International., 1925-05-25

Prof. q. VI. Butler, Oean Oh Tue
Bureau of Mines, University of
Arizona, declared that 1.-The great
est mineral region upon earth lies
within a radius Of thirty miles
around Nogales." Going further
Professor Butler asserted that
were such a region anywhere in
Europe there would be a half
dozen great mining industries in
operation; and that were Los An
geles the center Of similar re-
gion it would be the seat of
dozen great mining and reduction
plants, all producing and paying
dividends. With such opportuni-
ties lying at their door the wide
awake business, public Of Los An
geles would provide in short or
der all assistance necessary to de.
velop and capitalize the founda-
lions for great industrial enter
prises offered here.
EARLY HISTORY
In this region also mining In
what is now Arizona took is start,
two centuries ago, as described
BY eminent authority, writing
descriptive works upon the region
then known as "Pimeria Alta.
embracing the country lying south
Of the Gila River, in Southern
Arizona, ,Sextending to the Dolores
river in Sonora. and line west
ward to the Gulf Of California
from the union Of the Dolores
with San Antonio into the San
1i0uel river.
The earliest record Of mining in
Pimeria Alta located q great dis
eovery Of silver at Planchas dc
Plata (''balls Of silver'), a point
about twenty miles in an airline,
southwest from Nogales, in which
vicinity mining is being conducted
ut this day, nearly two centuries
later than the original discovery.
Father Ortega, Jesuit, who was
In missionary work here between
1920 an. 768, in which latter
year he w=s expelled the country
with the rest Of the Jesuitts, pub
lished at Barcelona, Spain, in
1884, work entitled can Account
Of the Labors Of the Company Of
Jesus in North America" In that
book Father Ortega relates the
particulars Of the
PHENOMENAL DISCOVERY
At Planchas de Plata as having
taken place "about fifteen years
ago." which,, allowing some time
between the writing and publica-
ton of the book, would locate it
in point Of time, somewhere be-
tween 1886 and 1739-In the
former year, most likely. There
are eXtant other accounts which
put the find as having taken place
as early as 1886, while yet others
state it as late as 1869. But as
Father Ortega was in the region,
and in touch with the most re-
liable sources Of information, the
writer is disposed to credit his ac-
count as the most accurate and
reliable
According to Ortega ga mineral
discovery was made a short dis
tance from the Real de Arizona
which attracted attention not only
of New Spain, but Of all the ma
tions of Europe. A Yaqui Indian
working in the vicinity revealed
to trader his surprising find, and
the lateer made it public. News
Of mineral wealth so abundant
spread far and wide attracting
quickly a great multitude Of treas
ure seekers. At depth Of a few
varas in the bed Of canon cut
ing down the side Of a mountain
were found.
MASSES OF PURE SILVER
"Globular in form, weighing one
to two arrobas each, with several
much larger. Several weighed as
high as twenty arrobas, and one,
found by a man from Guadalajara,
weighed twenty-one arrobas 1928
pounds. No pack animal could
carry load so heavy, and as the
mass resisted ali efforts at Ont.