Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-07-28
500, 1000, 900.

For more than three hundred years
the mines of Pachuca have been worked
by the Mexicans--frst by the Mexicans
pure and simple, then by the Spaniards
and now again by Mexicars who would
scorn the name of Spaniard, though his
blood mingles III their veins. Here in
this very town was discovered the pro-
cess of amalgamation now in use to-day,
by which all the precious ores dug from
the mountain are made TO yield their
silver. Yes, more, the very hacienda is
still worked and protitably, in which, in
1857, Senor Medina made that discovery
SO valuable to Mexico. Senior Medina
has passed away, it is presumed, but his
memory still lives. The English colony
comprises about 800 men, women and
children, from the mining district of
Cornwall The first Cornish miners
came here about fifty years ago, intro
ducing English machinery and modes of
working the mines, much TO the benefit
of the owners. Some of the original
number are still living, though very few,
and all here now agree as TO the health
fulness of the climate as place of resi-
dence for English people. Though
some of them have acquired wealth and
some have retired to old England with
enough and to spare, the majority have
earned little more than a living. Pre-
carlous property are these mines, except
III exceptional cases. The most note
worthy of all the instances of poor men
striking it rich is that of the Santa Ger
Nt-YY l1. al "
1t had been successfully worked and
abandoned years and years ago, and was
finally ''pronounced"-Or taken TO work
by Cornishman, who has just died.
Forming a small company in 1877, he
commenced active work. After it was
proven that the mine was paying he sold
out his share-nine twenty -fifths-for
49, 900. Since then, one twenty fifth
has sold for $50, 900, the present price
per bana or share. This would give at
that rate $720, 900 for what he got but
$15, 900 for. The mine has been Gin
bonanza" now for three years and is
yielding about 5000 cargas of 800
pounds each of metal weekly, and giving
a clear profit of 81, 900 per day. From
June, 1877, to March, 1881, the mine
produced g, 800, 600 and declared thirty
two dividends of $40, 900 each-$640, 600.
In June, 1877, there was but one shaft
of sixty varas-a vara is little less than
a yard-now the deepest shaft is 10
varas there is powerful pumping and
hoisting engine, many large buildings,
and all the appurtences of mine in this
section, all paid for. With all this pro-
fit, present and prospective, all the ore
here is sent to be reduced to
Regla, distance of seven leagues. This
mine, which is located less than two
miles from the center of Pachuca, is
owned principally by men who were
poor at the time they commenced to
work it. There are, it il said, two dis
tinct lodes, running parallel and at less
than fifty yards from each other. At
first the vein worked was only vara
wide, but as they went down they found
a cavern filled with metallic mush,"
twenty-four feet wide. They were at
first compelled to timber around a great
deal, for the sake of economy, taking
out merely enough to meet current ex-
penses. What remained was "pure
black sulphurets, which eXhumed glob-
ules of native silver when exposed to
fire." One can trace the silver lode as
it crops out above the surface and runs
across the hills and if
appearances are good for anything, the
two new mines of DR.. SkiltOn, the Santo |
Tomas el Nuevo and the Santa Catarina, |
to the west of Santa Gertrudis, are right |
in the silver track. We visited these |
latter, which are at present operated by |
the old-fashioned Mexican mode, the |
metal being brought up in bullock skins
by means of long ropes of maguey fibre
wound about large drum operated by
mules or horses. The whole district |
abounds in picturesque features, but |
none more so than these primitive mines. |
One hundred million dollars taken from |
one mine in thirty years This is the
amount declared on good authority to
nave been extracted from the Rosario |
mine since it was started in 1850, and |
5he books show that there has been paid
$500, 900 per share in dividends