The Benson signal., 1916-11-18
PROSPEROUS ARIZONA

iVIObl u0UO I" VlSit w ArlZOu1,
writes as follows:
"Prosperi'y is favoriog Arizona
That fact imprpsses even one who
makes but n short visit 70 our
neigh boring state. Agricultural
development in southern Arizona
is gradually assuming an impor-
tsnce worthy ths large area of op
port unity. Over and above re-
clama'ion projects, which are sc-
complishing much in transforming
Vast expanses Of desert into gar
dens of husbandry, the traveller
can observe, on the plateaus, the
cabins and the clearings of home
steaders, who are pondering the
way for permanent productiveness
with fervor that impresses conf
dence in the farming possibilities
of The future
"The only drawback to unpar-
alleled prosperity in Arizona bas
been removed and the forward
speed of the development of the
state during the next few mon hs
will be as never in it's history, ac-
cording to report of the Arizona
State Bureau of Mines. The low
price of silver no longer hangs
over the market.
"Silver occurs with so many ores
in the State of Arizona that the in
creased price of silver makes de.
cided increase in the production at
many of the mining camps, and
reports are being received that
shipments axe stimulated and fur
ther exploration greatly encour>
aged.
"Silver remained very low after
the war began and was the very
last to respond TO the conditions
that have boosted the market for
all the other metals. With the
increase in silver come greater re-
turns, greater wages, etc., and
more material prosperity.
"Silver had, in 1915, a record
production in Arizona, the output
increasing from 4, 377,ee4 ounces in
1914 to about 5,458,ooO ounces in
1915, or over "a per cent, having
a total value of about S., 7s1, 900
With an increase in the value of
silver of almost 40 per cent, it is
readily seen what this means to
the states total production. The
greater part of the silver comes
from the copper ores, although in
creased shipments of silver-lead
have also contributed to the in
crease in silver production.
1.-The mines and smelters of Ari-
zona during 1916 have been work.
ing at a pressure SO high that they
are probably making record pro.
ductions of all metals If they
continue to work at the present
rate during the year, they will
make an output of over 600, 900, 900
pounds of copper, against about
$50, 900 in 1915, according to
reports received by the o. S. Geo.
logical Survey. A corresponding
increase in the output of the pre-
cious metals ano in that of lead
and zinc, which is probable. will,
at the greatly Increased prices,
make the total value of the output
10 1916 nearly double tn 1t of 1915,
which was about $88, 700, 900.
Thus Arizona not ooly retains first
place as a copper producer, but is
producing at a rate nearly double
that of any other state. The In
ternational smelter, which treats
Inspiration ore, contributes the
greatest part of the increase, for
this plant is Supplying about one
fourth of the total copper. Marked
increases and improvements were
made at the United Verde, Calu-
met and Arizona, and Old Domin-
ion mines and the Sasco plant in
Pima county was again blown in.
The railroad to AjO was completed
and work has been begun there on