Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-10-12

fused together; so l can readily see how
the present OF solid native silver could have
been made, III 1880 royal decree ordered
The collection of all data for Il history OF
New spain, and special commission OF
scientists was ordered by the Niccroy and
ROYAL Tribunal OF Mines to report upon the
Batopiias district There is but one copy
OF the report cNtGnt. which / traced to
the records of the city OF Chihua-
hua. The commission states that the
silver extracted from Batopilas in a
short numhcr Ol years amounted to $50,
ooo,0to, not including that which was
eurrtp;ltiouSly taken ont to escape the
heavy imposts levied by the cruwA. and
which must nave been enormous. The most
famous period Of "Bunanzu" for tn" Batop-
iias DlstUlct was during the last fifty years
of the eighteenth Il d the FIRST fifty wears OF
The present century. During this time the
famous mines OF pastrdna. III Carmen, Ar
bltrios and san Antonio were discovered.
and yielded tae fabulous returns which
have bcJn variou,ly C-timated ii from $780,
WO.OOO to SS0,GOO,COJ. From tho outset of
the IcNican revolution. in 1910. q period of
decay set IN whi'n reduced Batopilas
greatly and almost caused its ruin. Tho
many revolutions. together with the Won
deiinl discoveries O; very rich gold and
silvcf mining districts ad Joining this one,
dcpopuidt"d II TO such II degree that it
counted lu; ten resident families in 1915.
Prom this time the reaction which has
the world may be said to date The old
mines were again opened and II W ones dis
covered The measure of success did not
compare with that attained in the time of
the SpSIiaruS. however owing 10 the lesser
energy displayed. but proved amply sutfl-
cient TO repay the timid efforts OF the native
spectators. Not until tho year 1867 did
American enterprise direct its efo:ts in so
promising direct on, A purchase was eff
fected by an American company, mostly
composed of gentlemen interested in Wells,
Fargo 4 Co., whereby the property en-
btacing tho famous veins OF san Antonio
and l.. Carmen passed into their hands.
They operated with great success in the
face of many difficulties uutil the year 1879,
when the property again changed hands
and was acquired by stock company which
has held ana worked them 10 the present
day.
Since the present company has had con-
troll. over 100 miles of openings have been
made, the detail of which would b. too
long and embarrassing to give. Tho most
important is the great Poririo Diaz tunnel,
to be three and one-half miles in length.
and when completed one Of the longest and
most important mining tunnels in the
world cutting over sixty weli-known veins
at the rivers level. 1t is now in 1900 feet,
and being driven by modern machinery at
the rate of fifty feet week. This almost
infant American industry started with less
than $l510O0 capital, Governor Shepherd
told mo. and in seven years, after paying
fair dividends. had been able to put S5,50O,-
900 back into the mines to develop them.
II is now n llrst-cla mining camp, and as
none of its stock is on the market for sale in
any way am not afraid to give it the credit
it deserves as an American undertaking
that has done more to make tho American
name respected in Mexico than all the
diplomacy that has been enacted since the
two countries became republics.
No Mexican can LOOK at the great mills,
the big anTeduct ~ enormous masonry
eight or nine miles ionr that Will take ur
ali the water Of the Batopilas River. nor
can they look at the town of Batopilas. the
most active | saw in Mexico. now six thou
sand strong and less than five hundred
when Americans took charge, and the
thousand and one other signs of activity,
without respect for the nation that sent In
such people. whatever may be their out
ward signs or talk in the matter. Such,
then, is a brief and, l hope. interesting ac-
count of the largest silver mining company
in the world and the Grcntest American
undertaking in Mexico. OF which, think,
nine tenths OF my readers have heard moth
ing, owing to its inaccessible position in the
very heart of the Sierra Madre range. From
Batopilas, north or south. this mighty
range OF mountains lower in height, while
the big barrancas do not cut so deep into
their Hanks anywhere else as here, giving
the finest Al pine scenery TO be found in
this part of the continent. The Mexican
Government has generously ackno wledged
its great work of department, and has ac-
corded it mineral concession Of sixty-four
square miles directly surrounding the
mines.
Some six miles from Batopllas is the gold
mine of Cerro Colorado, reputed to be the
largest in the world. and only discovered
last year. That it should have remained so
long unknown to any prospector in such
rich silver mining district is one OF tho
marvels Of the age, and even Il far greater
mystery to me than that the existence OF
living eiiff and cave-dwcllers on the rough
mountain ails leading thereto should
have been kept quiet SO long. Cliff-dwellers
Or angels in the air above them. or cave
dwelers or demons In tho earth under them
you'd not have attracted much attention