Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-10

Berrs Nsdrs are Of two qualities and msg
netic-br almost equally rich, containing from sixty
seventy ave per cent OF pure on That Of the Cerro
del nsre.d ossr the gate. Of Durango produce an ad
msbie quality Of steel and closely resembles the mines
Of Debemora In Sweden Placers Of gold and silver are
also described existing In the rcgou and the &C
count given by the author referred OF the mines Of Arr
concurs with What learn this subject in other
quarters 70 their extraordinary richness and immense
value We may add also tina, ane fertile lands are men,
toned BY him as occurring In various parts Of the country
and amongst others la the valley Of the San Pedro
Mines or copper and gold are found In New Mexico
north Of the Mesilla valley Gregg, In his Commerce
Of the that gold placers have been dseos
entity, which have been worked to some extent He
speaks, also Of the discovery Of rich placer AT point
called Ssngre de Cso, considerably norh OF laos
the 37th degree Of latitude among the snowy noun
tains Immediately on the confines OF Mesilla, In the
neghbohood Of Fort Webster both silver and copper
OF great richness have been recently discovered So
throughout the whole OF the Sierra Madrc, at var
Gus points silver and gold have continued to be develop
ed from time time, during the present century I'm
have been taken from Guarisamey, Canelos
Tamsu aud other mines in the State Of Durango; and
from Fl Parroi Santa Edlalis, B,toplss with
others In that portion Of the Cordera which stretches
across chihuahua; also from Cosela Alamos, Arspe
and II Rosario Ia Sonora and Cnaloa, Carman, one OF
the mines Bat. pas, Is that from which the enor.
wealth Of the Marquis Of Busamcnte was derived,
and from which, at one time, mass Of solid silver was
extracted, weighing (seventeen arrobas) 425 lbs
"The OF Prasterna, another mine Of tho same re-
gion, rich that the lode worked by bars with
point at end and chise the other for cutting out
the silver. The Of Prasterna received re.
proof from the Bishop Of Durango for having ostena'ous
placed bars Of silver from the door Of his eouse, in Ba
topias the saa for the Bishop walk upon. One Of
the gold veins Of Cosaa called Nuera Sonora de Quad
aloupc, belonging formerly Don Francisco 1rarte is
resb-stai for its richness He offered, in 1925, Sl
100000 for the rental Of II for three years. An English
that time, with least million of dollars in gold and
silver in his house, the furniture Of which composed
OF buffalo skins, with wooden tables aud chairs of such
awkward aud massive construction require two
70 t them from part OF the the other His
whL he permits 10 leave the town. nrc forc-
cd keep little retail shop in Coala and his daughter,
who pretty is suffered to grow up in uneducated idle
ness"
But without further multiplying notes in this
spect what assume from the force Of these facts Is
that as gold silver and copper found in the Sierra
hadre south OF the treaty territory and at various points
the iue north Of it, there every reason in anal
ogy, to believe that the and accounts which we
have OF the existence Of rich pacers within this territory
are correct.
Tue Of the work which have last referred
edwards Mexico) states, as common and hvorite
theory 10 that country that the proportion OF silver in the
ores increases advance towards the northa the
ory which he says sis certainly confirmed by the superb
GRITTY Of all northern ores to those Of the richest districts
in the SOUTH"
The idea probably originated in the discovery Of the
famous "Bolas de Plata (bals Of sver) of Arzons, in
the beginning Of the last century, which was and proba
bly, still is, believed by most people to be of those
fables with which mining countries always abound But
the attention of the Mexican government having been
drawn to tho subject in 1897 search made in the
regal archives by order Of the President for the
correspondence which known to have taken place
respecting il in 1876.
This correspondence 1--WE quote the words of the last
named traveller, ten charge d'afaes of Great Britain
in McIco) have SEEM and have also in my possession
certified copy Of degree OF PhlipV. of SPAIN dated
Ararjuez esth May l74, the object OF which
inmate prosecution instituted by the Royal Fiscal
against the discoveries of Arizona for having de,uded
the treasury OF the duties payable upon masses Of pure
silver found there"
The decree states the weight of the balls sheets and
other pieces of silver dcOvered- bolas pla chas,
pleas de plata O3S lbs) and mentions pacuar-
~ OF pure silver which weighed los arrobas 2
700 bs and another Of eleven arrobas upon which du
ties had actually been paid by Don Domingo Asmendi
and which, as great natural curiosity como coa esPe-
cial the King states ought to have been Madrid
The decree ends by declaring the district of Arizona
be royal property, "Criadero de Panta" Ia plan in
which, by some natural process silver created AN
idea to which the infeIibily OF the metal when first
extracted, seemed in those times give color of
probability; and by directing worked for ROYAL
count This decree put stop to the enterprises of m
dividuas the district deserted; attempt TO
send OF colony there aied and in few years the
very nime OF Arizona forgotten.
The author further remarks:-I far from supposng
that the whole OF the facts recorded in this decree can be
taken as correct aht ugh the authenticity OF the
itself is unquestionable But what one cannot adopt
without confirmation ought be rejected without in
aui-y and enough least in these records of Ari
iona TO warrant the suppoon confirmed MS is by the
facts and appearances have otherwise noted) that the
hitherto unexplored regions in the north of Mexico
tain mineral treasures which, discoveries continue are
likely to make The future produce OF this country nte
y exceed the amount that has been hitherto drawn from
the comparatively poorer districts Of the SOUTH"
Thcse remarks made in 1927 and were prouhctic
of what has since transpred in Alta California From
that period however, TO the present hour the region of
Upper Sonora lin which Arizona is undoubtedly stuaed)
has been sealed book TO civilized research Several at.
tempts have been made to find and reclaim this mineral
region; one or two last year. by English and Mexican
capitalists Its remoeness, however, from the present
confines Of civilization, and the steady hostility of the
savage tribes which now occupy it, render orm
dabe armament necessary to penetrate for
purpose, the country of Pmera Alta. Count Rasout
Boulbon deemed body Of at least three hundred armed
men necessary for such service.
Arizona, however, has been found and there are those
who will find 1t again, whether the treaty now pcndur
shall be adopted or rejected by the United States
Another English traveller, Lieutenant HARDY fwhose
work have not been able TO obtain YETI spent
time among the Indians OF Pmcria Alta about the pero
OF Mr. Wards excursion to Sonora 1t speaks Of
copper mines in this region, which worked by the
natives with great The produce OF these mines
TO Europe, but direct from Guaymas 10 Chi
M, where it is said the art of separating gold from COD.
per was better understood The of Sonora
unusual portion Of gold.
Colonel Bourne, agent Of some English capitalists
and highly intelligent and accomplished geoogst sso
visited the northern district OF Sonora in the year 1927
His Journal IL given at length in the appendix to Wards
Mexico and will amply repay the Of those who are
seeking information IN regard the country we have been
considering.
We conclude our present number of these hasty i'm.
methodica notes by opposite quotation from the yau
able and authentic researches OF the Hon. H. G. Ward
He says am that many of the statements CON-
tanned in this and the preceding books on the mineral
riches OF the north Of New Spain, will be thought exag
gerated They are not they will be confirmed by ey
cry future report; and in few years the public fmj-
larized with facts, which only questioned because
they new, will wonder it's present increduy and
regret the loss Of advantages which may always be
within ita reach"
IL may be asked how territory possessing such rich
natural resources have been reduced state of
paratiye poverty In which II Dow IT, The cause is smpe
aud easily stated The precious metals do not in them
selves constitute wealth. and as long al Communication
between Sonora and the Of the world was prohibited
except though the medium Of the capita, (MeIicol md
the port ofVera Cruz these metals could not even e EN-
poyed Of obtaining the produce of the indns
try Of other nations The inhabitants OF Sonora although
possessing Guaymas Of tho best ports of the re-
public, forbidden 10 avail themselves of lis advans
gee. without quicksilver. so essential in the MINING
process aud without mint Ohio uesrost baug a.
go-several hundred miles from Arspeo the inbab,ans
Of this region have gradually TO undetyaiue and
finally 70 entirely neglect the mineral treasures bv hc
they are surrounded. The ruthless Apaches wear afrr
year. extending their rayages, until they have of.n
bid defiance 70 the trembling citizens even In tho vs,
public pazas Of the capitals Of Chihuahua Durango and
Zlcatncaa.