118 SURVEY OF COLOEADO AND NEW MEXICO. 



All the ores are mixed together after roasting, in sucb. a manner as to 

 produce a slag of the requisite fusibility. The greater part of the zinc, 

 lead and arsenic is volatilized, a small portion only uniting with the 

 matt and slag. The matt contains forty per cent, copper, and is the 

 product obtained by smelting the roasted ores. How rich this matt is 

 in silver, and how much of it is annually shipped abroad, is known only 

 to Professor Hill and his assistant. 



It is stated that Professor Hill contemplates erecting additional 

 works for the reduction of this matt on the ground where it is i)roduced, 

 and the enterprise is generally regarded with satisfaction by the mining 

 population, among whom the belief is common that the profit which 

 Professor Hill can realize in treating these ores ought to be sufficient to 

 enable him to spare himself this great transportation, and at the same 

 time stop one of the many channels through which bullion flows out of 

 the countrj-. 



COLOEADO CITY, AUGUST 9. 



About three miles from Colorado City, in a ravine through which 

 flows the Fontaine-qui-bouille, are the famous soda springs, which 

 have been from time immemorial regarded with superstitious awe by 

 the Indians, and which are now attracting i)ersons from all parts of the 

 country by their beauty and supposed medicinal virtues. Three of 

 these springs are situated on the right bank of the creek, not more than 

 fifteen feet from the edge, and one of them (the smallest, and that giving 

 the strongest water) on the left bank. 



The first of these which one meets in going from Colorado City bub- 

 bles up through the rock into a large basin of seven or eight feet in 

 diameter, which it has formed partly by wearing away the sides which 

 confine it, and i^artly by continual deposits of its salts. This spring is 

 called the " Beast Spring," because it is the only one of the four con- 

 veniently accessible to large quadrujieds, which drink greedily of its 

 waters. 



The next (and largest) spring on the same side of the creek is the 

 bathing spring, and is distant from the other but a few rods. A rude 

 roof is erected o^'cr the spot whence it issues from the rock, and the 

 invalids sojourning at this place (of whom there were three at the date 

 of our visit) bathe in it night and morning. The third spring on this 

 side is the "Iron Spring," and is situated a short distance up the stream 

 from the last-mentioned, in a thicket, which proves from its little dis- 

 turbed condition that the curative powers of the water are not held in 

 as high estimation as are those of the other springs. 



The last spring, which I have ventured to christen the "Doctor," from 

 the strength of its water, is the smallest of all, and on the left bank of 

 the Fontaine. 



A qualitative analysis of these springs with the blow-pipe gave the 

 results which foUow. The manner of conducting the analysis was as 

 follows : 



A large iron camp kettle, of four gallons capacity, was filled with the 

 water, and the contents evapoi-ated to dryness. The salts deposited 

 were then collected, and, after the Avater itself was tested for volatile 

 substances, analyzed. 



TJie Doctor. — Four gallons of the water of this spring were evaporated 

 to dryness. The salts of the residue would weigh perhaps an ounce. 

 The mouth of this spring is about one foot iii length and eight inches in 

 width. The water contains much carbonic acid in solution. It emerges 



