Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-23

ploration by the vertical shaft; and when it
is carried to seventeenth level and farther,
it will economic the taking out of ore and
rock from that great depth. 1t is a fine
shaft, and will be well equipped. There
are several thousands of tons of low-grade
ore on the San Miguel patio, which will
average five ounces of silver per ton, but
as the Roncesvalles and Todos Santos veins
are much richer there is no immediate
prospect of any but high-grade ores being
worked from San Miguel mine.
New Veins of Value.
Continuing, the report says that nearly
600 feet of exploration workings have been
made since the last report six silver
bearing and two gold-bearing mines, and
that while no bonanzas were struck, many
veins of value were discovered which will well
repay working when circumstances permit
Ten additional stamps have been placed in
the Hacienda San Miguel and will soon be
running. They are all of wood and stone
no wood except posts and braces being
used.
Work of the Foundry.
"The foundry has done good work. says
the report. IAN of our castings have been
made here, including stamps and batteries
in San Miguel and San Antonio haciendas
and the renewals, repairs and hoists for
San Miguel and other mines. We had ac-
cumulated much old iron during our years
here, and a large amount has also been ac-
cumuiated by the Cerro Colorado company
near here. A satisfactory arrangement for
their iron, payable in castings at fair prices
when needed, has enabled us to build all
our new plant without purchasing pig iron,
the only iron we have bought being the
wrought-iron stems, shafting and bolts
needed. The Importance of this will be I'M
derstood, as freight costs more than the
castings, and only sectionalized castings
weighing under 800 pounds can be brought
in on mueback.'
In conclusion, Governor Shepherd states
that he expects to complete a mill with
seventy-fiva stamps by the rainy season, so
as to have the benefit of an abundant wa
ter supply. and says that under fair condi-
lions these seventy-fve stamps should earn
over 81 500 daily.
Position of the Company.
In commenting editorially upon the ar
| ticle the Engineering and Mining Journal
says:
ION another page We give an abstract OF
a report which shows the present condition
and to some extent the prospects of the
Batopiias mines in Chihuahua, Mexico. The
completion, after fifteen years of work. of
the Porfir1o Diaz tunnel makes 1t possible
| to conduct mining operations cheaply on
! the extensive bodies of low-grade ores
which are known to exist in the company 8
enormous concession, and to prospect to
| better advantage than heretofore for such
| bonanzaS as nay-and probably do-exist
there. The company is now, for the first
| time, In position to develop it's property
| to the best advantage and in a systematic
way. and to extend its operations very
! largely. The low-grade ores can be treated
| at proht if economically handled and
| any OF higher grades which may be found
| will add to the returns.
, THE history Of the Batopias mines is an
extremely interesting one. During colonial
| days in Mexico very large amount in sill
yer was taken from them, and they were
| of haC y,ay icb
| treasures drawn from Mexico. The mines
had, however, been practically abandoned
Tor many years, when one of them was
bought by some Americans in 1878. Soon
after this property was taken up by Gov.
Alexander r. Shepherd representative
! of the American owners, and has since been
practically under his control. For twenty
one years past Gov. Shepherd has made his
| residence at the mines and has worked with
| Cnfailing energy and perseverance to bring
| to successful completion the great plans he
| made for their successful operation The
| labor of management has devolved almost
| entirely upon him, and has been rendered
| especially difficult from the fact that the
| company has never had a sufficient working
! capital. 1t has been necessary to work
| chiefly on faith and credit, while the pro-
ceeds of several bonanzas during the TWEEN
| ty years have gone, in each case to pay the
debts accrued while the mines were in
| borasca.
What Shepherd Has Given.
| 1T mas required not only 1altn In the
| future, but unbounded energy and perse.
/ verance to carry on the work under these
conditions; but inextinguishable hopefulness
and his iron will have enabled Governor
| Shepherd to carry through his gigantic un-
| dertaking In world where one meets sc
| little of earnest effort it is impossible to
| withhold our admiration from the man who
gives his life and his fortune to the sue
cessful accomplishment of the task he has
undertaken Doubtless had he known at
| its inception what the work would cost him
| in time, in money and in personal sacrifices,
even Governor Shepherd would have drawn
back from the undertaking, and almost any
| other man would long ago have given it up
| The twenty-one years that have brought
Governor Shepherd to his present age con-
stitute practically the business life of a
man. and so 1t may be said that Governor
| Shepherd has given his life, as he has his
| fortune and he has inundated his family
! to the great work he has at heart. 1t was
| indeed, almost impossible to find others
| willing to live in exile SO many years. Mex
leo owes him an imperishabie monument
| for he has done more than any other one
man for the development of this great min
| ing district. Now let US hope success will
| crown these great sacrifices and bring to
| the man who has achieved it the reward he
| richly deserves
| PRODUCTION OF COAL.
1t Amounted to 23O.s3s,973 Long Tons