There were a number of early mines that were
found and operated in the southern part of Arizona. The Santa Cruz Sierra
already renowned since the days of the Jesuits, who had opened in that
locality the Compadre and French mines, has lately given evidence of new
richness. Besides the two which I have just named, the Boundary, Empire,
Eagle and St. Louis Mining Companies form a part of the Sierra.
OTHER MINES: "The Eagle Mine;葉his mine is situated to the east of the Mowry
mine, and its vein, composed of argentiferous
galena, exactly similar to the
Mowry Mine, is, it is stated, its continuation. "The San Pedro Mine;葉his
mine is situated on the east side of the San Pedro River, about twenty-five
miles from the Overland Mail road, and half a mile from the river. "Empire
or Montezuma Mine;悠 have mentioned above this mine as forming a part of the
Santa Cruz Sierra. It is half-way between the Mowry Mine and the town of
Santa Cruz. The ores are composed of lead and
silver ore. The first owners were Th. Gardner and Hopkins,
who it seems, sold their interest out to New York companies. "Santa Rita
Mining Company;葉he Sierra de la Santa Rita as that of the Santa Cruz,
encloses rich deposits of precious ores. The Cazada, Florida and Salero
Mines are united in one company, under the above title. The last one was
known a long while ago, and was worked by the Jesuits. In that one also the
argentiferous galena dominates. Shortly furnaces will be put up for smelting
and reducing; they will be erected on the very mountains of Santa Rita,
which are to the east of Tubac, at the distance of about ten miles. The
superintendent of the mine is Mr. H. C. Grosvenor, and Mr. Pumpelly is the
engineer. The capital is $1,000,000. These mines were opened in 1856.
"Maricopa Mining Company;葉his company is working a copper mine, situated
forty miles from Fort Breckenridge at the junction of
the San Pedro and Arivaca Rivers, and from three to four miles south of the
Gila. The road known as the Leach Wagon Road, near by, renders the
transportation of the ores and provisions quite easy. It is under the
direction of Mr. A. B Gray, ex-surveyor of the United States attached to the
commission of the Mexican frontiers, and engineer-in-chief of the Pacific
Railroad. Mr.Hopkins is the engineer of the mines; the house of Soulier, of
New York is the principal owner.
"Sonora Exploring and Mining
Company; this mine, situated at about thirty miles from Tubac, in the Cerro
Colorado, is one of the principal mines, if not the richest in the
Territory. The Company is working the vein known as the Heintzelman Mine,
rich in argentiferous copper, and also several other veins on the Rancho
Arivaca. The actual and imperfect system of reduction is by means of
amalgamating barrels. Steam-engines of forty horse-power with a new process
of
amalgamation and refining, will soon be introduced. One of the
principal shareholders, Mr. Charles D. Poston, is the director, and at the
same time lessee of the mine for the term of ten years. This company was
incorporated in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a capital of
$2,000,000 divided into 20,000 shares. The sum already expended for the
working of this mine is estimated at $230,000, either in ready cash or from
the proceeds of the mine.
"Cahuabi Mining Company;葉he mine going by that name is near meridian 112
and 32 north latitude, in a region inhabited by the Papago Indians. The
argentiferous
copper ores are treated according to the Mexican amalgamatory
process known as the patio. I have seen specimens from this mine in the
hands of Mr. Herman Ehrenberg, president of the company, of extreme
richness. The mine was opened since 1859. "Arizona Copper Mining
Company;葉he bad administration and the difficulties of transportation have
been the main causes why this mine, so rich, and which created so much
excitement in California two or three years ago, has not given any good
results. Its oxides and copper
sulfides are excessively rich, the extraction exceedingly
easy, and the veins are numerous. Works at this present moment are
suspended. This mine is situated 120 miles southeast from Fort Yuma. It was opened in 1855, and
the company was incorporated in San Francisco.
"Arizona Land and Mining Company;葉his mine is situated north of the Rancho
of Sopori. This company owns a large tract of land, of thirty-two leagues
square, on which is situated the old
silver mine of San Xavier, which was worked during the time
of the Jesuits, and which appears exceedingly rich; other veins, equally
rich, are to be found in the center of the property, on the Sierra Tinaja.
The company was incorporated in Providence, R. L, with a capital of
$2,000,000. The Honorable S. G. Arnold is the president. The treasurer is
Mr. Alfred Anthony, President of the Jackson Bank of Providence. Colonel
Colt, Lieutenant Mowry, and other rich capitalists of the East are the
actual owners. Mr. Mowry is the holder of more than one-half of the stock of
the company. N. Richmond Jones, Jr., is the engineer-in-chief of this mine,
as also of the Sopori Mine.
"Colorado River Copper Mine;預bout three years ago a Mr. Halstead, well known in the Colorado districts as an indefatigable prospector, discovered this mine on the shores of the river, at about forty miles from Fort Yuma. Having been examined and tested by experts from New York, they found it to be very extensive and very rich. Several tons sent to San Francisco last year were also admitted to be of uncommon richness. Consequently laborers were engaged in Sonora, and preparations made to work the mine on an extensive scale. Difficulties, however, eventually arose which prevented the completion of the works. The mine is owned by Messrs. Wilcox, Johnson and Hartshorn, owners of the steamer navigating the Colorado, by Mr. Hooper principal merchant at Fort Yuma, and by Lieutenant Mowry.
"Stevenson Mining Company;葉his mine has been worked during several years by Mr. Stevenson, according to the Mexican process, and yielded him from $40,000 to $50,000. Afterward Mr. Stevenson sold his mine to Major Sprague of the U. S. Army, who organized a company in New York, to which belong General Clarke/Doctor Mills, Mr. Russell of the Pony Express and Missouri bonds notoriety, and several other persons. The mine appears to be very rich in silver and lead, but it has been wretchedly administered. The Stevenson Mine is situated on the Rio Grande, not far from Mesilla. "Harris Mine;葉he mine belonging to this company was discovered several years ago. It was recently purchased by Lieutenant Mowry of Judge Hoppin, Mr. Cuniff and Mr. Bull. This mine is also on the Rio Grande, six miles from the Stevenson mine. The ore is composed of lead and silver ore. "St. Augustin Mining Company; this mine is also situated on the Rio Grande, and the ores are like the above. "Several other silver veins supposed to be very rich, have been discovered on the same river, but have not yet been worked. All these mines of the Rio Grande are to be found in the hills at the foot of the Organ Mountains. Besides silver, copper and lead mines, coal mines are also to be found near the Rio Grande in the Organ Mountains, in Arizona Territory. There are also mines of plumbago in the Sierra Rita, and some of iron in different localities.
"Traces of quicksilver have been found in the Heintzelman Mine, belonging to the Sonora Company, but they own particularly rich gold placers and veins of auriferous quartz. The new district of Pino Alto, whose placer diggings were discovered in May last, and which have yielded fine results in gold of a fine quality, is also rich in quartz veins. "One of the main ones is the one known by the name of Jackson Quartz Vein, owned by G. A. Oury, of Tucson, P. T. Herbert and others. The vein was discovered in July, 1860, by J. J. Jackson, on Bear Creek, about thirty miles from the Overland Mail Station on the Mimbres River, and twenty-five miles from the Gila River. The vein is two feet in thickness and promises to become exceedingly rich. Specimens taken from a depth of ten feet and which were handed to me by Mr Oury, have yielded more than $600 of pure native gold to the ton. The persons who have visited the Pino Alto district, speak of it as a section of country exceedingly healthy, well wooded, but quite barren in the summer months. A population of 800 to 1000 souls inhabit already the district and the town bearing its name. An express, connecting the district with that of Wells, Fargo & Co., runs between that town and Mesilla. "Another mine of auriferous quartz, which is stated to be quite rich, was lately discovered ninety miles from Fort Yuma on the Colorado. The owners are Messrs. Halstead and Jaeger, residents of Fort Yuma. "On the Mimbres River, ninety miles from the Rio Grande, are to be found the renowned mines of Santa Rita del Cobre, worked by Mexicans many years ago, and well known for their richness. These mines and the Hanover Copper Mines, situated in the same locality, were profitably worked a long time ago. The copper, worked into bars, is sent to New York by way of Port Lavaca in Texas. Two new towns, Mowry City and Burchville, are also built on the Mimbres River. "Auriferous deposits of some importance are also to be found on the shores of the Gila, not only at its source, but all along its course. When we passed by Gila City, three weeks ago, nothing was spoken of but the discovery of rich deposits of gold on the river. It was stated that Mexicans were gathering from ten to fifteen dollars per day. Besides, at the junction of the Gila and the Colorado, about 300 Mexicans are constantly at work, and obtain excellent pay.The greater part of this gold is forwarded by Mr. Hooper of Fort Yuma.
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