Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-07
THE MINES OF MEXICO.
FROM ruE PHILADrIrHrA NORTH AMERICAN.

"
revolutionary war, predicted the danger which the
Mexican Viceroyalty must encounter from the am
biton of Its new republican neighbors, it has been
believed that the Mexican gold and silver mines
would be the great source of temptation. Such,
indeed, they have been such they were, until the
Mexican war OF independence, opening the mines
TO foreign spectators, and improved views of poll
teal economy and statistical philosophy, disabused
the public mind of seductive error. They were
splendid chimeras in the brains of Burr and his
fellow-conspirato at time when the philosophic
Humboldt thought it necessary to remind his Ame-
rican readers how far removed they were, in the
EXTREMIST settlements even OF the Mississippi valley,
from the nearest silver mines of Catorce. Then
came the Mexican revolution, and the working of
these mines OF wealth by the British and American
capitalists, who bought their experience and ruin at
high price and, since then, juser ideas have pre-
vailed in relation to the value of the mineral re-
sources of Mexico entirely destroying. least among of
intelligence, all the ancient notions about the rivers of gold
and mountains Of silver,
Such notions, however, be entirely eradcated
from the common mind and the politicians who aim the
conquest and permanent acquisition Of Mexican territory
still willing to employ them Of eecting their pur
poses. They still expaiae upon the wealth of Mexco-of
the poorest and wreched portions of Mexico-and
statements continually published tending excite cup
dy by pictures of rich unoccuped Mines ready reward the
industry ofspecuaos, the convenient spots ohen
Mexico, the land is peacefully possessed by the
Anglo-Saxon
Such statement going the rounds Of the papers,
pctung the mineral wealth that awaits the American even in
New Mexico Of the barrene and worthless portions
OF the whole continent II is letter from Senior Manuel Al
varez, late American Consul for Santa Fe, and resident for
more than twenty years of New Mexico, to the Hon. j.
Houghton, of Missouri who earnestly convinced of the
vast mineral wealth" which lies concealed in the country
ready to be brought to light by he examinations practi
caly scientific men," whom he anxious that the people
and Government of the United States should employ to ex-
plore and develop it soon as possible.
The letter of Senior Alvarez is quite moderate perhaps
even guarded and should have difficulty in ac-
cepng all his statements facts But saving that be men
tons the existence Of rch iron ores" Astounding nearly
all the mountains of the territory" and of coal in album
dance and of good quality the Ratons Mountains and many
other places, with lead at Ceras and Taos and copper
every where there is nothing either very striking CT very
new in his accounts of the several gold and silver Mines
which, whether partially wrought entirely neglected. we
know to exist in New Mexico He tells Us: "The first
discovered mines of the precious metals in nearly
all the mountains of the country, and wrought them indus
tiously and profaby The indications their labors are
yet to be seen in many places The first settlers having been
expelled destroyed by the Indians the country was con-
queed and settled second time by the ignorant and poorer
classes of people from Zacaecas and other southern cities
who possessed neither the enterprise capital knowledge
to carry the business of mining consequently in the
course Of few generations the knowledge Of working the mne
and even the situation of the mines themselves were lost"
The knowledge of working the Mines and the situation Of
the mines themselves apt be lost where there is
IN he
gons have not produced the precious metals in immense guam
titles because the gold finders and dgges are always Of the
poorer class, who only labor when necessity compes and
cease to work they obtain supply for present
wants and vices"
Even digges of the poorer class would not be likely TO
cease working mines capable of yielding the precious metals
in immense quantities and Gregg and other writers do not
represent the dggngs in quite attractive character One
Of the writers hints that these dgges of the poorer class
can make at gold digging about sixty cents day Of
profit which will account both for their leaving work soon
they obtain supply for present wants and vices and for
The general neglect into which the mines Of New Mexico have
been allowed to fall. Tive mines represented by Senior
Alvarez capable of yielding together gold the value of
quarter million of dollars year. 1t is only astonishing that
such mnes situated within twenty and thirty nine miles
south of Santa Fe should be allowed to remain
luctive or idle
But supposing the mines Of New Mexico be rich as
he politician spccuator would imagine them of what pos
be account would they be to u.s. the possessos Of all the
solid wealth of the continent We have gold mines Of our
perhaps productive those of Santa Fe and we know
how compare their value with that of mines of the baser
metal and minerals nay with that of quarres Of lime
and building We have silver mnes too or may have
hem but know the superior wealth OF coal-p Of even
,ay pits and graveps the fortune of the Spaniards
dig poverty and national misery out of their mines il is
to plough gold and silver Of the SOIL What are all
he metals Of Mexico TO the Of the United States con-
'dering both merely products for expectation single
years surplus of our and wheat estimated twenty eight
millions OF bushels, exported feed the starving people of
Europe Of higher value than all the gold and silver that
be raised in all Mexico Our tobacco of more account
han her gold and the very rice raised on our vest swamp
nay the ashes Of cleared forest land brings more wealth
han be extracted from all the mines Of New Mexico
Let the Tarentnes keep their angry gods" and the Mex
cans their gold Mines Let preserve fertile fields and
arts Of civilization The soil and the sea are our Mines
and mines which industry will always find nexhaustibe
The appointment of the celebrated Duke DE- BRoeLIE as
Ambassador from France England has been well received
At London. His predecessor Count ST.. AULkIRE has resi-
led at that Court for years. gaining the Of
Of all parties The newspapers pay dcservedy handsome
tribute to him, and the London Times thus up his cha