CHAPTER XVI.

MINES AND MINING-NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, AND TEXAS. HISTORIC MINES-OLD AND NEW PLACERS-YIELD-LATER DEVELOPMENTS -THE PUEBLOS AS MINERS-STORIES OF LOST MINES IN ARIZONAEFFECT OF THE CIVIL WAR ON MINING-THE TOMBSTONE BONANZASCOPPER DEPOSITS-SILVER-BEARING QUARTZ-DIAMOND FIELDS-GEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS-THE GREAT BELT-COAL AND IRON BELTS IN TEXAS-COAL MEASURES--TREND OF VEINS-AREA-COAL MININGPETROLEUM-IRON-COPPER-SILVER-LEAD-GOLD-SALT-GYPSUM

AND OTHER MINERALS.

THERE is little or no evidence to show that the Spaniards engaged extensively in mining in New Mexico. Pino states in 1812 that old silver mines were found closed up with the tools inside of them; but these were probably mere prospect holes made before 1680. The Santa Rita inine, discovered by Lieutenant-colonel Carrisco, appears to have been worked from about 1804, and Pike in 1807 informs us that a copper mine west of the Rio Grande, in latitude 34°, yielded 20,000 mule-loads of metal annually, copper vessels being articles of export. Thus it seems that the few mining operations which were undertaken under Spanish rule occurred after the opening of the nineteenth century. During the Mexican possession after 1821 some little progress was made in this industry. Placers of gold were worked in two districts about thirty miles southwest of Santa Fé. What were known as the Old Placers were discovered in 1828, and yielded during 1832-5 from $60,000 to $80,000 annually, but much less after that period. In 1839 the New Placers were found,

near which the town of Tuerto sprang up, containing twenty-two stores in 1845. In that year the yield of the two districts was $250,000. The method of extracting the gold, which was pure and fine, was very primitive, prejudice against foreigners preventing the introduction of improved apparatus. Near Taos, also, and at other points gold was found and mines were worked for a short time.

For many years after the occupation of the territory by Americans little more than prospecting was accomplished, the smallness of their numbers, want of capital, cost of transportation, and lastly the hostilities of the Indians being the chief causes that impeded progress. Nevertheless, explorations revealed the mineral wealth of New Mexico. During the confederate invasion in 1861-2, operations were for the most part suspended, but after 1864 a marked progress is observable. It has been estimated that down to 1868 the annual yield of gold and silver was from $125,000 to $250,000; during the period 186974, $500,000 a year, and $400,000 in 1875-80. In Taos county, and the western districts of Colfax, were discovered the chief developments during this period, gold placers being profitably worked whenever a supply of water could be obtained. In these districts stamp mills and hydraulic methods were introduced after 1868. Rich deposits of silver and lead were found in the Magdalena mountains of Socorro county, and in the Mescalero reservation gold placers, while numerous quartz mines were also discovered.

But

the most prominent section consisted of the districts of Pinos Altos, Silver city, Burro mountains, Hillsborough, and Lone mountain, where much more silver was produced than in all the rest of New Mexico.

Since 1880 the developments have been truly wonderful, the railroad bringing a crowd of prospectors and numerous capitalists. While the number of the mines discovered was extraordinary, their richness was still more so, In Lake Valley district, Sierra

county, a deposit was discovered in 1881, yielding from $5,000 to $20,000 per ton, and Governor Safford in 1884 offered $50,000 for the ore which he could extract unaided in ten hours from a part of the mine called the Bridal chamber. The workings are thus far confined for the most part to the old mining regions, which, however, extend over a great part of the country. Every county is rich in mineral wealth, and in most of them it has been extensively developed. Grant, Sierra, and Socorro counties, however, have contributed nine-tenths of the total product, which, including base bullion, was estimated in 1885 at $3,800,000, and in 1890 at $4,000,000.

Few mines have yet reached a depth of over 500 feet; but there is nothing to indicate that deep mining, as on the Comstock and elsewhere, may not be profitably conducted in the future, for as depth is reached on the fissure-veins, their yield is not diminished either in quantity or quality. At a certain depth, however, the ores become refractory, and require expensive machinery for their reduction.

A great number of metals and minerals are found in Mew Mexico; iron ore is abundant, and copper and lead exist in immense quantities. Near Santa Fé mica and turquoise are mined, and coal deposits extend in all directions, being extensively worked at Amargo and Raton in the north, while near the capital of the territory beds of anthracite are found. Though the present progress in mining may not correspond with the extravagant expectations raised by the discoveries of 1880-2, and the fabulous wealth of many of the mines, yet there is little reason to doubt that, when certain retarding conditions are removed, such as inefficient methods, want of transportation facilities, and land-grant difficulties, New Mexico will rank among the first states and territories in the production of the precious metals, copper, iron, lead, and coal.

C. B.-IV. 26

No proof exists that the Pueblos of Arizona in prehistoric times engaged in mining operations, and the fact that Coronado, in his famous expedition, found none of the golden treasures reported to exist in the seven cities of Cibola confirms the supposition that the precious metals had no attraction for those ancient tribes. Nor is it likely that an agricultural people, living in exclusive communities, and never engaging in commerce, should attach any special value to gold or silver, surrounded as they were also by other tribes equally indifferent. A few personal ornaments of these metals may have been worn, but if such there were, the nuggets were probably found in the beds of streams by accident, without any systematic exploration.

The first authentic information regarding mining operations in Arizona is the discovery of the wonderful Bolas de Plata at Arizonac in 1736, which caused a great excitement for the next five years. The site was between Guevavi and Saric, and the silver deposits were of unparalleled richness, nuggets being found weighing from 200 to 400 pounds. The Jesuits are reported to have engaged extensively in mining, but there is no certainty that any operations, except on a small scale near the presidio of Tubac, were actually carried on, though probably some discoveries were made in prospecting tours. During Franciscan times. the same state of things continued. After 1790, during a period of from twenty to thirty years when the Apaches were at peace, doubtless many mines were opened from time to time with profit, but the developments could not have been very extensive or rich. It is to this era that we must trace the old workings discovered in later years and the baseless stories of abandoned mines. Such as really existed were in the vicinity of Aribac, about seven leagues distant, others in the valley of Babocomori, three leagues beyond. In Santa Rita mountain, also, and its environs, there were five silver mines.

During the Mexican war of independence the mining industry declined, nor did it ever recover as long as Arizona was under Mexican rule; and when the territory passed into the possession of the United States not a single mine was being worked. After the consummation of the Gadsden purchase, the Ajo copper mines in the Sonoita region were opened in 1855, by a San Francisco company, and in 1856 Charles D. Poston and Herman Ehrenberg formed a company and began to develop silver mines near Tubac. Several other companies were formed during this and the following years, and undertook similar operations in the mountain ranges on both sides of the Santa Cruz valley. Conditions were unfavorable, fuel and water being scarce, the cost of transportation. heavy, and the Indians troublesome; nevertheless many of the mines yielded a large amount of bullion. The developments gradually extended, and copper and gold were discovered, as well as silver. Prospecting operations were extended to the upper and lower Gila, and along the border of New Mexico, and an era of progress commenced, which, however, was temporarily interrupted by the outbreak of the civil war, causing the withdrawal of the troops. Thereupon the Apaches became hostile; mining property was destroyed; miners were killed, and work was for the most part suspended. On the lower Gila, however, gold-placers were profitably worked from 1858 for several years, and in 1862 the field of operations was transferred up the Colorado to the region where La Paz, Olive City, and Ehrenberg, in Yuma county, soon sprang into existence. These placers attracted a great number of California gold-seekers, who gathered much coarse gold, and then pushed forward in a northeasterly direction under the pioneers Pauline Weaver and Joseph Walker, whose names were given in 1863 to two districts in the southwestern portion of Yavapai county. Besides the placer fields rich gold and silver bearing lodes were discovered.