many carload lots giving returns of from 60 to 75 per cent copper, while the average of all ore shipped was a fraction over 20 per cent copper. In June the property changed ownership, being purchased by Messrs. Rockefeller, Burrage, and associates for a cash consideration of $1,400,000. A corps of mining, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineers and experts are now upon the ground making plans for the erection of one of the most complete plants ever erected for the extraction of copper. It is safe to say that upon the completion of these works Santa Rita will rank among the greatest coppermining districts of the world.

These mines are the oldest in the United States, having been worked by the Spaniards from the early part of the present century until the Territory was ceded by Mexico to the United States. Millions of pounds of copper were extracted and the metal shipped, on mules, to the City of Mexico. Two of the old forts, erected by the Spaniards for defense against Indians, are still standing, and the old dumps at the mine cover hundreds of acres, demonstrating the extent of the great excavations below. In later years the mines were worked intermittently by Americans, many of the ventures being failures on account of being harassed by the Indians, one firm losing nearly $250,000 by raids of the redskins. And thus these mines had an eventful though not always a prosperous career, until two years and a half ago when Arthur E. Dawson took charge as general manager of the property for J. Parker Whitney, of Boston. By indefatigable effort and economical management, without a dollar of capital, he put the mines on a paying basis. The dividends from the property continued to grow larger and the mines to attract more and more attention from capitalists until they finally purchased the property at the figures given above, and now it bids fair for Grant County to have at Santa Rita the greatest copper mine in the world.

PINOS ALTOS.

The old Spanish records in the custody of the Mexican Government at the city of Chihuahua tell of the discovery of gold at Pinos Altos by Gen. Pedro Almendaris, one of the early commandantes of the Mexican fortress at Santa Rita, distant 12 miles east, and where were situated the famous Santa Rita copper mines. The first discovery of gold by Americans was made on May 18, 1860, by Messrs. Birch, Shively, and Hicks. The camp was first called Birchville, in honor of Birch, who was the first to find the precious metal. Within six months 700 men were in camp looking for the gold lucre. In 1861 quartz mining was commenced, the Atlantic and Pacific lodes being located. Many other quartz veins were immediately located, the ores being reduced and the gold recovered by grinding and amalgamation in arrastres. From twenty to fifty arrastres were kept in constant operation until 1866, producing in the neighborhood of $300,000. Adding to this the gold produced from the placers, and the total of gold produced in the first five years would amount to over $500,000. Considering the crude facilities for operating the mines and the perpetual dread and uncertainty caused by frequent Indian attacks, it was a remarkably good showing. In 1866 a 15-stamp mill was erected by Virgil Marston. This, the first modern machinery in the camp, was quickly followed by other mills of the same kind, which were kept in constant operation upon the oxidized, free-milling ores from the surface of the veins. As depth upon the veins was attained the sulphureted

ores were encountered, which proved a serious obstacle to the amalgamation of the gold by the processes then in vogue.

In 1883 concentration of the sulphurous ores was attempted by Messrs. Place & Johnson, but the process was a failure for lack of experienced operators. In 1884 Peter Wagner made a success of the concentration process upon the ores of the camp, and the same year Messrs. Bell & Stevens purchased and put in successful operation the Place & Johnson concentration plant, which had heretofore been pronounced a failure. From that time until last year the ores have been worked by amalgamation and concentration of the tailings, the concentrated product being shipped to the smelting works.

The several claims upon the Pacific vein which were purchased by the Hearst estate two years ago have been systematically exploited, under the superintendency of B. B. Thayer, an experienced mining engineer. Several shafts have been sunk upon these claims, one of them having attained a depth of nearly 1,000 feet below the upper workings at the apex of the hill. The ore body exposed is probably the most continuous, both vertically and laterally, that has ever been developed in any gold mine. The width of the vein varies from 6 inches to 10 feet, while the gold value will average about an ounce per ton. A pipe line has been built to bring water from the Gebhardt Springs, 8 miles away. A mill of 60 tons capacity is now in course of construction and has an assurance of a long and successful run, as more than sufficient ore to keep the mill steadily employed for five years is now blocked out and ready for extraction. It is probable that the mill capacity will soon be increased, if it be found that the water supply is sufficient. In the meantime a 10-stamp mill is working steadily upon the ore extracted in development work.

The Atlantic and Deep Down mines are being developed by Gillig & Co., of New York City, who purchased the properties from the Treasure Mining Company, a Denver corporation, that worked the property for two years at a good profit.

The Golden Giant, Rathburn, Langston, and other properties have been constant producers of gold bullion for many years and have added their share to make up the millions which the camp has produced.

HANOVER.

This camp is a mineral wonder, both as to variety of ore and extent of ore bodies. Here are found enormous veins of iron from 10 to 50 feet in thickness. From two of these mines the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company are shipping 200 tons per day, and this output will be largely increased on the completion of the railroad to the mines, which will be about October 15, 1899. Large quantities of copper ore are being shipped from the Modoc group, the Humboldt, Hanover, and numerous other mines. Manganese occurs in large quantities, and lead ores have been profitably mined here. Like its close neighbor, Santa Rita, its greatest wealth is in copper, the production of which is increasing at a rapid rate.

CENTRAL.

This district really comprises within its boundaries the mining camps of Santa Rita and Hanover, but the name is more especially applied to designate the locality immediately contiguous or within a few miles of the town of Central. Here are found several lead, silver, and gold mines. The principal mines of the district are the Texas and Grand Central, owned by the Bayard Milling and Smelting

Company, a company of Philadelphia capitalists, represented by H. Niles as resident manager. These mines have been developed to a depth of 500 feet, showing a large vein of ore rich in gold and silver and proving the permanency and value of the veins of the district in depth. A concentration mill upon the mines is being successfully operated.

OTHER MINING CAMPS.

Chloride Flat, 3 miles from Silver City, has produced over $3,000,000 in silver; even at the present depreciated price of silver several of the mines are paying well.

At Alhambra, the Alhambra mine is being worked and very rich silver ore is being extracted.

At Victoria, large bodies of high-grade lead ore have been extracted from the mine which gives its name to the camp. Wolframite, a rare and valuable mineral, is also found here.

At Stein's Pass, Granite Gap, Hachita, and Volcano rich lead and silver mines are being opened and are producing large profits.

At Gold Hill, the Reservation, Standard, Nancy Lee, and other gold mines are producing bullion.

At Paschal, in the Burro Mountains, several copper mines are being profitably worked for the higher grade ores, which are shipped to the smelters, while other very large bodies of lower grade ore are awaiting the advent of capital to erect suitable reduction works upon the ground, when these ores can be mined and copper produced at a very large profit.

The prospects for the immediate future of Grant County could not possibly be brighter. Prosperity reigns throughout the county, no boom nor excitement, but everything on a substantial and paying basis, with still greater prosperity assured from day to day as the resources of the county are developed more and more.

GUADALOUPE COUNTY.

Guadaloupe County, the banner grazing county of the Territory, with hundreds of thousands of acres of land of the very finest for settlement, offers unexcelled opportunities to the home seeker. Almost the whole eastern part of this county, embracing part of the so-called staked plains, is covered with the finest of grama grass. Water is found within a few feet of the surface, and it needs only the master hand of man to create a veritable paradise here.

As a sheep country Guadaloupe County is ahead of them all. The finest improved Merino herds are found here, and the wool produced is without doubt the finest in quality and strength of staple. Next to the sheep industry comes that of cattle, both of which are successfully carried on in this county.

The agricultural crops of Guadaloupe County are alfalfa, fruit, and cereals. Apples and pears here excel in flavor and size, being similar to fruit raised in California.

As yet little efforts have been made to develop irrigation enterprises. In this direction most excellent opportunities are offered, especially at Fort Sumner, where 12,000 acres of land could be irrigated at nominal cost.

Puerto de Luna, the county seat of Guadaloupe County, has a $20,000 court-house, several large stores, good schools, and about 1,500 people, and is the center of a fine stock and agricultural section. 6487-25

The Pecos River, with its excellent ditch system, furnishes an abundant water supply to this section of great promise.

The climate is mild and the altitude is such (being about 4,000 feet above the level of the sea) that a more desirable locality can not be found anywhere for sheep and stock raising. Sheep raising has been a most important industry here, particularly with the native people. Cattle raising is fast becoming one of the principal industries, and it is meeting with much favor and success.

The mineral lands found in this section embrace gold, silver, copper, coal, and iron. Coal has been found, and is of good quality.

Oats, potatoes, barley, and timothy are chiefly grown, and the ranch houses and homes for live-stock raising are numerous. As a live-stock country this locality is specially adapted to the raising of horses.

But as a pleasure and health resort this locality has become famous. The scenic effects are grand. The country is wild and broken, and much game abounds, including bear and deer, while the streams are literally alive with mountain trout running as high as 5 pounds in weight.

Splendid pine forests cover the mountains and mesas, and the timber industry is a most important and growing one, and in the near future, with some investment of capital, Guadaloupe County will come to the front in the development of her resources.

LINCOLN COUNTY.

Lincoln County is situate in the southeastern portion of New Mexico, and embraces an area of nearly 5,000 square miles since the last division of it, when the entire southern portion of it was set off to the new county of Otero.

The general surface of Lincoln County is comparatively level, but broken here and there by detached ranges of mountains, rendering it one of the most desirable, as well as picturesque, portions of the Territory of New Mexico.

The climate of this section is an ideal one, being far enough south to avoid any very severe cold weather during the winter, and the altitude, combined with the cooling rains which almost invariably prevail through July and August, render outdoor life peculiarly delightful during the summer and fall, and make it a veritable “promised land" for the home and health seeker.

This county at present has a population of about 9,000 inhabitan.s and an assessed valuation of $1,608,226, or a fraction over $24.72 per capita. When we take into consideration the fact that it is almost universally conceded that the assessment rolls never represent more than 60 per cent of the actual value of the property, these figures make an extremely favorable showing as to the financial standing of the people in this county.

The principal industry thus far has been the raising of live stock. The ranges in this section are well sheltered by foothills and numerous belts of timber, and the grass is abundant and nutritious, so that stock thrive well the year round, making cattle as well as sheep raising here not only safe but highly profitable. The latest estimate, made just prior to June 1, 1899, places the number of cattle on the ranges of the county at 41,046 and their value at $451,511. This, however, can not be considered a fair showing, as most of the ranches had made their usual spring shipments prior to the time the list was