The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-05
BUYING MINES IN MEXICO.
AMERICANS INVESTING MILL
IONS THERE NOW.

Review Of the Condltions--strike Curtails
Cripple Creek Production During Sep
tember--GOOd Returns From the
Alaskan Mlnes-IrOn Ore Reports.
NACo. Sonora. Mexico. Oct. millions OF
! dollars are being invested by Americans in
Mexican mines. prospects and frauds, every
| month OF the year. The influx OF capital Is
| increasing. Many Of the American investors
| are securing good mines at fair prices; n
| larger number are getting prospects. the
values OF which remain to be determined.
while considerable proportion are putting
| their money where there is little likelihood
that they will ever see any part Of 1t again.
| A consideration OF the more salient features
| OF Mexican mining laws and customs may he
OF value in view of the steady stream OF
golden dollars that il flowing to this side Of
| the international line.
1t is useless to consider the mining fakirs.
They infest every mining district. and their
ways are no different here from the ways OF
| their brothers in Colorado. Utah. California
and every other mining State. Most Of the
Mexican mining frauds are carried out by
Americans. The natives have fair percent-
age OF dishonest men. but they are not. a. q
rule. educated up to the high point OF the
d
found study Of the science OF lying and steal
ing so as to reap a rich pecuniary reward
and yet escape the penitentiaries. Human
nature IS pretty much the same In Mexico a.
in any other part OF the world. The man
who believes everybody honest will be robbed.
and the man who believes everybody dis
honest will suspect many honorable men
without cause. The same rules of common
business prudence will apply here in the
| making Of investments as would hold good
In any part OF the United States.
One Of the most common mistakes Of the
American investor and prospcctor is a SUI
preme confidence in his own ability and dis
dain for the native inhabitants, because they
are dark Of complexion and speak spanish
evidence OF inferiority. to the mind OF the
cocksure "gringo." The wise man will re-
member that local conditions are never quite
the same in any two mining districts, and he
who Is willing to learn from the experience
OF men thoroughly acquainted with the
ground may save himself much trouble.
The average Mexican miner cannot or will
not do as much work in day as the white
miners of the United States, but he is far su-
perior to the coole. and is as shrewd judge
OF mineral values as can be found in any
country. His methods Of mining are very
crude and he has to be broken in gradually
TO the American system. but the certainty
with which experienced native miners can
judge the mineral values of any given orc
is a surprise to practical miners from the
United States
The unit Of Mexican mining claims is the
pertenencia. which Is one hectare OF 100
metres square. area PAT acres. Prospectors
may denounce any mining lands-that is,
notify the Government Of their intention to
take such lsnds-and for seyera! months the
l,t- x,-tn hnll TO- HhAr
The mining lands arc never patented to
the claimant, as in the United States. but
may be held as long as taxes arc paid after
title is secured. The tax Is 80 a year. Mexi-
can, for each pertenenca. payable in three
installments four months apart; but ad-
vance payments can be made by the year.
Agricultural lands can be denounced for
mining purposes, but the miner must recon-
pense the owner for any DANA ges. There
are certain requirements in connection with
the denunciation of claims, and the following
steps to secure title. that it would be a mis-
taken kindness to put In print. The pros
pector or investor should engage q COM
petent Mexican lawyer or q mining engineer
we'll versed in Mexican law and the Spanish
language to attend to this work. for II care
lessly done II may leave flaw in titles that
will prove very costly to remedy, II. indeed.
the property be not lost entirely in case it
proves valuable.
There are no extra lateral rights under
the Mexican mining laws. The holder OF
title to q Mexican pertenenca owns every
thing of Il mineral nature down to the centre
OF the earth The surface Of the land may
or may not be held by the owner OF the min
eral rights All mineral rights are reserved
by the Government. and all Mexican mines
are held by their owners subject to
regular payment OF the tax Of 80 per per.
tenencia per year. non-payment Of which
works forfeiture. regardless Of length OF
time OF possession. Surveys must be made
OF NIL mining claims before title can be gained
Owing to the lack OF general surveys In most
! mining districts the engineering work must
be carefully done. claims heing tied on to
some prominent natural landmark As rule
the Mexican surveys are very well done.
Five months to a year are required to Sc.
| cure title. after announcement. and friend
| at court can always expedite matters A
| good attorney or an experienced mining
| engineer can well earn good fee in seeing
that the work is done properly and with
reasonable despatch. while the self-con1
| dent party will get mixed before halfway
| through There are various stamp taxes
| and fees. but the total cost of securing a
! sound Government title is not excessive. II
| title to mining lands, but once secured the
title is far safer than in any part of the United
States where mining is governed by the Fed
| eral laws. Forfeiture can be worked only
! by gross carelessness in failing to pay the
| pertenenCa taxes promptly.
MONTANA.
| HRLENA. Sept. 81 At present the Catarac ct
district in Jefferson county is attra ctn prob
| ably as much attention as any district in the
| State because Of the many rich leads which
| have been openedLup. an Incentive for vigor-
| Gus prospect g being found IN the erection
| of a smelter by the Cataract Copper Mining
| Company. The Buckeye mine. located about
three miles from the smelter site, is he latest
scene Of an important sts ke S where on the
the extent Of which s not known because the
| hanging wall has not been reached, At
| present, however. there are four feet Of first
| class shipping ore, on the foot wall and whnt
/ concentrating ore. 1t Ia the intention OF the
owners to erect a modern mill for the treat
nent OF the concentrating ores, while the hi h
The Gray Eagle mine, in the same district.
owned n9d by S minnesota Capitalists and last week
the richest strike in the history of the prop
The ore il heavy iron sulphide and is thor
oughly tmpregnated with gray copper
\, rich copper strike has also been made
! by the Cataract company. Thousands Of tons
OF good grade smelling ore have been blocked
! ont rendy to line and ship as soon ns the
ing the property, has been continued on tie
| lend and the las. 100 feet has exposed the
| richest body OF ore yet found In the property
| The ore is freely sprinkled with native cop
centage Of the red metal. has high values in
| gold and silver
4 good copper strike has also been made
ulth tha npfi inn n