Bisbee Daily Review

YAVAPAI COUNTY PROSPECTORS

(Continued From Page One.)

were jumped on the first of the current year by reason of non-compliance with the mining laws. The high price commanded by the minerals which are associated with the gold and silver bearing ores of Yavapai's mining areas, is the lodestone that attracts capitalists and miners. The ores are heavily impregnated with tungsten, copper, zinc and lead, and are at this time quite desirable an asset as gold and silver. The mining men of the country have not been slow to recognize the fact and to make investments in all sections of Yavapai county where these highly valuable minerals of commerce predominate. Inquiries for mining properties are being received by the local chamber of commerce from the various sections of the United States, and, in an effort to get buyer and seller in touch without the agency of the middleman, a bureau of information and correspondence was recently established. The results are sufficiently satisfactory to warrant placing it on a permanent basis.

Pegmatite Areas Popular.

The Pegmatite, or tungsten-bearing areas, are markedly popular and were among the first to receive close attention. At the present price of tungsten—scheduled recently in Denver at $90.00 per unit—these areas are receiving even closer attention and are responding satisfactorily to the test of development. The present price of Tungsten is the highest in the history of that metal, and indications strongly favor its remaining at this or even a higher price, for some time to come. Wolframite and hubnerite ores, carrying as high as 70 per cent tungsten, are being shipped from various portions of Yavapai county to Pittsburg, Penn., and Denver, Colo. Tungsten mining, therefore, bids fair to be a very prosperous branch of the local mining industry. It is not, however, to hold the popular attention to the eclipse of copper, lead, zinc and silver—not to mention gold. Copper, for instance, is the highest price it has been for many years. As a result, the great United Verde and other copper mines of Yavapai county, are being worked as never before. New and commercially valuable bodies of copper ore have of late been found in sections remote from each other. In yet other instances, development has been resumed in copper properties which had for some time been inoperative. Yet other properties are soon for the first time to undergo development. Among the latter is the Green Monster, said by engineers to be the best copper prospect in the vicinity of the United Verde mine. The Jerome Verde is another copper prospect for which a prosperous future is predicted. The Blue Bell, Copper Hill, Loma Prieta, Commercial, Little Dairy (United Verde Extension), Henrietta, Butternut are prominent among the copper producers of this county, aside from the United Verde. Copper is now upwards of 25 cents, as against its usual price of from 12 to 14 cents. The indications are that it will remain at 25 cents, or higher, for a long time. For the reasons stated, prospecting for copper is on the increase here.

Penalty Removed

Zinc, a prominent by-product of the ores of this county, is high in prices and still a-soaring. Penalized for many years, the metal has now struck its gait, so to speak, and is hailed as an asset whereas formerly it was execrated as a debit. A stable market for zinc at the prevailing or an increased price, is assured. It, together with copper, tungsten and lead, is what might be not inaptly called a mining camp war baby. Lead, another profitable by-product of Yavapai's ores, is quoted in the pig at from $6.95 to $7.00 per hundred pounds. The mineral is one of a number prevailing in local ores that is readily reclaimed by the oil-flotation process. that promises to add materially to the financial well-being of local mine operators is silver. Quoted at 56 cents there is ample warrant for the assertion that the price will in a comparatively short time be considerably higher. It is not unlikely to be quoted at 75 cents per ounce at or prior to the close of the European war. The silver mines of Yavapai county have added millions of dollars to the precious metal wealth of the United States, and at a price of from 65 to 75 cents per ounce for silver will add other millions to their former contributions. Prescott and Jerome, the mining centers of Yavapai county, are increasing in population and prosperity. The hotels in both camps are overcrowded with mining and other business men, and there is not a vacant house in either of them. Prescott merchants report that sales during January, February and March of the current year were nearly double those months of last year. Jerome merchants report similar satisfactory conditions.