Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-04-27
LETTER FROM MEXICO.
Continued from last meek.

CObtHtUeU JTOHt CISC Je6R.
Less fortunate than the convent of |
the Augustine monks was that of the |
San Franciscans, the ruins of which |
are still seen in the outskirts of the |
city. This latter was very strong
building and after the arrival of |
Maximillian was fortified and for a
considerable time defended by the
priesthood but late in the struggle
was captured and blown up by the
liberal forces.
The cathedral is a noble struc-
ture in the heart of the city,
and upon it there is said to be
more carving in stone than upon any
other building in the Republic, which
can be accounted for only upon the
ground of the great wealth which the
mines furnished this place. A little
old building, wholly outside the
town, is pointed out as the Oldest
church in Zacatecas. Its records
show it to have been built in 1912,
the same year the Spaniards took
possession here. Close by is the
place where the invading army was
encamped, while the Aztec forces
lay, for some time, just to the west
across a deep ravine. This is not
left to tradition but is shown by the
records of the old church-for it
should be remembered that Cortez
made the conquest of Mexico not
alone in the name of his king, but in
the name of the pope of Rome. His
commission seems to have been to
come to this land and 'sshoot the
gospel to every creature. Not far
from the old church is the first mine
opened by the Spaniards other dis
coveries soon followed and rapidly
the city sprang into existence. About
one mile from this old church is the
famous Vete Grande, great vein,
from which have been taken since
1916, as shown by the records still in
existence, over $3.50. 100000. These
records down to 1921, when the rule
of the viceroys ceased. are those upon
which the kings ''fifth'' was paid, anG
presumably do not overstate the prod.
uct This mine is still worked but
net very profitably now, it is be.
lieved, on account of water in the
shaft and its depth which is already
too great for hoisting works operated
by horse power. Our party stood by
the mouth of this shaft while a grea
bag made of two whole cow-hides
sewed together and filled with water
weighing it was said half ton, ant
a like bag of ore were brought, sep
arately of course, to the surface
With this apparatus about thirty O
forty tons of ore are raised each day
whereas with improved modern ma
chinery operated by steam 500 ton
could be raised, while the water lift
ed by pump would be just what th
engine would require. The ore i
still of good quality and the shaft i
down but 1900 feet, while the riches
bonanzas in the famous Comstocl
lode. Nevada, which this very mucl
resembles, were found below tha
level. In the Vete Gfdnde what lie
below that level no one knows. ]
is only known that it is a wonderful
: ly rich mine, in fact one of the grea
mines of the world, and as yet show
no signs of exhaustion. AS the oil
miners of our party stood there an
looked first upon the cow skin ba
of water and then upon the bag c
ore, and spoke, now of the machiner
y with which the Comstock is sti
= profitably worked at the depth @
$500 feet-for they were all familia
with the Comstock-and then spok
of the millions which similar machir
, cry might possibly bring, nay, woul
. probably bring from the unsounde
:, depths of this historic old mine, the
were at first amused, and then be
: coming serious were absorbed wit
the splendors of the vision. Not th
= hoisting works alone but the treat
ment of the ore also in reducing it t
', bullion is of the same primitive chal
;. acter. The whole system is substar
TALLY that employed by the Roman
in the mines of Italy 1000 years age
This is true of every mine in Mexic
still worked by Mexicans. Not on
, has the advantage of improve
American machinery and America
:. methods. The few worked by Amel
leans are not fully under way, BIT
are fairly successful. The Ve
J Grdnde is for sale and, because {
the general belief with miners, ths
it is still valuable property, woul
probably have been purchased b
American capitalists and worked Q
: the American system before this onl
for the scarcity of fuel at Zacateca
It's great altitude leaves it remo1
from the timber belt, and upon til
!, great plateau no coal has ever "
: been found, though it undoubtedl
exists. But in a country where til
houses are all built without chimney
as they are in Mexico, and no fire
: kept except in the kitchen and the
! built on the old Egyptian plan, {
= charcoal in open iron vessels, the d.
mand for fuel is not such as to stin
), ulate very much the search for coal
a good mine of which, however, an,