were being eaten by any Of
the Mexican factions that went that
/ way
He was al the town Of Pearson
! where are modern milling plants hay
ing capacity for saving half a million
feet Of lumber daily All is idleness
there now where at one time there
were hundreds of busy men engaged
in logging and operating the mills
During his six months stay i'm MeXi-
co Mr.. Loomis met a number of small
bands of soldiers belonging to one
faction or the other. and some that did
not acknowledge allegiance to either
Carranza or villa. None of them mo-
Tested him in any way though he rode
a good horse and carried a good rifle
all the time. Some times he lodged
bands which he had reason 10 believe
might be desperately short Of horses
and guns
Speaking Of present conditions in
Mexico Mr. Loomis said that he could
see no light yet for the future, so far
as a hoped for condition which would
warrant resumption of mineral or 9th
or development in that country Is con
cerned. Several years ago he said
that be decided that while it was pos
sible that some internal power might
arise strong enough TO return the
country 10 peace order and industry
he thought that the probabilities al
pointed to a continuance of the Mexi
co trouble until some outside powell
assumed responsibility for rehabili
tating the government, perhaps the
United States though nothing nov
points to such intention by this coun
try In this connection he said tina
If the big interests in New York de
cided to make the loan of half a bill
lion to Carranza then that act would
be the best guarantee that this coun
try would soon provide suhicien
force to guarantee the welfare of thi
loan
Mr. Loomis said this morning tina
he was glad to be back in his HON
country and had no idea when h
would again give his attention to hi
| ATqYicO interests