MINING. Arizona probably contains a larger proportion of ore and mineral-bearing land than any other member of the Union, but the lack of transportation facilities has prevented a normal development of the mining industry. In spite of this diflieulty, however, mining has been under going a steady growth. and constitutes the most important industry of the Territory. Copper mining, in which Arizona ranks next to Michigan and Montana. is the most important. 'Flue Ter ritory produces more than one-fifth of the total output of the United States. There has been a steady increase in the copper output of Arizona, rising from 23,874,963 pounds in 1883 to 133, 054,860 in 1899. There was a decrease in 1900, when the production was 118,317,764 pounds, which was due to accidental causes and not to an exhaustion of the mines. Gold mining is next in importance. The output of gold for the
five-year period ending with 1900 had an aver age value of over $2,500,000. This was nearly three times the output for 1889and twelve times that of 1880. The output of silver during the same period, on the other hand, has suffered a decided decrease in point of value, and a small decrease in volume. In 1SS9 the output amounted to 1,812,000 ounces; in 1900 it was 1,578,000 ounces, value $1,074,000. The mining of both gold and silver was begun by the Spaniards. In addition to the metals mentioned above, lead and coal deposits are worked to some extent. Plati mini, quicksilver, tin, nickel, iron, salt, gypsum, and such precious stones as the opal, garnet, onyx, and sapphire, as well as chalcedony and marble, are also found, although they are not as yet worked on any large scale.