BISBEE.

The production of high-grade 99 per cent black copper at Bisbee has been durng 1898 the largest in its history. It is said to average two carloads a day. Besides shipping ingots of black copper, there is a considerable output of a rich copper matte, which is sent to Mexico to supply another company with a desirable form of flux. It contains about 45 per cent of copper, and is sent at the rate of about a carload a day to Agua Caliente, Sonora, Mexico, by way of Nogales.

In 1896 the company was running four blast furnaces and smelting about 400 tons daily in each twenty-four hours. The product was copper matte, which was bessemerized, or treated by the pneumatic method in three stands of trough converters, giving a product of ingot copper averaging 99.3 per cent of fine copper. The production for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896, was 10, 492 tons, or 20.984,510 pounds, of bessemer pig copper, averaging 99.2 per cent fine copper. The introduction of the pneumatic process, with its special American modifications, in Montana and in Arizona, at Bisbee and Jerome, has revolutionized the art of copper smelting, and has made our text-books on the subject chiefly valuable as histories of the metallurgy of copper. The production for 1899 has been maintained at a high figure, and the town of Bisbee has been exceptionally prosperous.

Bisbee is fortunate in more than one respect. It is situated near the head of a canyon, on almost the extreme south edge of Cochise County, about 6 miles from the Mexican line. It is owned by the Copper Queen Company, and is generally understood to be one of the many copper camps controlled by Phelps, Dodge & Co., of New York. It is reached by its own railroad, which connects with the Southern Pacific at Benson, about 35 or 40 miles northwest. It is said that there are 1,000 men on the pay roll of the company. The wages paid are $3 above and $3.50 below ground, and fortunate indeed is the man whose name is on the roll of the favored thousand. The output of the camp is said to be three carloads of refined copper per day. The town is scattered up and down the canyon for at least a mile; but the town proper is centered immediately east and south of the big smelting plant. The business of the town is carried on largely in the canyon, where the stores, saloons, restaurants, and lodging houses are principally located. On the steep face of the mountain south of the canyon is to be found the principal residence portion. The main canyon is intersected by another a short distance below and almost immediately opposite the smelters, and is known as Brewery Gulch. As this gulch afforded a limited quantity of building space, it has been made use of, and here the small merchandising of the community is carried on. On the whole it may be summed up that the mines and reduction works of the company occupy the north side of the canyon, the residences the south side, and the business houses the canyon proper.

At the head and front of the Copper Queen Company stand two men whose names are household words in southern Arizona, Messrs. Ben and Lewis Williams. The former is superintendent, and under his direction the Copper Queen Company's plant and mines at Bisbee have passed into history as one of the most successful copper-producing works in the country. Independent of the great value of the mines, there are not less than $1,000,000 or $1,500,000 involved in the great plant itself and incident thereto. Mr. Lewis Williams, or as he is better known among the little army of employees, "Don Lewis," is second in command, and in the absence of Mr. Ben Williams is superintendent in charge; but at all times the smelting plant is under his immediate supervision. Than these gentlemen there are not two more popular employers of labor in the whole country. Their fair and courteous treatment of the men and the kindly interest in the welfare of their employees have endeared them to all.

THE CLIFTON COPPER DISTRICT.

The mines of this district have so frequently been referred to that it is unnecessary to repeat much that has already been said about them. Few people, however, are aware of the immense amount of development work done in this field during the last few years. The principal companies engaged in business are the Arizona Copper Company, Limited, of Clifton, and the Detroit Copper Mining Company of Morenci. The former company draws its ore supplies from various groups of mines, situated from 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level. The most important of themthe Longfellow group-which is situated in the heart of the Morenci field, side by side with the mines of the Detroit Mining Company, has been a producer since 1872. Up till a few years ago practically all of the ores were taken from the contacts between magnesian limestone and the porphyry. These ores were oxidized

and self-fluxing, and a single smelter was all that was necessary to produce copper bullion 98 per cent fine. The mineralized limestone belt extended fully a mile in length. The ore bodies, however, were largely superficial in their occurrence, and were never found in quantity at a greater depth than 300 feet below the surface, the average depth of pay ore being 150 feet. The ores, in the main, had been formed by the replacement of limestone by solutions of copper. It was not to be expected that this field would last forever. As early as 1891 the mines situated in the limestone field began to give evidence of exhaustion. Extensive exploration by the diamond drill was only successful in exposing and throwing more light on the mineral formation. Exploration for new ore bodies in this direction being unsuccessful, attention was turned to the extensive porphyry belt against which the limestone and lime shales abut.

On the surface of the porphyry belt there were practically no indications of copper. There was, therefore, nothing definite to follow from the surface. Under the circumstances it was deemed advisable to puncture the Humboldt Mountain with a tunnel which would cut under the apex of the mountain at a depth of fully 400 feet. This work, conducted with judgment, was successful in exposing enormous bodies of low-grade sulphide ores, which, however, were so low in grade that for a time it was doubtful if they could be treated with profit. An enormous amount of capital had been sunk in the development of the ore bodies and further large outlays had to be made on concentrating plants and on other plants necessary for the treatment of these ores. The problem was attacked with vigor and skill, complete success attending every effort. These results practically amounted to the transformation of one of the oldest copper companies in the Territory into one of the youngest, for it laid open to it a virgin field which has already proved to be much more extensive and much more enduring in its character than the original limestone belt on which the company formerly depended. In addition to the Longfellow group, the company has also groups of mines known as Queen, Coronado, and Metcalf groups. Of these, the latter, so far, has been the most important. It has produced largely of a low-grade oxidized ore found on the surface of the Metcalf Hill. This ore, while extremely low in grade, occurs in great quantity. For its successful treatment concentration and leaching have both been found necessary.

The Coronado group, on account of its distance from the works at Clifton, and also on account of the difficult and expensive transportation, has heretofore been given but little attention. It is, however, a property of great extent and of great possibilities.

The metallurgical plant is one of the largest in the Territory, and consists of smelting furnaces with a capacity of 500 tons per day, concentrating plants with a capacity of 750 tons per day, a leaching plant with a capacity of 150 tons per day, a two-converter Bessemer plant, operated entirely by gas-engine power; a sulphuric acid plant and a bluestone plant. In addition to the Bessemer plant three of its concentrating plants are operated by gas-engine power. The gas engines employed have a rated capacity of 750 horsepower, and have been found to be extremely economical in fuel. The company is now producing copper at the rate of 10,000 tons per annum. It employs about 1,500 men on its mines, railways, and works.

In connection with the works there is an insurance society in successful operation. This society is officered and managed by the employees of the company, and the monthly charge for this insurance society amounts to only 50 cents, and for every dollar subscribed by the employees the company contributes 25 cents. This extremely low charge has been found to be more than equal to meet all claims made upon the society through accidents, and also through the hospital, which is also maintained by the society. The camp of Clifton is one of the healthiest in the Territory, and a more prosperous or more contented body of workmen can not be found anywhere.

In addition to the society the employees have also a magnificent reading room, equipped with baths and built so as to be suited for meetings, entertainments, and dances.

Situated at an elevation of 3,500 feet above sea level, Clifton enjoys a climate which is a happy medium between the extreme heat of the southern parts of the Territory and the more invigorating climate of the North.

The Detroit Copper Company at Morenci, the property of Phelps, Dodge & Co., produces 7.500 tons of copper per annum and employs 1,000 men. This company is about to build a narrow-gauge (3-foot) railroad from Morenci to Guthrie, a distance of 18 miles. The company is also erecting a 100-ton concentrating plant, and is making many improvements, all of a substantial order.