Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-24
OUTLOOK BRIGHT
FOR A COME BACK
IN NE Tall MINING
Lincoln County Owners Are
Building NarroW-Gauge Line
From Luna on the {, P, &
S. W, Railroad to JiCariIIa,

There are indications that New
| Mexico may soon be busy mining
state again and the flush times of ole
in the mineral districts may be re.
peated.
J The most noticeable single activity
( so far, is a project in Lincoln coun.
try where the only railway construc.
ton in progress in the state is report
ed, Under the federal administration
no railway mileage is being planned
and the companies are not permitted
| to spend money fors new lines. This
condition is not expected to be
| changed until the roads are again in
the hands of the owners, who will, as
soon as they are out of the straight
| jacket, begin to run lines to all local
tiles where development will pay
Mining towns that now have railways
have them because railroad compan-
les desired to increase bushes through
development.
But in Lincoln county mine own
ers themselves are constructing a mar
row guage line to Jicarilla from Luna,
on the FL Paso & Southwestern route,
a distance of eight miles. And there
are three spur tracks each three
miles in length. reaching to various
properties, none of which has been
in operation because freighting bres
to Luna for shipment to a smelter
was Improbable.
The Carri2ozo News says that the
result will be the opening of various
properties and the creation of en-
ployment and large pay rolls, The
locality will get immediate benefit,
the state and county will get railway
taxes Mine Improvements will also
swell the tax rolls and the ore pro-
duced will be taxable under the pres
ent mines tax law, all of which will
be public gain. The railway build
ers are FL Paso men who own the
mines. Gold has been produced in
the Jicarilla district, but manganese
is the main product
Another large metal mining deVel-
opment is in progress at Hanover,
which is well backed by Minnesota
men. The work being done prepare
tory to erection of "A mill and produc-
ton of large quantities of metal, indi-
Gates an important addition to indus
try and public revenue.
1t is interesting to note that owners
of silver mines who had to abandon
40 cents per ounce In 1893, are pre-
pairing to produce, now that silver
is in demand at above $500 per ounce,
With the assurance of the govern
ment that the price Will be maintain
ed for five years or more, under pres
ent market arrangements with Eng
land, for india and because of the de-
mand from the Orient. the silver in
dustry will again thrive. New Mexico
was hard hit when silver was de-
monetized. England also endeavored
to substitute gold for the people of
India, which effort has failed.
The Lake Valley mines, which were
famous for the wonderful Bridal
Chamber, are already being put into
readiness for work after many years
of idleness. One Slope there opened
up the famous bridal Chamber that
yielded, 100000 ounces of the white
metal. The mines, under Philadelphia
ownership, yielded over five million
ounces of silver There are over
twenty miles of underground workings
on the same level. in the property.
In addition to the silver, the Lake
Valley mines yield manganese ores
the percentage being above 49, so that
in one year the shipments gave 4 900
tons of manganese.
During the period of idleness in
silver properties prospecting for cop
per- iron and other metals has ex-
tended through parts of New Mexico
previously neglected. New processes
in treating metal have made ores pro-
fitable that We're considered practic-
ally worthless in early days.
In the San Andreas mountains, lying
between Albuquerque and the Tula-
rosa valley. are metal ores that will
probably cause the building of a rail-
way line from southwark The ores
of the Organ mountains were being
explored by the owners of the great
Tyrone mine in Grant county, until
the slump in copper caused temper
airy suspension of the exploration Of
the bonded areas, the purchase of
which would have called for several
million dollars. Resumption there
may be expected II copper continues
to advance in market price, and a rail
way will be built if the properties are
purchased.
The renewed activity in metal mar
ket will also cause the small copper.
iron and silver producers of the Jar
lila mines in Otero county to renew
operations.
In many of the mining districts of
New Mexico manganese and silver are
found in combination, and in the big
copper mines the silver percentage has
become more of factor in making
the low grade ores profitable.
vr-xyA ~ VyY~Hv~-