Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-10-10

Damm's rapid rise to the distinction of
the Croesus of Durango is the story of
ty of which the mining market never
heard 1t IS known to Durango people
because they see the OK carts and mule
wagons come creaking in with GOO tons
OF ore monthly The mine is 100 miles
north of the city, and the ore must be
hauled that distance in carts and wagons.
The ore is quartz, and all that is thus
transported is of grade which yields
$50 ounces to the ton. The monthly ship
ment from the Promontorio is 10000
ounces of silver. In year this amounts
Mexican money 81. $50. 600. and in Amer
lean money $3.50, 900. But this shipment
of ore at the rate of GOO tons is not all
of Mr.. Damm's product. From his own
bar of silver weighing 1000 ounces. A
bar of silver worth $3.50 in Mexican
money and half of that in American mon
ey is not very formidable in appearance
1t is only 10 inches long by 4 inches in
breadth and thickness. Every day one
of these bars is turned out at the mine,
brought down to Durango and added to
the stack of treasure in Maximiliano
Damm's warehouse. The mint officials of
the United States will have an opportuni-
ty to handle collection of these bars if
free coinage becomes the law
Ihe present product of the Promontorio
IS I.36OOOO ounces year, worth S1-149.-
4Uo IN Mexican money, and to be worth
that IN American money if IT. to 1 pre-
valis This IS one mans mine That is,
perhaps. the reason SO little has been
heard of it.
About ten years ago. when silver be-
gam to go down, the Promontorio began
to uncover its richness. With his rep
utatlon established the richest man
IN Durango, Mr. Damn does not admit
tnat he has done any mining He has
SIMPLY been developing what there is in
the Promontorio. blocking out the masses
OF ore to be removed when he gets down
to the real business of mining. But
while doing development work Mr.. Damn
Is taking out incidentally ore. which
yields him 1.360, 600 ounces of silver
yearly. A assure vein which gives him
this ore carrying $50 ounces of silver
to the ton is from IS inches to 5 feet
vide While developing his property,
MI Damn has taken out tlHrd-ciass
of ore which has not been shipped to the
smelter or treated at the mine. He now
mas dump containing 10000 tons Of
ounces TO the ton. That means 3OOO,-
0OO ounces more. to be worth $3.50
600 when the United States declares
for unlimited silver.
Maximiliano Damn can furnish all
of the silver the mints of the United
States will be able to coin into
dollars during five weeks of opera
ton at their present full capacity.
Open MINIS Cheaper silver.
"Why is it that in a silver country.
with unlimited coinage. bullion does not
go to the Mexican minis to be coined
into dollars, but is shipped out to be
huctuating value and where much of
it as would make dollar in your minis
is worth now only half a dollar?''
This was submitted. during the rest in
the saddle, of Las Mitras, to the owner
of the mines below. from which the Mex
leans were trotting forth in never-endins
file with their sacks of ore. The mine
owner chucked pebble over the preci
pice, and shook his head, as if the ques
ton was too much for him.
w ell, why do you send your own
bullion. to the United States to be sold
at bullion value under the gold standard
instead of having it minted into dollars
which are worth 100 cents on the silver
Easis?"
The mine owner got out his pencil and
figured He took the exchange, the cost
of transportation, the 3T1 grains of fire
silver in the Mexican dollar, the 81
grains in the American dollar, the ounce
value, and made elaborate caicula tions.
At length his face frightened.
Silver, he said. yields today 4 cents
an ounce more when sold in the states
as bullion. after paying freight charges
and brokerage commissions. than it
would if taken to the Mexican mints and
coined into dollars