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

Il
primitive
Americans Invented dumps"
Eut if the method of mining was
primitive, it had one virtue, it was
without dumps until the American in
vasiOn. if we may so call it. and at
least that expense was eliminated un-
der the ancient system. Their smelling
was equally as effective and the big
Stag piles left by the Spaniards are
still intact because their values were
SO thoroughly extracted. although no
doubt each annual crop of tenderfeet
produces a few who continue to sample
and assay them.
Was Thought Worked Ont.
After the decline Of the Spanish su-
premacy. the district was worked by
the MexiCans. Less than a quarter Of
a century ago the whole camp, it has
been said, could have been bought for
100000. With the exception of four
came the influx OF Americans with
modern machinery for hosting and
American nerve to take a risk and the
money to do it with and Santa Eulalia
came into her own again.
Talked in Millions.
When the writer first went there, in
1906, property owners seldom spoke of
values in any terms smaller than mill
lions and they were probably pardona-
BILE for some most phenomenal values
had recently been opened up. One prop
eTty with absolutely no showing on
the surface had been purchased for
$3.50, 900 and bodies of high grade ore
discovered in caves below the 1000 foot
level which will take so years to ship
at the Chem present rate of 500 tons
day, or total value of 500, 0,0O0."
Was fEGcOd Prospect"
r. T. Hill, writing in 1904, and speak
ing of another property, says: The
richest and probably most extensive ore
body ever discovered in Santa Eulalia
was made in the ---. Twelve
good prospect. This property was
purchased for S375,0O0 on a long favor
able bond and within two years tbe-
fore it was paid for) an offer of $1,000
coo for it from an American capitalist
was refused
Could Tell Many Stories.
Space fOrbids further enumeration Of
story after story that could be told of
the wonders of this and other camps.
OF Chihpahua 1t is sufficient to repeat
the words of Won Humboldt who said:
THE western half of Chihuahua will
deposits on the face of the globe"
Metal Mining in Texns.
The history of precious metal min
ing in Texas could be more quickly told
but it would be no less interesting.
Texas has never had her bonanza day
as yet, although she has produced some
bonanza miEes. There is long period
Of inactivity in metal mining from the
more or less mythical mines of the
Spaniards until mining actually began
in Texas about the time of the building
# the western railways
History OF the Shnfter.
All the precious metal mining to date /
las been done in the trans-Pecos coun- |
-ry, with the exception of rare metal |
production in the central mountain sec !
fu
.amOus of the Texas silver mines be- 4
;ause its output has been so large and !
ong continued. Up to the year 1901 it ]
lad produced over $4,000 600, and has ;
shipped from 100000 to $1,000 ounces /
If silver per annum since Hearsay 1
las it that as much more viii be pro- !
luced in the future.
Coming Closer Home.
Coming closer home there is a prop !
rty which was formerly in Ell Paso I
now in Culberson county,
bout y miles north Of Van Horn.
-nown as the Hazel mine. 1t produced
wonderfully for 4 short time in its
arly days, but litigation and minor
eirs stopped its production.
Won Streeruwitz, speaking Of this
roperty in the third annual report of
be geological survey of Texas says:
I regard it anything but an exaESera-
ion to estimate the value of the ores
n this mine as far as it is opened for
YORK at zO,UUO.OG0 ounces of silver
stu in the Ground.
This was in 1891. Those 10000. 600
unces are stin in the mine Contin-
ing. Won Streeruwitz says; There is
o doubt that the greater part Of the
lateral on the dumps is a low grade
re worth being worked bs' ELEVATION"
hose dumps ore still there An I'M
lccessful attempt has been made with
the last two years to put the prop
rty in operation. This unfortunate
line Is good illustration OF the say
lg so true that it is automatic: More
lines fail from lack of management
lan ever fail from lack of ore"
Capital IL Required.
10 quote further from Won Streeru- I
it, who says: There are numerous
ltcrops and prospects in the Sierra /
arrlzo up to the cliffs of the Sierra /
10 Do Just as promising as those Of |
he Hazel mine were. The same can DO
lld OF the outcrops and prospects OF Il
lie lultman and Chinnati mountains. |
o develop them requires only capital
lergy and experience, as proved by |
lie assays made in the laboratory Of
lie geological survey"
me latter statement is borne out by
y own experience while employed as
chemist on the state mineral survey !
1923, at which time several hun