The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-03-13
The Almaden Quicksilver Mines.

in California but very few persons in the
Atlantic States are aware of the fact that
she has inexhaustible quicksilver or CHINA
bar mines. The Almaden mines and works
are situated in the bosom of the hills which
hem in the Santa Clara Valley, upon the
east at distance Of about twelve miles
! from the city of San Jose, and say sixty
miles from San Francisco. No part of Cal
itornia presents more beautiful scene than
the Santa Clara Valley. Here nature is
Surprisingly lovely. The fine natural road
passes along the banks, and anon across the
waters of the gently murmuring Guadalupe:
the music of birds minges with the soft
|sighs of the balmy breeze; the plain is COW
cred in its robe of richest green, sometimes
dotted with great herds of wild cattle, and
thousands of timid antelope, while here and
there the husbandman is breaking up the
rich soil, preparing to draw from the earth
those rich stores which have not their par
alel in any other country on the face of the
globe.
About ten miles from San Jose, the road
to the mines begins to wind around and be-
tween the hills, gradually ascending, the re-
mainder of the distance, until you reach the
mines. These mines were discovered in
1919, by one Castaneres, commissioner
of the Mexican government. The commits
sioner in travelling through this region, found
considerable quantities of cinnabar in the
hands of the Indians, who dug it up for the
beautiful vermillion which it contains in
large proportions, and which was extensive
ly used by the savages in coloring their faces.
Castaneres seems to have been totally unac-
quainted with the appearance of precious
ores, but was attracted by the brilliance of
some very fine specimens of the cinnabar,
which were shown him, and supposng it to
be gold, he sought the mines and denounc-
ed" them, under the old Spanish mining
laws, thus securing to himself the benefits
of his discovery. Investigation, of course,
showed that the ''gold' was QUICKSILVER
and Castaneres' right was bought out by a
company of English capitalists, who engag.
ed in the enterprise with spirit and energy
meriting the success which has crowned
their efforts. The ore is believed by the
best judges to be inexhaustible 1t does not
run in veins; on the contrary, the hills in
which the shafts have been sunk, seem to
be great masses of cinnabar. If the metal
does lay in veins, neither their depth or
width have yet been ascertained, although
immense quantities of the ore have been
brought to the surface.
The works are situated in little valley
at the foot of the hills which contain the
treasure, and the buildings for furnaces, the
offices, stables, and residences of the opera
tives, altogether form prosperous village,
resembling, In measure, some of the man
ufacturing villages of the Atlantic States.
With the number of furnaces in operation,
in 1851, from one hundred and seventy-five
to two hundred hands were constantly en-
ployed Over 100000 were expended by
the company in the preparations necessary
prior to the commencement of remunerating
operations. The current expenses were then
about $40. 900 per month, and the yield of
quicksilver about $500 pounds for the same
period, worth sS65,000. Extensive addi-
tions and Improvements of the works were
being made, which would treble the produce
of the mines.
The cinnabar was brought down from the
hills, on pack mules. 1t was in contempla-
tion to construct railway to perform the
duty, and thus effect a great saving. Large
and improved furnaces were in progress of
construction and in every department, no
capital or labor is spared necessary to Sc
cure the benefits arising from experience, or
afforded by the genius of the inventor.
The furnaces then in use were what are
known as the "cylinder," The cinnabar,
having been broken in small pieces, is
thrown into the cylinder, and subjected to
an almost white heat which eXpelS the met