Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-23

les Of old haclendls (piaces ior reducing ore
in great numbers, marked plainly by old ac-
uueducts through solid rock of great length
Tor conveying water to the works. Towns
that once contained, Judging from the num-
Der of old walls still standing, from hive to
twenty thousand inhabitants, now have not
so many scarcely in them, all told, as thous-
ands-brought down TO the present deplora-
bic condition by what certainly nothing but
revolution, driving from them their proper
owners, and leaving them in the hands of
former slaves. May our country proht by
this timely and sad experience of Mexico.
The most of the mines that are now, and
being rcol,ened. owe il TO American enter
prise. Among the number in this district
are two companies of your CITY, one from
California. and individuals. The latter ale
men generally of very limited means, de
pending largely upon the ore left in the old
works above their bottoms for means to re-
open. In the bottoms Of all are large guam
titles of moist rock. thrown there by the
lazy and indolent poems after being deserted
by former owners and all contain more or
less water.
There are A number of instances where
the old rubbish and water has been re-
moved, or the land was penetrated by tun-
mel striking below the old works, and In
every case large deposits Of rich ore was the
result. The company from California is the
oldest in the district they own one mine,
and eighteen months ago succeeded in com
pleting the removing of rubbish and water
from il by means of windlass and pumps,
finding at the bottom a large load of rich
ore. But III their attempt at economy, their
means being limited, they purchased in San
Francisco very inferior machinery and
pattern water-wheel, which proved INSULT
Gent to drive their small mill still they go
ahead, running but part of their machl-
merry at once, and are shipping by each trip
of the steamer, which is once every thirty
five DAYS, some bullion. The former super
intendent is now absent to procure proper
machinery, and their business is conducted
by a very worthy gentleman, Mr.. Farrell
The other two companies are known here
as the Durango Mining Company and the
La Arbra Silver Mining Company of New
York.
The first is an incorporation of large ca
pital, owning mines of good and extensive
reputation, and conducted by Mr.. Rice,
who is an intelligent gentleman, and no
doubt well fitted to fill the position of super
intendent, having made for himself quite
reputation as a mining engineer in Nevada
and California. They are opening their
mines by driving tunnels none ofwhich are
yet completed; but they have every evil
dence of large yields 50 soon as they are.
The La Arbra Company, the last to COM
mence, were certainly the most fortunate in
their purchases. was their guest for sew
eral days, will remember the kindness of
all the gentlemen there, and particularly
Gen. Barthalon, their accomplished and
gentlemanly general superintendent. | was
shown through their works.
Their hacienda, consisting of Mexican
works, is the largest and best | have seen. A
portion of their mines were purchased of
Spaniard, who afterward offered them TWEEN
ty thousand dollars to have the property re-
turned. Three of their mines are opened by
adits upon the lodges. In going into one of
them, saw large piles Of ore at the en-
trance; saw it piled on all sides in the mine
in the ledge, overhead and underfoot, for
three hundred feet, the length of the adit.
Their other two mines | visited was not at
the time being worked, but in them l saw
large quantities of ore fast in the lodes ready
for the miner. | was told the work in them
would soon be commenced, as soon as that on
a projected tunnel, which would have TO bo
driven 400 feet to reach the ledge Of the old
and much-notsd La Arbra mine, from which
the company derives their name, which is
the largest and most valuable Of their mines.
They call it the Mather.
The lodges were from three to fifteen feet
wide requiring no timbers but for scafiold-
ing. The walls, after the ore had been ex-
tracted, were smooth and self-supporting
granite The average yield of the ore is one
hundred and twenty-five dollars per tun
(2,000lb) while the selected is much richer,
going as high as two thousand dollars. This
company have now on the way to their
works the most approved and modern ma
chinery, and expect to have it in operation
by the first of April.
/ have omitted TO name another mining
company in the district. The Guadalupe
Company Of San Francisco who are working
a mine by that name. II is one Of the oldest,
and, no doubt, the richest and most extern
siye of the Gurionay District. They, a short
time since, completed tunnel into the ledge
or vein, finding large quantities of ore they
have yet no machinery for reducing. This
company is superintendent by Mr.. John
Corell, a scientific miner and accomplished
mechanic, who has spent much time in the
quartz mines of California, and several years
in Peru, South America. He thinks the
mines of Mexico are the most valuable he
has ever worked. Mexico has bright fu-
ture, but will require a different race from
her present natives to make her so. The
Empire, for such it is, will soon be numbered
one of the wealthy nations of the world, if
properly governed. Ihope give noofensein
saving Empire, for such is certainly the case
at present, and will remain so, unless there
be interference on the part of the United
States, the probabilities of which you are
the better able TO advise your readers.
MAZATLAN.