(Unknown Author)

Nacozari once had the largest diesel engine power plant on the continent; center of scenic beauty and flowers

(1931) – Situated in one of the most beautiful mountain settings that could be found, the little city of Nacozari, model mining camp of the Phelps Dodge Corporation, operated as it is by the subsidiary of the corporation known as the Moctezuma Copper Company, has many factors that make it an interesting place to visit. Possibly one of the most noteworthy facts is that for a long time it rightfully could boast having the largest diesel engine in operation that could be found on the continent. That is not now the case, as there have been some installations that exceed the ones in the power plant at Nacozari, but the plant there still rates as one of the big ones.

There are four Nordberg-Carels Diesel engines of the 1,250 horsepower type and two of 2,250 horsepower each, making the total horsepower 9,500. These giant pieces of machinery constitute a point of interest to the visitor. The flywheel on the heavier engines weighs 50 tons, or 100,000 pounds, and was so large that it had to be brought to the town on two cars because of its weight. It has a cylinder of 28-inch bore and there are other facts equally as interesting connected with this plant.

The town of Nacozari is reached by travel over the Nacozari railroad from Douglas in a trip of only three and a quarter hours. The train leaves Douglas in the morning at 8:15 and arrives in Nacozari at 11:30, so that one is there in plenty of time for lunch. The return trip can be started from the mining camp at 7 in the morning, so that the schedule fits neatly into a plan for a restful weekend outing at one of the ideal spots near Douglas.

Nacozari is a Mexican town that holds out an inviting interest to anyone who may want to get an insight into mining life in the republic to the south. Here the mining labor is practically all native, while the official help is largely Americans. The social life about the hotel thus becomes a type that the American finds agreeable, adding a pleasant phase to his visit. The residents of the town being Mexican, one gets a first-hand observation of the life and social standards of the Mexican people under favorable conditions, for the residents of this little camp appear to be a happy, prosperous lot of working people. Their homes reflect industry, for they are kept clean and neat with decorative shrubs all about, until a walk about the town becomes a matter of absorbing interest to the stranger to see how much the people have done to beautify their premises.

Every home has some evidence of effort to add beauty through flowers and trees. Roses, pinks, poppies, sweet peas, phlox, larkspur and a score of other types of flowers are seen in many yards. Figs, oranges, grapes, lemons, peaches, loquats, and grapefruit are among the fruits to be seen in the yards. The fences have been made of blossoming thorn bushes, as the roses or the ocotillo. One yard about 30 feet square, by actual count showed 28 plants or trees that produced blossoms and one, the fig that produced fruit only and it was all done by people who work and develop their yard on the side.

Nacozari is destined to be an attractive place for persons who want a restful place for a weekend outing where it can be had for a reasonable sum of expense. The rates have recently been reduced to the town by rail and the railroad’s effort to bring people to the town has been supplemented by Hotel de Nacozari with a rate that makes staying at home an increased expense. The restful effect of a visit to this charming beauty spot in the mountains is a tonic that when it has once been experienced promises to make Nacozari a popular resort, for it has a hotel equal to the hotels of much larger cities, both as to lodging and cuisine. It is a place especially attractive to families who might want to find a pleasant quiet place for mother and the children. It is relatively free from the traffic dangers of a city, yet has all the comforts of a city with the beauties and other features of a resort. The hotel is under the management of W. N. Flippen, who serves as a self-imposed chamber of commerce secretary, and will furnish any information that an inquirer may desire concerning contemplated visits to the town.

Silver mines near town worked more or less for 300 years, is claim

Properties now comprising Moctezuma Copper Company’s workings once owned by Guggenheims but purchased in 1897 and became subsidiary of Phelps Dodge Corporation—Friendly relations between company and employees has marked entire history of entire ownership.

Those who have visited the mining camp of Nacozari are unanimous in the view that it is one of the most attractive mining camps they have ever seen. It is the boast of the people of the camp that it is the “Model Mining Camp of Mexico.” But persons widely familiar with mining camps in other countries, assert that it is the peer of mining camps everywhere and all things considered, they hold that it is the finest mining camp on the American continent. It has a peculiarly interesting history.

An authorized story of the Moctezuma Copper Company was issued on Feb. 1, 1922. It was written by J. S. Williams, Jr. The material facts then remain in about the same relation to the picture today.

Published on Douglas Daily Dispatch
Douglas, Arizona, May 3, 1931
Vol. XXVIII, No. 264

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