Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company

Who's Who In Arizona, Vol. 1. 1913. By Jo Connors. Pages 113-118

Transcribed by Jean Walker

The Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company's mines, situated at Bisbee in The Warren District, are among the greatest copper mines of the world, and the largest producer of the four great mines controlled and operated by Phelps, Dodge & Co. Their other holdings are: The Detroit Copper Mining Company of Arizona, at Morenci; The Old Dominion Copper Mining Company, at Globe, and The Moctezuma Copper Company, at Nacozari, Mexico. The Copper Queen has been producing for thirty years, during twenty of which it was the only producer in the Warren Mining District. This District is named after George Warren, who discovered and disclosed the fact that great bodies of ore existed in the Mule Mountains. The original workers of the property upon which the Warren District is founded were named Martin, Ballard and Riley, who built a small smelter where the old depot stood, and this, from the day it was blown in, showed the rich deposits that were to be found in those hills.

Dr. James Douglas, now President of Phelps, Dodge & Co., had purchased a few mining claims on the mountain side above this point, and there sunk a shaft. At a depth of a few hundred feet ore was discovered, and having compromised a suit with the old Copper Queen Company, the companies were reorganized and consolidated, and the foundation laid for the greatest mining district in the southwest. Like many other rich and successful mines, the Copper Queen has known periods of depression, and it is stated upon authority that at one time the present owners, having spent $80,000 without permanent results, were deeply discouraged and in much doubt as to the advisability of proceeding with the development. Luckily, however, for Bisbee and the whole district, another $15,000 was appropriated, which, invested in a sort of forlorn hope, enable the faithful band of workers to discover the real copper deposits. These mines are now the main source of wealth of the entire county, and upon them all the other industries depend, either directly or indirectly.

The Copper Queen now has over 100 miles of underground workings in its extensive property. The deepest shaft in its mines is only about 18,000 feet and no development work has been done below 1,600 feet. The bottom of the limestone foundation, in which the ores occur, has never been found in Copper Queen ground, and there is no reason to feel that the ores grow leaner with depth. At one point very rich oxides and carbonates are being mined at a depth of 1,6000 feet, the deepest workings, while at another heavy iron sulphides are found within four or five hundred feet of the surface.

The Copper Queen mine was opened in 1880 on a solid outcrop of oxidized copper, iron and manganese, opposite the Copper Queen hotel in Bisbee. The original ore body, since removed, leaving a large artificial cave, gave an average return of 23 per cent copper, but was exhausted in three or four years, and the mine experienced many vicissitudes until additional and far larger ore bodies were developed. Extensive bodies of high grade ore have been found within the last ten years, and development proves them to be of great depth. In fact, new bodies are being developed yearly, and the ultimate lateral limits of payable ore are unknown.

The mines show numerous beautiful caves lined with calcite crystals and stalactites, some of which are of considerable size and found in close association with good ore bodies. Rich oxidized ores are found on the lowest level, and masses of native metal ranging up to several tons in weight have been found at considerable depth.

Circa 1906 postcard of the Czar Shaft owned by Jean Walker

Circa 1910 postcard of the Gardner Shaft owned by Jean Walker

The mine is opened ahead for several years, but not so extensively as formerly, the ore bodies being so soft that it is difficult to secure the openings and it is frequently necessary to bulkhead the same in order to keep them intact. Many of the stopes are bulkheaded throughout, and the mine is timbered with square sets of 8x8 timber, an average of twenty feet of timber, board measure, being required for each ton of ore taken out. The ore is hand sorted under ground after breaking, and culls are used for filling in worked out stopes, this material standing remarkably well. Notwithstanding the numerous disadvantages originally encountered, the Copper Queen is one of the safest of mines for underground workmen, because of experienced, capable and careful management. Although as a whole the mine is not especially wet, the district being drained largely by the Superior and Pittsburgh, yet it is supplied with electric pumps.

In 1908 the entire system of operation was radically changed. Formerly each of the principal mine shafts was operated as a separate mine, but the five old shafts are now used for men, waste, timber and supplies, all ore extraction being done though the Sacramento shaft. The underground haulage plant installed in that year consists of 17 miles of track on every second level, from the fourth to the sixteenth, inclusive, ore from the intermediate levels being dropped through chutes and all of it hauled to the Sacramento shaft for hoisting. In order to complete this traction system it was necessary to open many new drifts and crosscuts, which are located in soldi ground, wherever possible, as these electric tram lines are the arteries of the mine. The hauling system includes electric locomotives and side dumping ore cars. This innovation has resulted in marked economy in operating expenses.

Circa 1908 postcard of Douglas smelter owned by Jean Walker

The ore mined at Bisbee is shipped to Douglas, 28 miles distant, for treatment. These is located the Copper Queen Smelter, the most modern in the world, which is a central smelter for the mines of Phelps, Dodge & Co. in Arizona and Mexico. These properties produce a great variety of copper ores, including practically every grade found in the American southwest and northern Mexico, and it is possible by means of this central reduction plant to take advantage of the varied nature of the ores in mixing furnace charges. The plant does also considerable custom smelting of gold, silver and copper ores. The buildings consist of smelter building, power house, boiler house, machine shops and foundry. The works occupy a sit of about three hundred acres, and are served by a complete Y-track railroad system of standard gauge, consisting of 15 miles of track and reaching to every building and department of the plant. Construction of this was begun in 1901 and the first stack was blown in in March, 1904, since which time there has been almost constant enlargement, and the works are second in size in the country, having a daily capacity of about 4,000 tons. The Company has also a large precipitation plant and is recovering considerable copper from its mine water.

Water is secured from artesian wells about 400 feet deep, in which the water rises nearly to the surface. A large reservoir and cooling tower have been built in connection with the water supply.

The power house, built of steel and brick, provides power for all departments and transmits electric energy 72 miles to the El Tigre mine in northern Mexico. The power plant has about twenty units of various sizes and types, aggregating more than 6,000 horse power. Building at the Douglas works include an office and warehouse and a number of dwellings for employees.

The relations between the Copper Queen Company and its employees have been exceedingly cordial for years. Efforts have been made at different times to unionize the Bisbee miners, but in a referendum vote taken in 1906, in which the polling was conducted on the Australian system, and no bosses or other salaried men allowed to vote, the result was five to one against forming a union.

The management of the Company is superior throughout, and keeps thoroughly abreast of the times, and it is a fact universally known that this Company enjoys the distinction of being a corporation with a full and whole soul for those in its employ. In every possible way is this evidenced in the cities of Bisbee and Douglas.

Circa 1907 postcard of Bisbee Main Street with the post office and Copper Queen library on the left. Owned by Jean Walker

With the liberality for which the Copper Queen Company has been noted, they have erected buildings and established free libraries at both Bisbee and Douglas. The Bisbee library is one of the best and most complete in the country, and occupies two floors, one of which is a free reading room, where may be found all works of reference and the latest magazines and newspapers. The other contains the library proper, consisting of 10,000 volumes on every known subject, ranging from science to the latest fiction. The service of the library is absolutely free and the librarians in charge most courteous and helpful.

The Douglas Library is conducted on practically the same principles, having also a reading room and library proper, but is not quite so extensive as that of Bisbee. Here, too, the public is accorded the utmost courtesy.

Circa 1907 postcard of Douglas, AZ library that was located at 10th & F streets. Owned by Jean Walker

An Employee's Benefit Association is another one of the excellent features instituted by this Company. In this Association membership is entirely voluntary and open to any employee, regardless of occupation. The finances are administered by a join board composed of officers and employees, the company subscribing $15,000 annually if half the employees join, and $25,000 if three-fourths join, while employees contribute 2 per cent of their monthly wages in return for industrial and life insurance. Beneficiaries receive half wages if sick or injured, and one year's wages is received by heirs in case of death from sickness, and two years' wages in case of death through accident.

Circa 1910 postcard of the Copper Queen Hospital in Bisbee, AZ. Owned by Jean Walker

The Medical Department has an able staff of physicians and surgeons at both Bisbee and Douglas, which is maintained partially through monthly contributions from employees, the balance being contributed by the Company. These is also a large hospital, provided with all the modern conveniences known to medial science, and on which Dr. F. E. Shine is the chief surgeon.

The Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company was organized in 1885 under the laws of the State of New York, with a capitalization of $2,000,000, shares par value $10.00. It is controlled through practically the entire stock ownership by Phelps, Dodge & Co., is really a close corporation, and has only about fifteen shareholders.

The office of the company is at No. 99 John street, New York; the mine office at Bisbee, Arizona and the general and works office at Douglas, Arizona. The officers are as follows: Dr. James Douglas, President; Arthur Curtiss James, Vice President; George Notman, Secretary and Treasurer; Stuart W. French, General Manager; Grant H. Dowell, Assistant General Manager; Gerald Sherman, General Mine Superintendent; Joseph Park Hodgson, Superintendent; Forest Rutherford, Superintendent of Reduction Works; Ellingwood & Ross, Attorneys; Dr. F. E. Shine, Medical Superintendent.

The force employed by the Company consists of more than 4,000 men, of whom approximately 2,500 are at the mines, and the remainder at the smelters. In addition to its numerous claims in the Warren District, it owns various properties in other sections.

One of the points early recognized by this Company was that in order to achieve the best results it would be necessary to have the man best suited to the requirements in every capacity, and they have, therefore, gathered together in their employ the brightest and brainiest men obtainable in their several lines, each and every one of whom is working heart and soul for the best interests of the Copper Queen Company

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