The copper era and Morenci leader., 1921-08-12
DUNCAN NEWS

deal for the purchase of the holdings of George H. Utter in the Steeplerock district of New Mexico, l located about 13 miles northeast of Duncan is now pending, it is under stood. It is reported that George E. ! Wilson, H. V. Shell and w. D. Fisk and associates will purchase the en. tire holdings of MT. Utter and will operate the various properties of MT. Utter on a large scale. The consid- eration has not been made public.
 It is understood that the sale is to be made to the New Years company, which is controlled by the gentlemen mentioned and that the properties will be operated by this company.
 The Carlisle mine, which is the largest property of the group. will probably receive the first attention of the company, and the shaft, which has been sunk to depth of 500 feet Ga winze reaches a depth of 127 feet below the 800 feet leveD will be con tinued down to a depth of 1000 feet. This property is one of considerable reputation, as it was owned at one time by a trio of Chicago millionaires, during which time, it is said, several millions of dollars of gold were eX- tracted from the property. The ore deposit is very large and 1t is the Op- inion of mining engneers and geOlog- ists that but very little of Ihe values have been extracted during the time this property had been operated in- termittingly during the past forty years or more. Indications point to deposits below the 5O0-foot level, and
 with the sinking of the shaft to great CT depth the predictions of mining
 men wko have examined the property
 thoroughly will undoubtedly come i true.
 The Jim Crow mine is another pro- l perty which is included in the deal. |, This property is located about three
 miles down the canyon from the
 Carlisle mine, and has produced con-
 siderable gold and silver in the past.
 The Belali group, located above the ] Carlisle mine, towards Clear Lake is
 also included in the deal. This is a
 gold property of considerable promise,
 and workings in the shaft have ex- posed some rich ore.
 There are a number of other i'm ,portant groups of claims in the dis trict which are included in the sale,
 and the entire district involved com
 prises a section of country of consid-
 erable area.
 The New Years Gift property is
 one of considerable promise. This was formerly owned by MT. Utter, but
 several years ago it was sold to the present owners, since which time they have developed quite an ore body, and
 there is about 250,000 tons of ore on
 the dump awaiting treatment at a l mill, as it will not pay to ship the ore to a smelter.
 When the property passes to the purchasers, they expect to commence
 active development work, immediate
 ly. and an extensive program of this
 work will be carried out, probably eX- ii tending through several years before f any attempt will be made to produce Fl ore. The various properties will pro bably be connected underground and centralized ore handling equipment will be installed at certain point ac
 cessible from all the various mines When this has been accomplished il is possible that large concentrato1 will be installed, power plant erected and an electric railway constructed ito carry the products to the railroad at Duncan. Of course this is in the
 distant, but not so very distant future.
 The people behind the deal are mining men of acknowledged ability and men who have been making good in that game for years. There is
 scarcely any doubt but that they vii be successful and that the Steeple rock district, which for so many years has been struggling along with { production of no great importance will become one of the largest pro ducing areas in the southwest, as i is known to be one of the most highl! mneralized districts on the continent 7 Chas. F. Dare left on Tuesday morn ! ng for Winslow, Ariz.. where he ha s entered the employe of the Arizoni S State bank. His family will folloy him there after he has secured 3 house fer them. Mir Dare leaves man, friends here who wish him success il \ his new home.
 : Miss VerIa Care and Orian Dare re ] hturned home on Monday from a visi to their former home in Illinois.