The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1875-03-12
The Mexican and Nevada Mines Com
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Until the development Of the large ore
bodies in the Comstocs lode, Mexico was
the largest silver producer in the world.
1t is impossible to say what mine OF what
lode yielded the largest quantity of bullion.
The best authorities on the subject have
failed to determine, because the product of
group of mines operating on various
veins in the same neighborhood, has eener-
ally been credited to the leading mine in
the district. Such has been the case, in q
measure, with the mines of Gaunaiauta.
situated on the mother vein or 8eta 4naa1.e
OF Central Mexico, and with the Potosi
mines OF Peru, the San Luis Potosi mine
being credited with the combined product
OF multitude OF mines in that district.
representing as many separate and distinct
veins. The 2etG 120dTe, of Mexico, comes
nearest being a parallel case to the Com
stock. 1t is a similar iissure intersectiae a
similar formation, only it is at least three
times it's length, and. it's ore deposit has
been one continuous bonanza. The mines
on the oetG madre have been worked unin-
terruptedly for over three centuries, and
the aggregate yield is estimated at $780,
600, 600. The first discoveries on the Com
stock were only made fifteen years ago.
but the entire product during that brief
period has aggregatedsin round numbers
Sl75, 00o, 600, or over one-half the three
century product of the richest vein in Mex
leo, and about one-eighth the entire prod
uct OF the numerous veins and mines form
ing the Peruvian Potosi group for the
same extended period. The yield of the
Comstock lode last year amounted to about
~, ,0O0,0 000, and this year about s22, 900, 900,
nvs wit fl15y r. l.
annual yield of all the silver mines of Mex
leo, and five times the annual averge annual
yield OF the Peruvian mines
The yeta madre has been more extensively
worked than any other silver lode in Next
co, but it is very doubtful as to whether
it is the richest vein, existing in that .colIrl-
try. The metallic silver lodes in the State
of chihuahua are probably much richer.
A single bonanza Of metallic silver ore,
discovered in one of these mines, is l.epre-
sented to have taken eighteen years to
exhaust, and is variously estimated to have
yielded from S20, 000,000 to $50, 900, 600.
First-class ore from the chihuahua mines
yield all the way from $15.0c0 to 1886, 600
per ton, and seeond-classs ore ranges from
Sc, 900 to $15, 900 per ton. The Comstock,
Of course, has nothing equal to this. There
is no knowing what might have been ae-
conplished in the silver mines of Mexico
and Peru had they been Systematically
worked. hat il, instead OF: human backs,
long swinging poles, aud rickety. wines.
bringing the ore to the furnace from the
depths below. and the primative arastrasa
separating the metal from the vein matter,
the improved machinery now employed on
the Comstoek had been in use! Under
such u condition of things, what would
have been the showing Of the returns, and
into how brief a space would the three
century operations have been contracted.
Instead OF bonanza taking eighteen years
to exhaust, we Should probably have had it
all within thatsnany months Many Of the
Central Mexico mines have for years been
worked by English capitalists, with inn
proved machinery, and there has been in
consequence a marked increase in the ag-#
gregate silver product of the country; hut
the mechanical appliances are vastly infe-
rior to those used on the Comstock. The
Gomstqch has unique stionably yielded more
silver ii the space OF time than any known
lode, aud is to-day the richest silver lode
beng worked, bat its immense yield is In a
great. measure oMing to the superioritr Of.
The machinery employed and the syste-
ipafie manner il which il is being mined
Sen Francisco Bulletin. ss..s8 AL