El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-22

~ BE past year history OF the niA-
ing industry in the Southwest is
l. a story Of marvellous changes.
When the curtain rose on the scene at
the beginning Of 1915 the situation was
most unpromising The bottom had
literally dropped out OF the conner mar
kets ana while prices were a IiftIe on
the upgrade. the mining Industry was
sun more or less demOraiized as a re-
suit Of the European conflict which
nad been responsible for the big sIunp
LeaI came the latter part of 1914
" hen the curtain went down on De
cemDer 81. 1915. copper was quoted at
= cents In the darkest hour of the
INDUSTRY, prices were quoted as low as
cents The revival means added pros
perity 20 Fl PasO, the metropolis OF
the Southwest.
The revival in copper mining came
suooenly- Il was discovered by the
warning nations of Europe an at once
mat. they needed copper, and quite as
suddenly American manufacturers
found their stocks low and a big de-
maRd staring them IN the face Then
prices began TO mount During the
sumner they reached the 21-cent level
and more recently quotations of "A
cents aud more per pound have been
NiEes Close; Hurry to Resume.
L'urlng the depression many mines
closed down because they could not be
operated at q profit with prices at such
low levels Others worked only mari
time and with short crews Arizona.
largely dependent upon the copper in
dustFy, was hard hit Then. quite sud
denly. came the revival. All producing
companies that had closed down i'm
media tely resumed operations, and de-
Nelopment work began on properties
with good indications Some of the
operators put their men on a sliding
wage scale, the wages corresponding
TO the price Of copper. Today Arizona
ana other sections where copper is pro-
HHnnn
prosperity The only shadow on the
landscape is the Clifton AIorenci-Net-
calf strike, which for several months
mas stopped operations in those camps.
There are indications that the trouble
IN those camps will shortly be settled.
resulting in a full resumption of OBJ
erations.
General Revival in Mining.
While the greatest prosperity has
come 10 the copper camps, the past
year has been general revival OF
mining IN other metals, notably lead.
zinc gold, silver and tungsten. In
nearly every section OF the Southwest
mining operations are underway and
great prosperity has come to this sec
uon as a direct result Of the activities.
me situation In Mexico is little
changed Less than two weeks ago
mere was a general movement into
Mexico Of mining mn in preparation of
n resumption Of mining operations on
q large scale. The, apparent elimina-
ton OF villa as a Factor in northern
Mexico and the assurance given by Car
rama agents that Americans would
now be safe led to the decision of
many large operators to attempt to re-
open their mines Then came the muir
Ger Of Is Americans near Cusihuiria-
chic supposedly by Villa bandits and
point became as grave as ever IN
cUesr1onably this act Of barbarism has
halted the development in northern
Mexico for some time to come
Sonora Mines Operated.
Despite the unsettled conditions IN
Mexico during the past five years min
Ing has been carried on in some sec
IONS more or less continuously, par
ticElarly in Sonora The Creston &
Colorado company at Torres. Sonora,
has resumed operations and is mining
silver and gold and some copper.
The Cananea Consolidated Copper
company and the Democratic Mining
company. and the Calumet and Sonora /
Mining company are operating The
Fl Iigre company, near Esqueda, is also {
operating.
In Chihuahua. the AITarado Mining !
and Milling company at Parral has
been operating right along but until /
the smelter at chihuahua starts up |
there viii be little doing in the state !
Of Chihuahua
New Mexico Mines Active.
IN New Mexico there is considerable I
activity The White Oaks camp is ac-
tive The TularOsa Copper company at
Bent, IS working its holdings and some 1
N l4A IS DEtnE done AT DEO tTTanue- IN
me Magoalena district the SherWln-
Williams company is operating its zinc
mines and the same Is true Of the
Empire Zinc company. $4,000. 600 cor
porauon with large holdings through 1
out the southwest In the mountains I
west Of Magdalena some small COM
panles are operating In the Lords
burg district there is activity the ont
put OF the mines being principally cop /
per The November company, ar Gran
lte Gap, near stems, has been ship
ping copper, lead and zinc ore.
In the western part Of New Mexico I
there is much activity. The Chino Con-
per company is operating its mines At !
santa Rita and its mill at Hurley At I
hanover the Empire Zinc company has !
Dee1 working Its zinc holdings. while ;
at Fierro the Colorado Fuel and Iron |
company is taking out iron ore In
me SILVER City district activity con- {
liIiles, the Plnos Altos properties pro- /
oucing mostly gold Just over the
ridge the Empire Zinc COMPANY has a I
camp In the Mogollon district there
are several large producing properties ]
Mountain Copper company near Tyrone I
is bringing its properties towards the
production stage
All Arizona Copper Mines Busy.
N Arizona al copper properties are /
oelng run full time and with fun crews I
and all camps are in a flourishing con- !
dltlon, except Clifton, Morenci and Met /
calf, where a strike of miners has been /
IN progress for some time
Miami, one Of the largest camps in /
Arizona is quite active with the Miami /
company and the Inspiration company I
IN operation The Inspiration is get Z
ting 70 be large producer The Miami 4
mas been producing for four years.
The Ray Copper company. in the
pany IS controlled by the same inter-
ests that control the Chino company.
The Hayden mill Of the company is
being run. The mines Of the American
q ~ anmnH# NHn.HH
Christmas district, 20 miles east Of Ray.
are being worked, and the Magma COM
pany. northwest Of Ray. is producing.
being produced. In the Jerome dis
triet activity is noted and the same is
true in the AjO district, where recent
" some new copper assures have been I
located Some activity has been re-
ported in the Oatmsn district and also
at kIngman.
The Twin Buttes mines, southwest Of