Cochise County, Arizona
History
The area of Cochise County is 6,972 miles, being about the size of the
combined areas of Rhode Island and Connecticut. This county is bounded
on the east by New Mexico, on the south by the northern line of the
Mexican State of Sonora, on the west by Pima County, from which it was
taken entire, and on the north by the county of Graham. By census of
1900 the population of this county was 9,251. Tombstone, the
county-seat, by same census had a population of 646, though, in its
palmy days, it boasted of a population of over 7,000; in the last few
months it has revived somewhat and a railroad is in process of
construction, which will go through the place striking the Arizona and
Sonora road at Fairbanks, upon the San Pedro River.
This county has three great valleys almost entirely within its limits,
which include a vast body of fine agricultural land. Two of these
valleys run directly across the whole of the county from southeast to
about northwest, viz., that of the San Pedro and Sulphur Springs, while
the valley of the Rio de Sauz, or, as better known, San Simon, crosses
the northeastern corner. These valleys with their laterals, embrace a
large amount of fine agricultural land. What is needed in all these
valleys to render them great producers of agricultural products is the
development of water for irrigation. Upon the San Pedro, some seven
miles south of where the Southern Pacific Railroad crosses that stream,
the colony of industrious and energetic Mormons at St. Davids commenced
boring an artesian well and have succeeded in fully fifty places in
bringing a good flow to the surface; others seeing what these
enterprising men hav« accomplished set to work and now for more
than sixty miles along this stream there are flowing wells at different
points.
There are two distinct mountain ranges that run the entire distance
across the county with the trend of the valleys, that is, from
southeast to about northwest, the great Chiricahua Range is the most
easterly; and there is mineral at many points and on both sides of this
great upheaval. From the vicinity of what is known as Railroad Pass,
where the Southern Pacific passes through the range from the Sulphur
Springs Valley into that of the San Simon, to, and a little beyond,
what is known as Apache Pass, may be called a gold formation, as that
is the predominating mineral. This portion of the range is frequently
called the Dos Cabezas Range, though it is part of Chiricahua Range. In
this section are many valuable gold claims, both in ledges and in
surface washings. The great drawback to the full development of surface
diggings is the scarcity of water most of the year, but if the boring
now in process is a success that difficulty is obviated. In proceeding
along the range southeasterly from the Apache Pass, silver, copper and
lead are encountered in many places, and there are some valuable
deposits of copper; about fifteen miles nearly east from Apache Pass,
over quite an extent of country on the San Simon slope of the mountain
range, is quite a showing of coal, but sufficient work has not been
done to really show it up.
In detached hills about seven miles south from Sulphur Springs is the
great Pearse Mine, which has produced within about eight years a net
profit to the fortunate owners in gold and silver, and is still in
successful operation, running a mill of eighty-stamps' capacity after
having yielded in dividends something over $15,000,000. Some thirty
miles west of the Chiricahuas is the Dragoon Range of mountains in
which are many mines of great value and in the continuation southerly,
sometimes called Mule Mountains.
'The great copper camp of Bisbee is in the southern portion of this
county some eight miles from the boundary line of Sonora, Mexico, and a
railroad from the camp enters Sonora at the town of Naco and is already
in operation. There has been taken from the mines of this company, in
about twenty years' operations, a vast amount of treasure; over
$20,000,000 have been paid in dividends, and all improvements,
amounting to many millions more, have been paid for. One item of
improvement is a railroad of sixty miles, built by the company to
connect with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Benson at the crossing of
the San Pedro.
Tombstone is a great mining producer of silver and has yielded in the
various mines fully $15,000,000. The miners' great strike of 1884
caused a suspension of work for a time, and before they were ready to
resume, silver had so depreciated in value in the world's markets that
it was deemed resumption would be bad policy, and they have practically
remained idle ever since; though within the last few months much work
is being done, and new machinery going in looking to a full resumption.
East of Tombstone, some sixteen miles, is a flourishing camp called
Turquoise, which must eventually be a great producer. There is the
thriving town of Douglas, established upon Blackwater, at the boundary
line that has only been in existence for a few months, and bids fair to
become a place of large commercial importance in a very short time.
From present indications it would appear that Cochise County must stand
well to the front as a producer for many years to come, though Arizona
throughout her hills and mountains is so ribbed with mineral lodes that
it is hard to tell what portion will eventually prove of the most
value, but Cochise County for years to come will astonish the world.
Besides the great mines there are many others being worked in a quiet
way making the mine pay all expenses, and the owners are, without
ostentation, saving up comfortable fortunes.
The school census shows there are 2,122 children of school age and an
average attendance at public schools of 1,826, and forty-two teachers
who would compare favorably with any corps of teachers in any of the
old States. The average school term is a little over six months in each
year.
Almost every town has its different denominational church, and all are
fairly supported. Tombstone has Catholic, Methodist, Episcopal and
Baptist. Bisbee, Episcopal (at the expense of the mining company),
Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Baptist. St.
Davids, one church of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) ; Benson, Catholic,
Methodist and Episcopal. Willcox, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,—so it
may be said, no man need suffer for lack of spiritual food, though not
always easy of digestion.
At Tombstone is published the Prospector; and at Bisbee there are two
papers, also, the rising town of Douglass, though only a few months
old, has two papers striving for patronage. Willcox has one paper, the
Range News; so Cochise may be said to be well supplied with newspapers.
Source: The history of Arizona: from the earliest times known to the
people of ...By Sidney Randolph De Long, Arizona Pioneers' Historical
Society