districts

This is an old district, lying east of the Tyndall and north of the Patagonia District, embracing within its limits the southern part of the Santa Rita Mountains. The general formation is granite, syenite, and porphyry. The mineral veins are numerous, and several of great width show distinct croppings [sic]for long distances. Evidences of mining which must have been done in olden times occur along these veins. Some of the rich mines worked by the Jesuits are supposed to have been located in this vicinity. The Aztec Syndicate, a large mining company, made this the center of their operations. The Sonoita Creek at a short distance affords plenty of water for milling, and wood is abundant oak and mesquite being found on the slopes and lower ranges, while higher up on the mountains is pine, which makes good lumber. Springs of excellent water are plentiful, and much of the surface is covered for several months in the year with fine gramma grass. No other district offers better facilities for mining than this. The gulches have all afforded placer gold, and a considerable district lying east is more or less worked in this way. Mr. Campbell, who represents an Eastern company, is now engaged in opening some mines here, with excellent prospects.

This district is situated in the foot-hills of the Bloodsucker Mountains, 45 miles northwest of Tucson. The mines were discovered and several locations made by D. B. Rea and others about January, 1880. The formation is granite, syenite, and slate, containing veins carrying both gold and silver, but gold predominates. Springs of good water are found throughout this section, and wood, principally mesquite, is abundant

This is a recently formed district in the eastern portion of the county. A number of locations have been made, and considerable prospecting is now going on. The indications of developing good mines are said to be favorable. Among the most prominent locations are the Sunrise, Total Wreck, and Star mines.

This district is immediately north of Silver District on the Colorado River. It contains several mines on which a good deal of work has been done, and from which considerable ore has been extracted. At the present time, however, there is no activity there.

This is a district recently formed in the Horseshoe Basin, Quijota range of mountains, 65 miles west of Tucson. The range is in the shape of a horse-shoe, which gives name to the basin. The mines are dry placers, and were discovered and worked by Indians and Mexicans some fifty years ago. The Apaches in one of their raids killed most of the mining population, and the basin has remained vacant till within a short time. The mining is generally done by sinking a round hole or well to the bed rock, which in most cases is less than twenty feet. The richest earth is then selected and carried to the nearest water, a distance of about six miles, where it is washed. What are called dry washing machines are being tried here, but we have seen no report in regard to their success. The placers are said to be extensive, and if water could be obtained from the Gila River they would undoubtedly yield a large amount of gold

This district is situated in the northeastern part of the county, about forty miles from Tucson. It embraces a portion of the Santa Catarina Mountains, which are covered with forests of
pine and other timber. Springs of good water are numerous, and the climate delightful. Considerable prospecting has lately been done, resulting in the discovery of rich ores. The Apache Girl, one of the most prominent mines, is being vigorously worked, and yielding high-grade ore. The extension of this mine is also being worked with good success. The American Flag and Oracle have been developed to a considerable extent by shafts, the former to the depth of 125 feet, showing good ore. The Kearsage and Imperial are also developing their mines, and the latter are crushing their ore in a Huntington mill, which has recently been erected. In addition to these are many other promising mines which are being vigorously worked.

This district is located in the extreme southern portion of the county, being bounded on the south by Sonora. The mines in this and adjoining districts were worked by the Mexicans many years ago. Some were remarkably rich, and gave Arizona a reputation for mineral wealth long before the territory came into our possession. In many places evidences of early mining are to be seen. When the Old Ostrich mine was opened some years since, the skeletons of the miners were found inside, and also small piles of ore ready to be carried to the surface, indicating that the workmen had been surprised and murdered by the Apaches. The district contains many rich ledges of gold and silver, some of which have been developed to a considerable extent. The Warsaw mine has a large body of good ore, which improves as depth is attained. .It is developed by a shaft 125 feet
deep. The Silver Wing has a four-foot vein which presents a remarkable variety of ores, such as sulphurets of different colors, stephanite, chlorides, and gray carbonates, some of which are very rich. The Blue Wing is being vigorously worked and yielding good ore. The Arizona Southern Mining and Milling Co. of Philadelphia own several locations containing high-grade ore. The San Jose Co. have recently had some ore milled which yielded upwards of $1,000 to the ton. The Orion, Osceola, Yellow Jacket, and Dictator are excellent mines, and are being energetically developed. In addition to these, are many other promising locations too numerous to mention. This section of the Territoryaffords every facility for mining, wood and water being abundant and the climate delightful.

This district is located about 75 miles south of Tucson. The first locations were made in 1877, and the district organized in 1880. About fifty claims have so far been sufficiently developed to prove that they have paying ores.
The Pajarita Mining Co., incorporated under the laws of West Virginia, J. M. McArthur, Superintendent, are taking out ore which assays $100 per ton.
The Gold Mountain Tunnel Co., C. P. Sykes Superintendent, are also developing their claims ; the formation is porphyry, ores principally chlorides. Wood and water are abundant.

This district is situated on the western slope of the Patagonia Mountains, about twelve miles east of Calabasas. The ledges are not generally as large as those on the eastern slope, but contain ore of a very high grade. Wood for fuel and mining purposes is abundant, and water can be obtained by sinking. The Tempest mine, owned by Stockton and Sutton, has a four-foot vein, from which several tons of high-grade ore has been extracted. The Bullion, owned by Walker & Co M has a two-foot vein giving high assays. Some of this ore has been shipped to San Francisco, and yielded sufficient to pay for the developments thus far made. On what is called the Lewis ledge are several locations, promising well, which are now being developed by shafts.

This district is in the southeastern part of the county, on the eastern slope of the Patagonia Mountains. It embraces Harshaw and Washington Camp, each with its group of surrounding mines.
The district has a most salubrious climate, and an abundance of wood and water. The Hon. P. Hamilton, Commissioner for the Collection of Mineral Resources, gives the following description of this rich section of the Territory :

" He who bestowed on this region so uncouth an appellation as 'Patagonia,' must certainly have had a depraved conception of the eternal fitness of things, for surely nothing could be less suggestive of the barren plains, ice and fogs, and gigantic savages, than this mountain paradise of Southern Arizona. Elevated about 7,000 feet above the level of the sea, its gently sloping mountains covered with a luxuriant growth of grass and crowned with oak and cedar, with beautiful lawn-like valleys lying between, it is the most delightful portion of the Territory that your correspondent has yet seen. Washington Camp is situated about nine miles almost due south from Harshaw, and less than four miles from the Sonora line. About three miles from Harshaw is a lovely little flat among the hills, where are the ruins of the smelting works of the Old Mowry Mine, owned and worked by Lieut. Mowry of the U. S. Army before the Civil War. A collection of adobe ruins is all that is left of what was once the liveliest mining camp in Arizona. The lofty brick chimney is still standing, a mournful monument to extinct enterprise and former active life. It is said that 400 Mexicans and their families were at one time employed at the mine and smelter. Apache warfare and civil war must answer for the destruction of this once prosperous mining enterprise. The Old Mowry Mine is now owned by parties in Tucson, and nothing is left to tell the stranger in these parts of the untiring labors and unceasing efforts of that true friend of Arizona, Sylvester Howry, save the legend on the capping of stone near the top of the chimney, ' Howry Silver Hine, 1861.' "

At La Noria are located the smelting works of the Holland Hining Co., and at the same point the W. C. Davis Co. are erecting works of a similar nature.

The mines of Washington occur in limestone and porphyry, and are generally immense bodies of low-grade carbonate and galena ore. The Davis mine has a shaft 150 feet, and is thoroughly opened by crosscuts and levels, showing ore in places, twelve feet wide. About forty men are employed on the Ohio, which is producing large quantities of sulphuret ore. It is owned by the Washington Pool Co., which has a dozen other claims.
The Belmont is one of the oldest locations in the district, and was worked during Apache times. It has a shaft down over 100 feet, and has nearly thirty feet of low-grade ore. The Holland is also a large ore body. It has been under the management of Hon. J. K. Luttrell, but the attempt at smelting has not proved a success, and it is claimed that the ores need roasting and milling. Work has been stopped on this property for the present, but it is said will soon be resumed. The Silver Bill is also a fine looking property, which is now being steadily developed by Dr. Desloge for an Eastern company. There are scores of other mines in Washington Camp well worthy of mention, but space forbids.
One thing can be said, the camp contains the largest bodies of ore yet found in Arizona. That it is low-grade cannot be denied,but with abundance of wood and the Santa Cruz River close at hand, they ought to be worked to a profit.

On the high hills about a mile and a half south of Harshaw, is the Hermosa mine, an immense body of free milling ore carrying chlorides and horn silver. The ore is easily reduced, and five tons to the stamp is the average work of the mill. The mine is opened by shafts, drifts and tunnels. The ore body has been cut at a depth of over 300 feet by a tunnel 700 feet in length, which pierces the mountain from side to side, thus affording plenty of ventilation. West of the Hermosa is the Hardshell, on which D. B. Gillette, formerly of Tip Top, is now operating. Although the developments are as yet but slight, the ore body is fully as large as in the Hermosa, and is said to be fully as rich. Gillette's success in the mining line is still attending him, and it is nearly certain that he has secured another bonanza fully equal to the Tip Top or the Hermosa. Nearly two miles west of the Hardshell is the Trench mine, now owned by Haggin and Tevis, of San Francisco, but worked centuries ago by the Jesuit Missionaries. Some of the finest hoisting machinery ever brought to the Territory has been erected on the property, and the mine is being opened in a thoroughly systematic manner. The main shaft is down 300 feet, and two levels have been opened. The Trench is a strong, well- defined vein, with good walls, and promises to become valuable property. The Alta mine, south of the Hermosa on which there is a shaft 100 feet is not being worked, but it is said will soon resume operations. These are the leading mines of Harshaw Camp, and they give employment to nearly 200 men, which makes it one of the liveliest in Arizona. In the way of wood, water anddelightful climate, it is not surpassed in the Territory, and its future is most encouraging.

The Hermosa Mining Company's mill is one of the most complete institutions of the kind on the Coast. Everything is done on the automatic principle, and but little manual labor is required. It is turning out at present from $60,000 to $75,000 per month, and is not running to its full capacity, owing to a scarcity of water.

This company commenced working ore on the 20th of August, 1880, with the following result. Value of bullion or silver bars produced from August 20th to November 30th, 1880, $275,654.49. Value of silver bars from November 30th to December 31st, estimated $90,000 ; total, $365,654.49.

This new district, situated in the western part of the county, has recently attracted considerable attention, and prospecting on a number of locations is vigorously going on, not withstanding the hot weather and the difficulty of obtaining wood and water. The latter obstacles can, however, be overcome by the erection of mills and furnaces on the Colorado River, and the construction of a wagon road from the mines to that point. The ledges in this district are large and well-defined, the croppings [sic] frequently standing up for long distances, eight to ten feet in height. Float ore is found in great abundance, and with good facilities for reduction, there is but little doubt that large quantities of it could be profitably worked. The ores are generally of a smelting quality, although free milling ore is also found.
Considerable prospecting has been done on the Amelia, and recently the owners have commenced sinking a new shaft four by six feet, on the ledge. It is now down thirty feet, all the way in good ore, with about eighteen inches of fine galena, which will average 100 ounces to the ton. The company have erected a boarding-house and blacksmiths' shop and are now prepared to push developments vigorously. The Boston is an adjoining claim, on which a vein of high-grade chloride and sulphuret ore was recently discovered. The Diamond, a short distance off, is located on a ledge nearly parallel with the Amelia, and thirty feet in width, showing a six-inch vein of very rich ore. Opposite to the Diamond, at a short distance, is the Florence Caton, which has three ledges cropping out of the ground, in places, ten feet in height, and it is claimed that these croppings [sic] will all pay.
The Luz is the north-east extension of the Diamond ; the croppings on this mine rise twenty feet above the mesa, and are thirty feet in thickness. In addition to the above, are the Brilliant, Russell, Myers, Hoodlum, and Thistle Dew, which are said to be valuable locations.

These placers are situated in what is known as the Helvetia District, about 55 miles southeast of Tucson. The principal mining camp in the district, known as Greaterville, is at an altitude of 5,000 feet above sea-level. About three miles west of the town in the Santa Rita Range is a peak known as Old Baldy, which is one of the highest in Arizona, being about 10.000 feet above the level of the sea. The hills and mountains are covered with oak, pine, and cedar, and the climate is delightful. These extensive placer diggings are very rich, and although they have as yet only been worked in a primitive manner, have yielded several hundred thousand dollars worth of gold. The lack of water prevents them from being worked to any great extent, except during the rainy season, when quite a large number of miners are busily engaged in washing the dirt. The Santa Rita Quartz and Placer Mining Co., have considerable ground which pays well for working The district also contains many quartz ledges, which are being developed, and show rich ore. From three to six miles northwest of Greaterville are extensive and rich copper ledges, which when developed will no doubt yield a large amount of metal.

Some years ago, an English company erected a smelter in this section and worked the copper ores of a mine called the Young America, but the enterprise did not succeed, and the ground was abandoned. New discoveries have been made, and a district recently formed. It is situated in the northern part of the county, about fifty miles from Tucson. The ores are gold, silver and copper. The veins are numerous, well defined and large.

The Abbie Waterman is a silver mine of great promise, which is being vigorously prospected by the owners, Messrs. Gates, Knox and Murphy. They also own several of the adjoining
mines. The Amelia, owned by P. Woods, is being prospected by a tunnel. It has a fine vein of carbonate ore. The Monarch shows a vein of copper silver glance, from five to twenty feet in width. There are many other silver locations, on which prospectors are now engaged, and from which ore is being extracted, but perhaps the greatest activity is in the copper group of mines around Pelton. The Old Boot, Blue Coat, and Southern Beauty, are described as forming a mountain of copper, similar in character to the Great Copper Queen mine at Bisbee. These mines belong to the Huachuca Mining and Smelting Company, of which Messrs. Scott, Zeckendorf and E. N. Fish are the principal owners. This company has a smelting furnace, and keep a large force of men at work. W. B. Scott is Superintendent. The Arizona, Pima and Mountain Chief are also copper mines, reported to show large bodies of good ore. A good many men are now employed at this camp, which gives it a busy, thriving appearance.

This district is situated about thirty-five miles from Tucson, and is reached by a good road over a level country, most of the distance. Water is found at a depth of ten or fifteen feet, and suificient can now be obtained for prospecting purposes. Wood is abundant, the mountain sides being covered with a heavy growth of live-oak timber, while the mesas are thickly covered with mesquite and paloverde. The formation is slate, limestone and quartzite. The ledges are numerous and well-defined, with clearly marked walls, and are seen cropping out from the mesa with as much regularity as in the hills. The numerous remains of smelters and arastras, some of which have been recently utilized, show that at no remote date, this district was the center of active mining operations. The Mexican miners were probably driven away by the Apaches.

Mr. Hughes owns some mines which are being steadily developed, and producing some very rich ore. The Continuacion, owned by Brichta, Meek & Co., has been opened in three places on the ledge, showing good ore in each shaft. The vein is four feet wide, inclosed by slate walls, the ore being argentiferous galena, carrying a streak of high-grade copper. Many other locations have been made, some of which are being vigorously developed and yielding good ore.

Tumacacori, an old ruined mission, situated in the mountains on the west side of the Valley of the Santa Cruz, was, like Tubac, the center of extensive mining operations many years since. All over this section may be seen the evidences of old mining, and tradition says that near this place was located the Tumacacori mine of wonderful richness, from which the Jesuit Fathers, with a trained band of Indian miners, for a long time quietly extracted immense amounts of silver. A day came at last when the crafty Apache surrounded the mission, and left not a soul to tell the story of its destruction, or even to point out the location of its rich mines. A recent prospector claims to have found this old mine : but whether he has or not, the search in this rich mineral district, cannot fail to bring to light other mines perhaps as rich as Tumacacori.

This district is situated on the east side of the Santa Cruz Valley, adjoining the Aztec District, and embraces within its limits the lower ranges of the Santa Rita Mountains. It is one of the oldest and probably one of the richest mining sections in Southern Arizona. In every portion of it, especially at Tubac, the Hacienda del Santa Ritas, and at the mission of Tumacacori, are to be found the remains of arastras and smelters, together with large dumps of ore slag, which proclaim this district to have been in former times the scene of extensive mining operations, in what was then Northern Mexico. It is at least sixty years since any of these works were used. The district affords sufficient wood and water for mining and milling purposes, and in the mountains is found a fine growth of pine T timber. Among the most noted mines are the Mercer's group, owned by T. L. Mercer, Campbell's group, Neil's group, Megry's group, Josephine group, Baack & Casey's group, Devil's Cache, and the Arnold and Surprise mines.
(Smitted by Candi Horton)