Daily Alta California, Volume 18, Number 5922, 28 May 1866 — OUR ARIZONA CORRESPONDENCE. [ARTICLE]

OUR ARIZONA CORRESPONDENCE.

UP THE COLORADO.

(From the Correspondent of the Alta California.)

El Dorado Canon, Arizona Ter.,) April 30th, 1868 The Journey. Editors Alta : I left San Francisco, March 31, in company with Mr. Hazen Kimball, a well-known artist, and arrived on the. Colorado river March 26th. We were detained several days at Los Angeles and San Bernardino, by heavy rain storms, and at Soda Lake, by the Indians killing my riding animal. During the night, while encamped on the west shore of the lake, a band of Indians came down from the mountains, and shot my horse with arrows: It appeared that, they did not give him time to die before they commenced cutting the sinews from his neck, and having obtained them, they fled to the mountains. I can assure you we did not stop them, for there appeared a good show of their dissecting our necks for sinews. Soon after, we fell in with a merchandise train, bound for Arizona, and the wagon master very kindly furnished me with a horse to ride into the Territory. A ride of some one hundred miles brought us to the eastern bank of the Rio Colorado, completing the seventh round trip I have made from your city. We crossed the river, and left our pack animal, starting up a wash for the San Francisco District. The Moss and Other Leads. Nine miles travel brought us on the famous Moss lead. Here we found Mr. Strong's foreman pushing ahead finely with the work of development. I noticed several gangs of miners at work on the lead : also, good substantial buildings going up for the workmen. A visitor would soon guess that Mr. C. L. Strong was about, if they ever visited the Gould & Curry mine, which he so nobly managed. Some three miles from the Moss, we came upon the Dayton, Michigan, and Parsons lodes. The two last named leads are being worked by Mr. Hardy, the founder of Hardyville, and his prospects are very flattering. In the croppings of the Dayton, chlorine, or horn silver, is found in abundance. From here, we passed over the mountains, five miles, to the Leland ledge, and, without any exception, or prejudice, this is the best defined and unbroken lead I have met in the district. Work had stopped at this mine for the want of powder and provisions; but I have learned since I left the mine, that the Superintendent had received a large supply, and will commence the further developing of the lodo immediately. About one hour and a half of a ride brought us to Fort Mohave. We found it garrisoned by a company of the noted Fourteenth Infantry. The officers in command received us courteously, and insisted upon us remaining all night with them. I can assure you we were not slow in accepting their hospitalities, for we had appetites like Mohave Indians, after running lizards down all day, and we also were pretty well jaded out, as well as our animals. The following morning we were off by 5 o'clock for Hardyville, distance seven miles up the river. On arriving there we were joined by the Superintendent of the Colorado mill, and after packing our animals, each of us paid our dollar to the aged Charon who "rowed" us o'er the ferry"— a few feet of red fluid— and took the trail up the mountains for the El Dorado Canon, distance sixty miles from Fort Mohave. Old mountaineers who have passed over this trail, admit it to be the most dangerous and roughest a domestic animal ever trod. In a great many places it is impossible for the traveller to keep in his saddle, and even if he could he would not have any desire to do so, for one misstep of the animal would send them both over the cliffs, hundreds of feet below, into the Colorado. Not only along the edge of cliffs does the trail lead, but up steep mountains and down into deep gorges. As for mountain scenery, I never taw anything equal it, the most remarkable being in the vicinity of Bull's Head, Pyramid Rock, and Painted Canon.

Iralaba's Defeat. Late at night we arrived on the Indian battleground, abreast of Cottonwood Island, and encamped. This it where the old war-chief, Brevet Major-General Irataba, (of the Mohaves,) was captured, and stripped of his uniform to the buff, by tbe Cottonwood Pi-Utes, last fall. During this engagement three Pi-Utes were killed and several Mohaves captured with Irataba, but they were shortly afterwards liberated by promising never to return to Cottonwood Island again. A few days after that occurred I visited the island and found the Pi-Utes in full possession, as they had driven the Mohaves from the island in great confusion into Fort Mohave, a distance of thirty miles down the river, and captured several fields of melons, Indian corn, broom corn, sun flowers, as well as a great number of war clubs. The Mohaves, just before evacuating the island, burned their huts and winter supplies, which consisted of five hundred bushels of mesquit beans and a large amount of dried squashes. Our Camp Fire was soon blazing high, and after our usual meal of crackers, cheese and hot coffee, with some fruit-cake, made and presented to us by a handsome and charitable young lady of your city, we spread our blankets upon the rocky bank of the Colorado, and with our saddles for pillows, firearms in hand, we slept as soundly as in a bed at the Occidental Hotel. The howling of a colony of coyotes upon a part of whose domain we had intruded, were the only sounds that invaded the silence of tbe night. The Pi-Utes have left the island for the present, and no doubt they are off on a murdering and plundering expedition. On the Trail Again. From here onward, the scenery is wilder and more broken, resembling the chaotic remains of an ancient world. After leaving the Island, the next morning we passed by several ruined Indian huts, the former residence of Captain Mi-ca-dow and his band. By dusk, we arrived at a low ciiff a short distance below El Dorado Canon, and passing around this, our pack animal slipped and over he went down into the river, completely out of sight. As I was well acquainted with this cliff and knew the depth of the water. I very soon came to the rescue. He made his appearance on the surface, puffing and blowing like a huge porpoise, but insisted on going back, so I had to jump in after him, and caught his halter just as he was sinking the second time. He struggled violently, and came very near drowning me, also. I managed to get the end of the halter ashore, and with my friend Kimball's assistance, towed him to where he could touch bottom, and then he was all right, for he walked out, groaning and shaking himself, apparently very much disgusted with Arizona trails. We hurried on to the Canon, and in a few minutes we were at my cabin door, on the bank of the Colorado, at the mouth of El Dorado Canon. Old companions gathered around to learn the news, for which I referred them to a large pile of Altas— Daily, Weekly, and Steamer. The Alta is the favorite paper in this part of Arizona, as well as all over the Southern country: independent of its merits as a newspaper — the oldest in the State,— it seems to take a greater interest in the development and advancement of this somewhat obscure Territory, than all the rest of the papers in San Francisco, and we all remark with pleasure the kindly interest manifested by your journal towards Arizona— the great care taken to collect and set before the public such information and matters of interest as are obtainable relative to her mines, progress, etc. On examining our pack, we found it in a very damaged condition, everything completely saturated with water. El Dorado Canon and Its Mines. After a day's rest in my cabin, we started up the canon on a tour of inspection through the silver mines of this district, which lay from three to seven miles from the river. We visited all the prominent lodes, which took us several days, for my friend K— sketched every thing he come across — from a horned toad on a dead run, to the Techatticup mountain— which he will subsequently reproduce on canvas, in San Francisco; don't fail to see the toad. At the Techatticup mine, a gang of miners had just commenced operations under the charge of the old Superintendent, Mr. N. Lewis. They have gone to work taking out ore, and I have the very best authority to say that none of this ore yields less than sixty dollars to the ton; indeed, several lots have yielded ninety to one hundred dollars. I witnessed, last fall, several tons of this ore worked at the Colorado mill, located here, which astonished us all by the immense yield. It produced as fine amalgam as I ever saw come out of the Gould & Curry mine. Tens of thousands of tons of the same quality ore can be obtained in the Oueen City mine, which is located near the Techatticup. l am reliably informed by the Colorado mill amalgamator, that several lots of ore from the QueenCity yielded over one hundred dollars to the ton. Now these two lodes alone have been opened in this district, but short drifts and shallow shafts can be found upon a great many others, which work was done to hold them, in 1863 and 1864, but under our new Territorial code, they are forfeited.

Facts and 1 Figures. I have a few figures in my diary that I obtained last June from the Recorder's books of this district, which I wish to place before your readers: Up to 1865 there were recorded in this Canon (Colorado Mining District) seven hundred and sixty mineral lodes, and eight hundred and fifty mining deeds. Our mines are silver, copper, and gold. The silver veins predominate, and our copper lodes occupy one corner of the district by themselves. This great group of lodes I claim to be as rich as can be found in the United States. Money and labor is all that is required to convince the world of the truth of this statement. Every one who has visited the two mines (I have mentioned) admits they are. marvels of richness. I do candidly think I could select at least forty-five large and well-defined silver lode's in this district that would open up as rich and extensive as either the Queen City or Techatticup mines. I find in this district fifty-one mines partially developed, and now resting for want of funds. What a pity that these splendid mines should have fallen into hands that are disposed to delay and procrastinate. Look out for your Interests. Gentlemen of San Francisco, you must wake up, or you will find one of these days new owners in your places: for the Arizonians are determined to bring out their mines, and if you have not confidence or enterprise enough to develop the claims you have, then you must certainly give place to those that have and will. New York capitalists hold the feet that you now claim without your knowledge or consent. Some one of you will say that is impossible, for three years ago our company sent down Mr. Skimmerhorn's dry goods clerk, with four thousand dollars, to superintend the opening of our lode, and there certainly has been work enough done on the lode to hold it a year or two longer. Well, Skimmerhorn's clerk arrives at the mines with a bar of steel, a miner's guide, keg of powder, a blow-pipe, sack of beans, side of bacon, sack of flour, sixteen gallons of red eye and a pack of playing cards. He treats all hands around, and is a very clever fellow. After laying off in the shade a couple of weeks, and the cards well greased up by constant use, he makes on effort to walk out upon the hills with some of the miners. He arrives at the lode he was sent down to develop: examines the quartz with tbe eye of an expert, and no doubt if the whole lead was a mass of broken grindstones and brickbats, he would pronounce it rich in black sulphurets of silver. Well, operations commence; he lets a contract to two miners to sink fifty or one hundred feet; they start in, two or three rods from the lode, and in the opposite direction from the way which the lode pitches. These are his orders, and of course they must be obeyed. They get a coyote's hole down about four feet, and by that time red-eye has evaporated, and he has important business at San Francisco. He mounts his horse and makes a bee-line for Los Angeles, promising to return as soon as he possibly can. He waits two or three weeks at the Bella Union Hotel, Los Angeles, spending a couple of hundred dollan on billiards and soothing drinks, and in the course of human events he appears on Montgomery Street, makes his report af the office, which represents a shaft fifty or one hundred feet; shows specimens from the Queen City, or some other good lode, and convinces the Company it came out ot his shaft, which is down fifty feet, more or less, and that the indications are strong that they are coming into a rich mine. He draws his pay— two hundred, or two hundred and fitly dollars per month, and goes his way rejoicing, with four thousand dollars besides in his pockets out of that five thousand he represents to have expended on the lode. The poor miners work on faithfully till the last mouthful of provisions is consumed, and by that time they may be down twenty or thirty feet, and probably double that distance from the lode, their first instalment of pay is due, but not a cent do they see. Re-locations. Several cases very much like the above came under my own observation in this district. in 1863. Do not deceive yourselves, gentlemen; a coyote's hole four feet deep will not hold your mines till you see proper to make further developments. We of the frontier, suffering all sorts of deprivations, will not always suffer this lack of funds with the richest mines in the world at our disposal. You have not complied with either our district or Territorial laws, therefore your mines are forfeited, and subject to relocation: in fact, most of the ground is in the same fix here. I have been on a great many lodes that in 1863 from two to eight thousand dollars were expended on, and this day the whole of them are forfeited. They are entirely abandoned, and have been for the last year. A gentleman of considerabln meas told me, a few days ago, that he was about making arrangements at the Colorado mill, to work ore for him, at he had

re-located one of the best deserted mines in the canon, and as soon as the steamer arrived, he would commence operations. Quite recently I have seen the names-sent to the Recorder's office of those who have relocated the best mines outside of the Techatticup or Queen City. The men are all here and are abundantly able to work the mine, and they expect to commence very soon. In less than three months, I think, nine-tenths of the choice mines in this district will be re-located, and change hands altogether. I heard the officers of several companies in San Francisco, remark during 1863 and1864, just as soon as a mill is in operation at the canon, we will open our mines and furnish them all the ore they can work. Two first-class mills were put in operation, and every pound of ore they worked outside of the Queen City the mill-owners had to take out themselves; but, thank the Lord, things are now taking a turn here: strangers are coming in from Montana, Utah and Nevada, and we show them over the district, which they are well pleased with: they don't, purchase, for that is not necessary, they pitch in and help themselves. Re-locate is the word. Men of capital, now is your time to secure large and valuable mining interests in this district— not by paying out immense sums of money, but simply by paying for recording your ground.

The District Worth looking After.

I call attention to this district aa offering superior advantages and inducements in the way of mining interests. I could devote at least one hour in showing you the inducements but time and space will not permit at present; at any rate, I will give you a few: 1st, The mines here are rich; 2nd, They ere extensive; 3d, Our transportation facilities are of the very first class, vis., our supplies can be landed at our cabin doors from San Francisco, all the way by water, and at reasonable freight; 4th, The climate, on the Upper Colorado, cannot be surpassed in the United States. I am convinced that if you were to visit this district, and learn its history, see its partly-developed but abandoned mines, you would go no further — shell out your funds liberally, and tell the boys to rush in and pile up the ore at the mills. We don't want one dollar of your money for feet; but come here with ample means, and we will post you as to the rich and valuable locations you can make, and your title will be as perfect as if you had paid out your tens of thousands of dollars, and just as valuable. All we would require for our services would be to see you go to work at once in opening your lodes.

Mills, etc.

At present, neither of the mills are running. The Colorado mill is being entirely rebuilt; a large force of mechanics is pushing it through vigorously, under the superintendence of Mr. Geo. E. Willett. This mill property is controlled by Mr. Stephen Otis, of Otis, Faruum & Co., San Francisco, and Mr. Davis, of Davis, Jordan & Co., San Francisco. Great credit is due these two gentlemen for the liberal manner in which they go about remodelling this mill. They have already expended $30,000. Lately, they shipped thirty-one tons of supplies, which the Superintendent expects here in two or three weeks, per steamer; and soon after their receipt, the mill will be in operation. They have made a contract with the Techatticup Company, for crushing their rock on a percentage of its yield. The Spear Brothers are here, and they inform me they will start their mill (which is but a few rods from the Colorado) as soon as parties will supply them with rock. The Indians.

The Indians are very quiet about us, (in fact, always have been here,) but we hear of their committing depredations nearly all around us. On the 30th of March, the Wallipies killed the station keeper at Willow Springs, seventy miles east of this place, on the Prescott road, and burned the station. As soon as it was known at Hardyville, a company of ten well-armed men went out to chastise the fiends, and succeedad in killing nine Wallipies, four of them being squaws and pappooses. - At the Los Verjias Ranch, thirty-eight miles north of us, the Muddy Indians drove off the finest stock on the ranch, and what is left the whites have to herd day and night. The Mohaves and Pi-Utes are still at. war. A few days ago, the Mohaves captured three Pi-Ute squaws, and took them into Hardyville, to kill; but the citizens made them leave the village. They executed the squaws, leaving their bodies on the ground, in a terribly mangled condition.

From the Mormon Settlements.

A gentleman from the Muddy settlements, (a colony of Mormons thirty-five miles northeast of Call's Landing,) arrived here yesterday. He reports Ihe crops in fine condition, especially cotton and wheat. He says the Mormons are very anxious for the merchants of San Francisco to establish at once, without further delay, a large trading-post at Call's Landing. They want a market for their cotton nearer home than Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. They have a large amount of last year's crop (so I am informed) on hand, and intend to ship it by the first steamer that arrives at Call's Landing.

Prospecting, etc..

Three.weeks ago, a company of seventeen Pahranagat miners passed through this canon, en route for the White Mountain diggings, about three hundred miles east of this place. Mr. J. A. Matthews, Sheriff of this county, arnved here a few days ago from Williams' Fork. He informed me that 600 tons of copper ore were at Mineral Hill, waiting for shipment to San Francisco. Mining was very active, there being over seventy copper miners employed there. At Empire Flat 200 tons of first class ore were ready for shipment, forty-two copper miners being employed at this mine.

Marine Intelligence.

Arrived.— Yesterday barge Veagas, Captain Wilburn, three days from Cottonwood Island: timber and wood to Colorado Mill. Barge Colorado, Captain Joe Miller, four days from Cottonwood Island: hay and charcoal to Colorado Mill. Cleared.— Last night, a Pi-Ute, with my pants, boots and hat. Sailed.— A cottonwood log, with four bucks and three squaws astride, also, pappooses hanging on as thick as flies around a Chinese hash house, bound for Cottonwood Island, the next port below. Weather pleasant; thermometer 85° in the shade. Alling.