Year: 1878

OAKvALE, ARIZONA

 MR. EDITOR The above question is one of frequent asking, and in a gen eral sense the answer should be-one that is skillful; but in particular cases it does not hold good. A politician may have an intimate knowledge of governmental theory, but lack the fac ulty for their successful application. A book -keper may come armed with his diploma from the best commercial college in the land, and have his head crammed full of Crittenden, and still fOt be a good book-keeper A carpen- ter may know a good deal about the five orders of architecture, and have studied plane geometry till he was heartsick, and still be failure at his trade An editor may be able to write articles full of brilliant sentences, and pungent points, but if he cannot feel the peoples pulse andlput public senti- ment into shape, he fails in the higher walks of his calling. A miner may be a good man to work, but if he does not know where to drill his hole and put his powder, his industry and heavy hitting don't benefit him much. A mining expert may expend time and brain power in getting a knowledge of his business in one locality, and be a very greenhorn in another Geologi- cal conditions are not always the same, and the professors of that science and it's kindred one, mineralogy, in Nevada, are the merest tyrOs when they attempt to apply that knowledge to the different conditions that exist here. Many a good prospector and miner here will hear me out in the statement that their failure to find good mines has been due mainly to the fact that they have been looking for formations such as they were accustomed 10 Tn California and Nevada. The truth is that the richest mines in this district, and belive in all Arizona were discov- cred by men who fortunately for them selves were ignorant of the arbitrary scientific laws that govern the profess ors. No mining man is truly an expert who does not gain his knOwledg over a larger area than one State or one country affords. Arizona has been condemned outright, or damned with faint praise" by about all the experts who have visited it, and their reports have retarded the flow of capital into the Territory and hindred for the time the development of it's splendid possi- bilit.es. The wonder is that capitalists are influenced by them, when the fact is so well known that all the mines condemned have proved rich. It has become a standing jest among us here to wish that au expert would come along and condemn our property, be- cause then we would be pretty sure that it was good. The McMOrris prop erty, the Stonewall Jackson, the Silver King, the Julius, the Silvera Era and in fact all of our mines that have an established reputation have been ob- iective points at which these doughty souires of the California money knights have hurled their runy spears. Ari- zona may be checked in her progress, but cannot be stopped; for her people have faith in her, and that faith is backed by strong arms and brave hearts and @ determination to make her the richest silver producing coun- try in the world.

 I intended to devote the whole of this letter to answering the question with which it begins, but l think I'll do like Artemus Ward said he would if any one asked him if he considered Brigham Young a moral man-treat it as a conundrum, and give it up.

 On the principle of honor to whom honor is due, Idesire to correct tie mis' take made by "Pioneer in your issue of Tune 7.h as 10 the first dIscOveTer of silver on the quartzite range proper The Silver Era was discovered and To- cated in November 1877, and Whalen, Hate Deputy Sherif), and O'neil dis covered and located the Legal Tender, now known as the Jackson mine, and took silver uut.of it twenty-oue months before. In July 1877 he had lot of good ore worked at Morrills mill in Globe City as the books will show, and as can be proven by Mr. Holmes, well known prospector and miner here. Two years ago Charles. Hayes, joint owner with c. E. Buck in the celebra- ted Julius < Chloride mines, discover ed float on the Julius property.

 MT. Watson will not thank his ficti- tious extoller, for he is too square a man to wear the laurels that belong to to his neighbor, Whalen.

 D. ROBE.