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statements are confirmed by the testimony of Major Emory and his
report； where he enumerates several of the most extensiveby
Gray； Bartlett； Parke； and Col。 Bonneville。 Many of the Ranches；
deserted by the Mexicans on account of the Apache Indians； have
upon them large； well…built adobe houses which must have cost the
builders thousands of dollars。 Many of these have been occupied
under squatter titles by emigrants within the last few years。 Of
others； only the ruins remain； having been destroyed by the
depredations of the Indians； or by the heavy rains of the
succeeding years。
The greater portion of these lands on the Santa Cruz and San
Pedro are covered by Mexican titles…゛nd many of these again by
squatter claims。 It is absolutely necessary that Congress should
by some wise and speedy legislation settle； upon some definite
basis； the land titles of Arizona。 Until this is done； disorder
and anarchy will reign supreme over the country。 The present
condition of California is in a great degree to be attributed to
the want of any title to the most valuable real property in the
State； and the millions which have been spent in fruitless
litigation should teach a lesson of great practical value。 Let
those Spanish grants and Mexican titles which have been occupied
in good faith be affirmed in the most expeditious and economical
manner to the claimants； and they will immediately pass into
American hands； and become productive。 The remainder of the
country should then be thrown open to settlers。 No better code of
mining law exists than the Spanish； adopted in the Senate bill
introduced by the late General Rusk； and passed at the last
session of Congress。 A judicious and liberal donation law； giving
to the actual settler a homestead； and to the enterprising miner
and 〃prospector〃 a fair security for the fruit of his labors；
will at once make of Arizona a popular； thriving and wealthy
State； affording new markets for the productions of our Atlantic
States； and yielding annually millions in silver and copper。
In addition to the produce of Arizona； the immediate vicinity of
the agricultural region of Sonora affords an abundant market for
all necessary supplies； including sugar； which is manufactured by
the Mexicans in great quantities from the cane。 Guyamas； which
one day will be ours； is one of the largest ports for the export
of flour on the Pacific coast north of Chili。 She also exports
several millions in silver annually； which finds its way direct
to the English market。 Under an intelligent system； the Sonora
mines would yield a hundred millions a year； and the supply is
inexhaustible。 If any reader doubts this statement； refer him to
the statistics of Humboldt； Ward； and Wilson； most unquestioned
and valuable authorities。 Both Humboldt and Ward note the fact
that the silver deposites grow richer as they are traced farther
North。 There can be no doubt that the most extensive and valuable
mines； both of pure silver and silver mixed with copper and lead；
are within the limits of Arizona。
The yield of the silver mines of Mexico； as computed by Ward and
Humboldt from the actual official returns to the Government； from
the conquest to 1803； amounts to the enormous sum of
2；027；955；000； or more than two BILLIONS Of dollars。 Again； Ward
says： 〃I am aware that many of the statements in this and the
preceding books respecting the mineral riches of the North of New
Spain； （Sonora； including the 'Gadsden Purchase；' Chihuahua； and
Durango；） will be thought exaggerated。 THEY ARE NOT SO； they will
be confirmed by every future report； and in after years； the
public； FAMILIARIZED WITH facts which are only questioned 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。 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 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