Arizona silver belt., 1897-12-23
OBSERVATIONS IN MEXICO.
The Beautiful City of Monterey and
 the Rich San Jose Mines.
SAN ,JosE N.ry,,s.

1 DGcSmDer iI, loSi.
 Editors ARIZONA SILVER BELT { Globe, zona-Gentlemen: Leaving Globe on the l6th of November ar. rived in Monterey, Mexico, four dayt later. Monterey is prosperous. Three large smelling works are i operation. One of them is said to be the largest oi its kind, in the world. having ca pacity for treating 1000 tons of ore per day. The works arc owned by the Guggenhiems, of New York. Here and there modern rcd brick struct- ure is to be seen sandwiched in be- tween the one and two story adobe and stone Mexican houses. These Mexican buildings are ali smoothly plastered outside and in, and painted in various hues, all very pleasing to the eye. The city is rapidly growing. Her population is now estimated at 75,000. Miles of streets have recently been paved with hard red brick. which appears to stand the heavy traffic remarkably well. These smooth ly paved streets are a joy to the hearts of the wheelers. Monterey is up to date with the wheel. There are bicycles galore here.
 The city is beautifully located on q plain right at the base of range of high precipitous mountains which here form terrace to the great table lands that extend away to the south and west A marked difference is ob- served in the climatic conditions be- tween here and Globe. On the Sun. day evening following my departure from Globe I sat in the Plaza de Ear agoza listening to the Military band, under dense green foliage, with h-re and there an orange tree on which the ripening oranges could be seen glistening under the electric lights, tine air warm and balmy as June evening in the North.
 The line is rigidly drawn between the classes here. Two asphalt walks circle the outer edge of the piazza; gayly dressed thropgs of senoritas parade around the outer walk, while the poor, ragged peons are kept to the inner walk, in a distinct circle of their own. Shoold peon presume to enter the lines of the aristocratlc cir cle he is promptly shown his place by a policeman or others.
 After stay of a few days in Mon- terey I proceeded to the San Jose mines, l40 miles southeast from mon- terey, near the line of the Monterey & Gulf railway, in the state of Tamauli- pas. The San Jose gold and copper mines are owned by the Nichoias Chemical company, of New York. They control 5000 acres of miner al land here, all heavily wooded. Six mines arc at present being worked within this area. The smelting works are now in successful operation. yield ing between one and two tons of bullion per day, value $500 per ton in gold and copper. The production of the mines is at present limited to the capacity of the plant, about 4o tons per day. These mines were worked by the Spaniards in the early days of Numerous old slag heaps are seen through the valley nov over grown with trees and shrubs. Re- gently three skeletons were found in cleaning out an old stope, no doubt buried there by a fall of ground.
 Operations will be carried on on a much more extensive scale next year, both in mining and sme.ting. Native labor is from 9 cents to 37i cents per day. Coke costs Si2 per ton laid down at the smeiter; freight on bullion to New York sl1 per ton shipped from Tampico our nearest port on the Gulf of Mexico. Wood is abundant, for est of oak extending in all directions.
 San Jose is s700 feet above sea level. The east winds prevail, bringing in moisture, cloudy weather and rain from the gulf. Shrubs and creeping vines are strongly in evidence of a moist climate. The temperature rarely rises above 90 in the shade, the daily breeze from tie gulf cooling the at mosphere. Wild turkey and deer are in the m ountains, the woods and under brush affording good cover for game.
 expect to visit New York for the and return here sometime in January. I cannot say when 1 may visit Globe. It is expected that Black Warrior matters will soon be settled and operations resumed at an early day. am always pic, sed to see the SILVER BELT, which Follows me here with all the news items about Globe and vicinity. Yours very truly,
 JOHN $. WHITE.
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 Just received, cnr of fresh grocer ies, which am selling to meet all com