While Tombstone is the
most notable mining district in the county, there are a number of others. These
include:
California District: This
location is situated in the Chiricahua mountains, twenty miles south of the
Southern Pacific railroad, near the New Mexican line. The country is well
wooded, and water is abundant. A thriving camp has sprung up, and many rich
and valuable mines have been discovered. The ores are generally smelting,
carrying much
horn silver. The veins are large and well defined. Its proximity to
the railroad and its abundance of ore, make Graleyville one of the most
promising camps in Cochise county. The following are among the leading mines
of the district: The Texas, the principal mine of the camp and the first
discovered, is a large vein from 4 to 30 feet wide. The ore is a
galena and chlorides, and
averages about $40 per ton. A shaft 300 feet, and 3 tunnels, 250, 30, and 40
feet, respectively, expose large ore bodies. A 30-ton smelter has been
erected and is now fairly under way. The Texas Milling and Mining Company
are the owners of the property, which includes ten other mines in the same
group. The Continental shows 2 feet of ore,
assaying $100 per ton, principally chlorides and bromides. It has a
shaft 60 feet and a cut 30 feet. The Cashier shows 4 to feet of ore, and
assays from $30 to $200 per ton. There are many other claims in this
district looking well and producing good ore, which must be omitted here,
but which are well worthy inspection by those who are desirous of investing
in desirable mining properties.
Turquoise District:
This district is situated about 18 miles north-east from Tombstone, at the
southern end of the Dragoon mountains. There is plenty of water, and
sufficient wood to last for years. The ores are smelting, easily reduced,
and running from $40 to $300 per ton, with an average of about $80. The Mono
mine shows a vein from 2 to 6 feet wide. It is a carbonate ore, which will
smelt readily. Assays to about $80 per ton, on an average. The mine is
opened by about 500 feet of shafts and drifts, and shows fine ore in every
opening. It is owned by a New York company. The Defiance and the Dragoon
claims are also owned by New York parties. The
former shows
from 2 to 20 feet of carbonate ore, which will average about $80 per ton.
There are several hundred tons on the dump. Reduction works will soon be
erected on this property. The Dragoon has a 60-foot shaft showing a 4-foot
vein that goes about $80.
The Bell is the south extension of the Defiance. It is a 4-foot vein, looking well. The Challenge and the Tom Scott are also very promising veins, with ore that goes $75 per ton. The Star and Bodie claims are two of the best properties in the district. The Star has a shaft about 60 feet deep, all the way in ore that runs about $60 in silver and $12 in native gold per ton. The Bodie has a 70-foot shaft, with a 2-foot ledge that averages $80 per ton in silver. With its favorable surroundings and fine ore bodies, Turquoise is destined to become a prosperous camp.
Dos Cabezas or "Two Heads" district is situated in the Chiricahua range, in the north-eastern portion of Cochise county. Its ores are gold bearing, carrying some silver, and its ledges are large. It is favorably situated near the line of the. Southern Pacific railroad, and has plenty of wood and water. The following are the principal mines in the district: Silver Cave has three veins, 7, 5, and 3 feet wide, respectively. The yield per ton has been $35 in silver ore. Several shafts, drifts, and other openings have been made on this claim, and nearly $5,000 has been taken from it, the ore being worked in arrastras run by steam. The Juniper is a 6-foot vein, carrying gold and silver. The gold ore assays $150 per ton. About $6,000 has been taken from this mine, the ore being worked in arrastras. The Silver Cave South, has 4 feet of ore that assays $50 per ton, and has several openings. The Galena Chief shows 3 feet of ore, assaying $50 per ton. The Murphy is a 4-foot vein, averaging $50 per ton. The Bear Cave has nearly 4 feet of ore that goes $80 per ton. The Greenhorn is also a 4-foot ledge, running $50 per ton. There are many other promising prospects in this camp well worthy of mention. With the erection of a 10-stamp mill, which is already on the road, Dos Cabezas will give a good account of itself.
Swishelm District.—This district is situated in the Pedrogosa mountains, in the south-east corner of Cachise county. Its ores consist of cerrusite lead carbonate. The veins are large, and the facilities which are at hand for smelting, good. A St. Louis company is now operating in the district with satisfactory results.
Haetford District.—This district is situated in the southern end of the Huachuca mountains. It has abundance of fine water, and some of the best pine timber in the Territory. Most of the lumber for Tombstone comes from this point. The ores are a copper and a carbonate of silver, assaying from $15 to $60 in copper, and from $20 to $80 in silver. Some very fine properties have been opened up. The Undine, Mountain View, Lone Star, and IXL, are the principal mines. Several sales have been made, and with the unsurpassed advantages of wood, water, and magnificent climate, Hartford district is certain to become an important mining center.
There are several other points in the Huaehuca range that show fine prospects, and also in the Whetstone mountains, west of Tombstone. Copper.—Besides its veins of silver and gold, Cochise county has also some of the largest and most valuable copper mines to be found in the Territory. At Bisbee, some twenty miles south of Tombstone, are found some of the richest copper mines in the United States. The copper ore veins are large, the grade high, and the appliances at hand for reduction can not be excelled. The mines are about sixty miles from the railroad at Benson, and about twenty miles from the Sonora line. The Copper Queen, the leading mine of the camp, is an immense mountain of ore. It has been explored 160 feet in length by 150 in depth, and 120 feet in width, and as far as the explorations have extended, rich ore has been encountered everywhere. The claim is 1,500 feet long, and 600 feet wide. Two 30-ton smelters are kept running steadily, and the daily output is about 13 tons of pure copper. The ore is a carbonate and a black and red oxide, and averages about 22 per cent. The claim has been opened by 700 feet of shafts, drifts, and cross-cuts, and has already yielded over $600,000 worth of copper. The property is owned by an incorporated company, with headquarters in New York. The Neptune company own nine claims, the most prominent of which is the Neptune, which shows ore going 24 per cent. This company are making preparations to erect a smelter on the San Pedro River, fifteen miles distant. The Twilight shows a 6-foot vein of red cuprite oxide, carrying 25 per cent, pure copper, and is opened by a 70-foot shaft. The Holbrook has a 10-foot vein of red oxides, but has little work done on it. The Copperopolis shows a 5- foot vein and a 40-foot shaft. The Atlanta carries 25 percent ore, and is opened by a 45-foot'shaft. The Copper King is the western extension of the Copper Queen. It is a large vein, showing good ore. The Golden Gate, Ohio, Copper Prince, Cave, New York, Galena, Garfield, Bounty, Black Jack, and Dreadnaught are all fine prospects, although but little work has been done upon any of them. Bisbee, besides its immense copper veins, has silver and gold also. It is one of the most eligibly situated camps in Southern Arizona, and has a bright future before it.
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