The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-10-13
The Silver Regions of the World.

In 1850 Nevada was not reckoned
among the silver-producing regions Mex
leo and South America ia that year pro-
duced S35, 100000 worth, nearly five times
the amount obtained in the same year
from Europe, Asia and Africa. The
production Of Piedmont in that year was
greater than that Of any other section Of
the Eastern continent, and was about S1,-
100000. Austria was represented by
about 81 10000, while Russia, Norway,
Saxony, Spain, and Hartz Mountains, and
Devonshire and Cornwall in England, pro-
duced the remainder
India has often been represented as
destitute Of silver, but we have statements
from Sir Roderiek Murchison and other
travellers that Kulu Valley is so rich 10
ore and metallic silver that it might be
made to yield enormous revenues for ages
to come. What was once known as the
silver country of the Yazurs in Kulu
comprises the mountainous country lying
between the Beas, Sainji, and Parbutti
rivers. The mines, although in the palmy
days Of India worked to q considerable
extent, are now almost forgotten, surely by
the inhabitants Of the region itself. The
Manikarn mines, in the same valley, are
known to be incaculably rich, but arc now
unworked. The Indian authorities, and
even the people themselves, lay every OBJ
stacle in the way Of developing them for
fear of improverishing the country.
In the first three centuries after the
discovery of America it has been computed
that 1907 900 tons of pure silver were ex-
ported from Peru aud Mexico alone. This
would be sufficient to form solid globe of
silver one hundred feet in diameter.
Considering the rude manner of working
ores at that day this is no triAe. The
difference between mining in Peru and
mining in Mexico is only in the climate of
the silver region. The Potosi mine, which
has yielded enormous quantities of silver,
is at an elevation as great as that of the
summit of Mont Blanc, in a region Of per-
petual snow. The mines of Mexico are
on the middle lands, where neither frost
nor great heat is felt. The vast mineral
wealth of Peru has been developed by the
patient industry of the native Indians.
They live almost entirely on cocoa. Their
wages per week average about $3.50 in
our money.
A very romantic story is told of the
Salcado mine, which has been lost for a
hundred years. Salcado was a young
Spaniard who fell in love with and mar,
ried an Indian girl, whereupon she reveal
ed to him the location of silver mine of
fabulous richness, and as yet unknown.
Salcado, with the aid of his wife, found
the mine, and making friends with the
Indians, he commenced work upon it. In
few years he was enormously rich. The
Spanish government, hearing of his pros.
perity, and designing to secure the mine
to itself, caused a charge of conspiracy to
be made against him, under which he was
arrested, tried, and convicted, although the
charge was entirely fictitious.
When awaiting execution he promised
the Governor, De Lemos, that, if he would
allow the proofs to be sent to Madrid and
be inspected by the king, there should be
paid to him one hundred pounds of silver
every day until the vessel should 90 to
Spain and return. As the voyage one
way in those days consumed about sixteen
months, it is readily seen that the ransom
offered was enormous. Salcado was exc
cuted. The avaricious Governor hastened
to the mine, but the mine was gone. 1t
has never been found. The widow and
her devoted Indians had determined that
the murderer should never be rewarded for
his crimes, aud they had flooded the mine
and buried it in such manner that dis
covery was impossible.
The richest silver mine in the world,
probably, is the Pottochi, or, in our YER
nacular, Potosi, the Cholla-Potosi being
named from it. 1t is near La Plata, and
was discovered in 1915. 1t has always
been worked in rude manner, but yet is
said to have already produced s250,O0O,-
900 worth of the precious metal. For
many years l, 600 Indians were employed
in it, and, being slaves, SO cruelty were
they worked that they decimated rapidly,
and their places were Immediately filled
by Others. AT the present time 2 1000 paid
men are employed, and the mine yields
well and shows no signs of exhaustion.
The total silver production in the world
from the year 1850 to 1875 has been esti-
mated to be 81, ,O25, ,OOO, 900, the United
States producing one-tenth of the entire
amount. The yield of Mexico is at pres
ent at the rate of s20,000,000, Peru is
gradually behind, the yield for 1874 being
but little over s3,O0O,0O0. The mines Of
Chill and Bolivia arc being rapidly devel
oped, and will soon furnish material
item in the annual production.
In 1867 Nevada proudly pointed to
yield Of s12, 100000. In 1869 the pro-
duction was hardly half as much. The
production for the present year will prob
ably exceed s25,0O0,O00 The annual
production of the Idaho mines is about
$4,000 900, or as much as the famous
mines of Peru. Colorado, in 1875, is es-
timated to have produced bullion to the
amount of 81 600 0O0