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because they are new； will wonder at its present incredulity； and regret the
loss of advantages which may not always be within its reach。〃
Of the present mining operations in the Territory of Arizona； the most
considerable； in point of labor performed and results； is 〃The Arizona
Copper Mining Co。〃 This company is incorporated by the California
Legislature； with a capital of one million of dollars。 The President is Major
Robert Allen； U。 S。 A。 The mines are old； and very celebrated in Mexico
under the name of El…Ajo。 This company； at an expense of 100；000； have
supplied their mines with an abundance of water； extracted several
hundred tons of ore； and erected buildings； smelting furnaces； and other
appliances to facilitate their operations。 They employ about one hundred
men； mostly Mexican miners。 Their supplies of breadstuffs and beef are
obtained by contract from Sonora。 These mines are situated one hundred
and thirty miles from the mouth of the Gila River； and about sixty miles
south of it。 The ore varies in richness from thirty to sixty per cent； and the
proceeds of some sales in London were quoted as being the highest prices
ever paid for ore in that market。 A portion of this mine is owned by
English capitalists； and it is without doubt one of the most valuable in the
world。 The profits may be easily calculated； when it is known that the ore
costs delivered in Swansea； England； not exceeding 125 per ton； and is
worth from 200 to 375 per ton。 Of course these profits will be greatly
increased when the company is in a position to smelt its ores at the mine。
The Sonora Exploring and Mining Company was organized in 1856； with
a capital of two million dollars （2；000；000）。 Its principal office is in
Cincinnati； Ohio； and its seat of operations at Tubac； in the Santa Cruz
valley。 This company is managed in its mining operations by Chas。 D。
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
Poston； Esq。； a gentleman of much experience on the Pacific coast； and of
great energy of character。
The Rancho of Arivaca； containing several valuable silver mines； and
seventeen thousand acres of valuable land； has been purchased by this
company。 It has also acquired the titles to a number of other valuable
mines of galena ore； and copper containing silver and gold。 Hitherto； the
exertions of the company have been directed principally to explorations
and cleaning out the old mines； but they have at present above ground；
ready for smelting； several thousand dollars worth of their ores。 Prof。
Booth； U。 S。 Assayer； as well as other distinguished authorities； have； after
thorough experiment； given to the company certificates of the great
richness of the ores already shipped to the east。 The annual report of the
Sonora Mining Co。 is full of interest to the general reader。 The Sopori
mine is another very valuable property。 It is owned by Messrs。 Douglass；
Aldrich； and another。 Want of capital has prevented the extensive
development of this mine。 It affords its proprietors a handsome profit；
worked in the smallest and cheapest manner。 The vein is of great size； has
been traced several rods in length； and pays about one dollar to the pound
of ore。 The writer has examined specimens from the 〃Sopori；〃 taken at
random； and so rich is the ore that the native silver can be cut out of it with
a penknife； as out of a Mexican dollar。 Undoubtedly the Sopori mine is
destined to yield hundreds of millions。 It is a peculiarity of the ores in this
district that they run near the surface； making mining of comparative small
cost。 The Sopori mine is surrounded by a fine country； well watered and
wooded。 The 〃Gadsonia Copper Mining Co。；〃 after taking out a few tons
of exceedingly rich oreaveraging over eighty per cent。was obliged to
suspend operations on account of the cost of transportation。 When the
Territory shall be organized and capital protected by law； these mines will
be worked to advantage。 〃The Gila River Copper Mines〃 are more
favorably situated than any other yet opened； being directly on the Gila
River； only twenty…five miles from its mouth。 The ores can be taken from
the mine； immediately shipped upon flat boats or a light draft steamer； and
transported down the Colorado River to the head of the Gulf of California；
when they can be transhipped to England at small cost。 Upwards of twenty
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
veins of copper ore have been opened； and the assays give results varying
from 30 to 70 per cent。 These mines are owned by Messrs。 Hooper； Hinton；
Halstead； and another。 Several thousand dollars have been already
expended in prospecting and opening veins； and it was anticipated by the
proprietors that the first cargo would be shipped to Swansea； England； this
year。
Smelting works will eventually be built at the mines； or at Colorado
City； opposite Fort Yuma； and the profits of this company must be very
great。 The vicinity of the Colorado； and the abundance of wood and water；
give the proprietors facilities for conducting their operations at small cost。
Silver mining is also carried on in the vicinity of Mesilla Valley； and
near the Rio Grande。 Many other mining operations are constantly being
commenced； but the depredations of the Apache Indians have almost
entirely snatched success from the hard…working miner； who； besides
losing his all； is often massacred in some ferocious manner。 孨 o
protection； either civil or military； is extended over the greater portion of
Arizona。 This checks the development of all her resourcesnot only to her
own injury； but that of California and the Atlantic Statesby withholding a
market for their productions； and the bullion which she is fully able to
supply to an extent corresponding to the labor employed in obtaining it。
A。 B。 Gray； Esq。； late U。 S。 Surveyor under the treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo； for running the Mexican Boundary； and subsequently Exploring
Engineer and Surveyor of the Southern Pacific Railroad； has probably
seen more of the proposed Territory of Arizona than any other person； his
statements in reference to that region； embodied in a report to the Hon。；
the Secretary of the Interior； from actual field reconnoissances six years
ago； will be read with much interest； particularly as since then； repeated
developments in that country have proved the correctness of his judgment；
his opinions are； therefore； of much importance； as expressed in his able
report。 It will be recollected that this was then Mexican Territory。 Colonel
Gray says：
〃The public； I think have been misled by misrepresentations made in
regard to the resources of the region of country lying along the Gila and
upon the line proposed for a railroad at or near the parallel of 32 degrees
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
north latitude。 That portion of country east of the Rio Grande I can say but
little of from personal observation； having been over but apart of the
ground near the eastern division in Texas； and that in the vicinity of El
Paso。 At both these points； however； a fine country exists。 Upon the Gila
river grows cotton of the most superior kind。 Its nature is not unlike that of
the celebrated Sea Island cotton； possessing an equally fine texture； and； if
anything； more of a silky fibre。 The samples I procured at the Indian
villages； from the rudely cultivated fields of the Pimas and Maricopas；
have been spoken of as an extraordinary quality。 Wheat； corn； and tobacco；
together with beans； melons； etc。； grow likewise upon the banks and in the
valleys bordering the Gila and its tributaries。 The sugar cane； too； I believe；
will be found to thrive in this section of the country west of the Rio San
Pedro。 A sort of candied preserve and molasses； expressed from the fruit of
the cereus g