Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-11-07
BOTH IN THE SAME FIX.


The last shot in the locker of Uncle
Sans iron chest, is said to have been ex.
pended, and yet some of the papers are
stating that Mexico will have hard work TO
prosecute the war for the same reason.
Now it is as fair on one side as the other,
and we say that under all the circumstances,
Mexico is much better able 10 carry on
war than we areas far as money is con-
cerned. She has her rich mines, which
annually furnish gold and silver for her use;
while we must raise it by lands, duties, &c
We may increase the tariff rates to pro.
cure means, but by so doing, we diminish
trade and fail of our end. Mexico can
seize the private mines at moments no.
,ce. and pay her soldiers in gold and silver.
To show the extent of these mines, we
may give few historical facts. which will
not be undressing 10 the public at this
moment. The silver ore of Mexico can.
not be considered rich. 1t seldom yields
over three or four ounces TO the qnintal of
earth. The mines of Saxony are much
richer, and yield ten and sometimes fifteen
ounces to the same amount of earth.
The quantity, however, is immense, and
procured with little difficulty. The mines
are situated on the fine table lands, and
surrounded by brilliant vegetation. There
are in Mexico 5000 mines. Most of these.
however, are very reproductive, and many
Of them have been entirely abandoned as
ruinous to the owners. The most remark
able is the Valenciana mine. 1t was com.
menced by one Signor Oregon, poor
man, who lived from hand to mouth for
eleven years, that he might eventually sue.
coed. At the end of that time he came
upon the great vein, which for more than
thirty years yielded him annually $780,
600.
The Pavilion mine is uncertain in its
yield, yet it is very productive. and has
been worth s4,OOO,OOO in six months.
The publication of the metal is procured
by amaIgamation with mercury, and some
estimate of the immense value of the
mines may be formed from the fact that
10000 quintals of quicksilver are annually
required for the above process. Ii is fire.
quenlly difficult TO procure so large guam
tity.
From 1857 to 1859, the mines of Mexico
yielded on an average $l6,566,O00. From
It'll TO 1903, the average yield was &c.
6SS, 900. In the first year of the presen,
century, the annual yield was from s22 tc
S25,OOO,OOO.
During the revolution the mines were
much neglected, and in many instances de-
stroyed and the workmen dispersed. Since
the revolution the annual yield has seldom
exceeded Sl2OOO,O0O.
The silver coined in the mint of Mexico
in 1910 was Sl7,950,0OS; while in 1925
it fell to S3,65l 900. During the same pc
Rod the yield of the mine of Guanaxuatc
fell from 81 ! 900 marks of silver 10 100000
Very extraordinary efforts have lately
been made (moslly by foreigners) to resus
citate some of the old mines, and in some
instances these exertions have been quite
successful. The vein of Vela Grande, il
Zacatecas has been made to yield 100000
to the Bolanos company.
The value of Mexican gold at the presen
day, does not exceed 1000 marks, or abou
Sl000,O00.
The mint of Mexico is spoken of as ;
prodigious establishment, where all the pro
cesses are carried on with great activity
They have not yet reached that perfection
which has been attained by other countries
) Many of the Mexican dollars are cast il
sand moulds, which gives them that unc
! quail appearance they exhibit. The dolla
stamps of the mint can strike out 10000
in an hour. The extent to which til
, works have been used, may be readily SUI
, missed from the fact that upwards c
5000 100000 of dollars have been coine
in them.
With all these immense resources at he
r command. and Santa Anna, the churc
robber, at her head, Mexico may surel
carry on the war with much more NEAR
i. than we can.
}. 1t is asserted that large number G
!. American citizens are now slaves in thes
f very mines. and we trust that Gen. Taylo
will march as direct to them as the sleep
r government will allow him TO. We hav
little doubt that if he ever does reach lhei
= he will find Americans who have bee
r. working as Mexican slaves for years.
We have as yet, seen no directions froI
is our government for the purpose of asce
tanning the simple fact of the existence (
such persons.-S. Louis Organ.
might your name be Smith," said one va