Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-04


not a pillar being LEFT. Mendozona dying
after having cut some 100 feet OF tun-
mel In 1861, the property was purchased by
syndicate Of Americans represented by Mr.. ].
H. Robinson The tunnel was then driven in
some LOO feet. aud numerous veins cut. the
principal ones being "yeta Grande." Mes
quite" II" San Fierros," .'Cuieo de Mayo.- LA
Luna" "San Antonio" Carmen" Large
amounts Of silver were taken from the "yeta
Grande" vein, which is an enormous one. In
1879 the property was purchased by the Con
solidated Batopiias Silver Mining Co." Of New
York and Mexico, George W. Quintard presi-
dent and Alex. r. Shepherd vice president and
general manager. The systematic working OF
this property was then begun. and has con-
tinued to this time. Connections for yentila-
ton of upper workings have been made with
surface; the old workings opened. pumped out
and all intelligent and vigorous prosecution OF
the work entered on The track for a railroad
was blasted out Of the side Of the mountain 10
the hacienda of San Miguel. about mile distant,
and road laid for the conveyance of ore from
the mine TO the hacienda This was mos
necessary but costly work, as heavy stone arches
mad TO be built across the numerous arroyos
which cross the road between the mine and the
hacienda. The total cost of road was some
SS6,Wo. The workings on the tunnel and veins
OF San Miguel and its intersecting veins aggre-
gate some 10000 feet. and the total amount eN-
pended In its opening and development will cx-
cesd $1,000, 600. The yield from IL has been i'm
excess OF expenditures. bnt the exact amount
cannot be ascertained. as in the wear 1879 GER
tain reyolutionsts or proRunciamientos took
possession OF the mine and removed a number
OF the richest pillars from It.
To the south of San Miguel is the
''GIRAI," OR carmen CHEouITo"
This property is owned by the same company
and comprises tunnel 800 feet i'm length and
some 800 feet of other workings. The ores from
1t differ from all other ores in the mineral some
what rebellious, but can be treated readily by
llXiviafion. The expenditures on the mine have
been about S25 000 and the Weld about one
third of that amount.
10 the south of ''GiraI' aud adjoining it is the
.NEvADA"
mine. owned by Messrs. Becarra. of Unique
This is long exploring tunnel. some 400 feet
in length. and ia said to have cut several i'm
portant veins. The work has been prosecuted
very energetically by these gentlemen, and has
reached its present great depth. The outlay on
this property must have been $4,000. Above
the Nevada" tunnel and TO the south over
looking the hacienda of San Miguel are the
mines OF "Nalencia" and Los Tahos," be-
longing to Messrs. Becarra Bros These are
ooth Old mines, with considerable workings and
nave yielded and are now yielding a fine qua
1ty OF silver. Ruby silver il found i'm the Los
Iah0S mine. many fine specimens being eNtant.
Adjoining these mines are the ..San Nestro"
and Los Hilas." the property Of Don Enrique
falenZuela, of Batopas. The former is quite
an extensive mine and has been worked for
many years, yielding quantity of silver. The
Los Hilas has but little workings and is not
much developed. Just below the mines men,
toned lies the
HACIENDA OF SAN MIGUEL
the property of g Consolidated BatopiIas Silver
Mining Company" This hacienda was formerly
occupied by the Marquis OF Bustamente. who
benefciated his metal here 1t was bought at
the same time "San Miguel Mine" was pur-
chased under Mr.. Robnson's management and
but little improvement made save the repairs O,
dwellings. In 1879, when purchased by the new
company the total outfit for benefciatng In the
hacienda OF san Miguel were two old arastras
and three small stamps driven by water from a
ditch. with capacity for treating two or three
tons day. To-day 1t has forty-fye stamps. ten
amalgamating pans, five settlers six true van
ners. lixiviatiOn plant of eight vats. three
roasting furnaces. cupelling furnace smelter
retort room, crucible furnace. and a capacity of
eighty tons day. 1t has a retaining wall on
river front and mountain side over z 500 feet I'm
length, 10 feet i'm thickness. and from to IL
feet in height. The total improvements made
since the advent OF the new company have cost
S3o0.OoO, and Ii is now one of the best equipped
haciendas on the continent of America. During
the last two and a half years, with but q portion
OF It's plant In operation. il has benefciated over
SlOoo.0OO. The mode of treatment is by ANAL
gamation of the richer ores in pans with heat
and mercury, with lower grade ores. concantra-
ton, on the frue vanners of fifteen tons into one
and amalgamation of the concentrations The
tailings from concentrations and from richer
ores are roasted and leached so that the entire
product is realized: The geology Of the valley
of Batopilas and the occurrence of silver
therein is of great interest. as being of a very
unusual character. Through the granite which
here as elsewhere carries no veins of silver OF a
permanent character, runs a belt of diorite from
point little north of the town of Batopilas to
MOrelos on the southwest. Its width ia
about one mile and half. and its greatest
length 30 miles. In it are many assures of
which the filling Is cal and SPAR and the ore
near the surface Is chloride bromide and iodide
OF silver, changing a little lower down into
sulphur. arsenical and antimorial compounds of
silver, such as argentite. light ruby silver, dark
ruby silver. palyrasite, &c. Still lower down
the Characteristic Of these veins is native silver
with an>almost total absence of the silver min
erals found nearer the surface. These peculiar
tiles are true Of all the mines found on the belt
OF diOrite above mentioned
At Batoplas the demarcation of this belt In
found on both sides of the river very plainly in
contact with granite. The hill of :. sam Anto-
Mo- and the hill of "Los Animas," in which are
located many of the properties herein men,
toned, are entirely within this belt OF diorite
Unit! very recently this was the Only belt of this
character known in the world carrying veins
with native silver as an ore. Researches lately
on the north shore of Lake Superior and the
discovery of silver islet there proves SIMILAR
state OF affairs existing in a more limited extent
in that locality.
CHARCOS SYNDICATE.
About twelve hours ride south of BatOpilas.
and within the same belt il the hacienda of
Charcos, situated on the Teneriba river or creek.
This hacienda is the property of a syndicate of
Americans. of which Mr.. George W. Quintard is
trustee, and Mr.. Alex. r. Shepherd manager.
The hacienda consists of five stamp mill, ANAL
gamating pans, settler roasting furnace, boiler,
turbins with tienda de ruya, officers houses,
sc. The mines belonging to this concern are
situated around it. and comprise those of "San
Joaquin de Arrenio." ''Santa JuIana," lei
SatissimO," LAS Bronces," "ConsolaciOn" In
Lapota Arroyo are ''San Judas" Santa Cruz"
''Tendajones." ''Santa Nina" Tn Realito dis
trict are NINA Blanco," Guadalupe de Ore"
and six others. The total outlay on this prop
erty has been 9150.00N.
From the foregoing can be had all the infor-
nation possible as to this mineral. Regarding
the questions propounded in YOUR letter will
answer seriatim:
/. Number of men worked?
Ans. The aggregate of men employed in
mines and hacienda will reach 200, and some
times exceed this amount.
o,,I Ga ..aA