Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-29
that system the valenciana produced
1918 600 600, according to the records. from


$s1s,0o0.0oo, according to the records. from
1760 to 1887.
In 1873 practically all these mines had to
close down, owing to the low price of silver
and the lack of fuel. Every combusfible
article for radius of hundred miles had
already been burned. They tore up the
roots of trees. and it is charged that they
even robbed the churches of the wooden
images of saints and threw them into the
furnaces Coal cost twenty-eight and
thirty dollars ton. and at that rate mining
was not profitable. Twenty years ago the
railroad came in and reduced the price of
fuel five or six dollars a ton. but even then
IL was prohibtive.
The Mexicans allowed the mines to I'll
up with water. and then sold them to Amer
lean syndeates. La Luz was bought by
some CAPITALISTS in Springfield. Mass,
financed by Andrew L. Bush. The Va
lenciana mine was purchased by George
b. Cox. the republican boss of Cincinnati;
Charles l.. kurtz. formerly Senator For
aker's political manager: c. A. Coffin, presi
W. Nash. president of the American Smelt-
ing and Refining Company. and several
New York banking houses. Mr.. Kurtz is
now in charge. and has put in a very ex-
pensive plant to be run by electricity.
Use Of Electricity.
In the absence of fuel Boston syndicate.
backed by the General Electric Company of
Lynn, has come to the relief of the miners
and has set up one of the greatest cleo
trical plants in the world. 1t has harnessed
the river Duero. 110 miles away, and is
now conveying several thousand horse
power over wires. The plant has cost about
s5,ooo.oUo, With this power new processes
have been introduced to work over the dis
carded ores which were worthless under
the patio process. For miles around the
surface of the earth is covered with dumps
which have accumulated since 1917, and
there is said to be an enormous fortune in
every dump. 1t is estimated that this dis
carded ore will pay all the way from IS to
$40 ton. La Luz is credited with 100000
tons. Valenciana. with 100000 tons, and
the Refugio group, with 81 600 tons, are
valued at s1,750.0o0. 1t is claimed that
there Is enough ore in these dumps to keep
the smelters running for twelve Yea RS with
out going into the mines, and that the av-
erage cost Of reduction will be only 40 cents
a ton
chihuahua has been one of the big pro-
ducers and has yielded not less than s.. 49,
oOoOoU IN gold and silver since 1884, when
the first discovery was reported Santa
Eulalia. the greatest slver-lead camp in
the world Is situated about fifteen miles
southeast of Chihuahua and is connected
with that city by two narrow-gauge rail-
roads. These deposits were discovered in
1Of. and have since produced somethins.
over Seoo,OOO,000. They are now producing
at the rate of s12.00O,OOO per year. and the
experts all agree that the camp is still prac-
tlcaHy in the early stages of DEVELOPMENT
A tribute of rs cents. levied by the clergy
on eacn pound OF silver, produced $500 coo
to pay for the cathedral
The Mines at Batopilas.
Washington people have an active in
terest IN the mines at Batopilas because
they were managed by the late Gov Shep-
herd. They have produced up to date about
but are handicapped by being
a long distance from railway transporta-
ton. Everything must go and come on the
back of mule. but 1t is expected that the
Kansas City and Orient road now under
construction will reach within twenty miles
Of not only Batopilas. but other rich dis
tricts hitherto inaccessible and furnish a
means for getting in machinery and bring
ing out ore.
The late Consul General Parsons at the
City of Mexico, who made a careful can
vass OF American interests In the republic
estimated that our people have at least
$50, 100000 invested in Mexican mines ma
chinery and mining plants, of which the
largest amount-$21, 900, 000-is in Chihua-
hua, $6,5oo.oo0 in Durango, $4,000, 900 in
Coahuila and the remainder Is scattered
among the other states.
Some Of the Big Payers.
The most sensational mine at present is
Dos Estrellas near Toluca in the state |
of Michoacan, only few hours ride from !
the City of Mexico. Mr. Fourier a French
discovered a quantity of dis
colored green quartz on the mountain side
about two years ago and followed it I'D to |
its source. He took the necessary legal |
steps and then organized a company of |
native capitalists, which during the last |
year has taken out more than So 0OO. 600. |
and claim that they have scarcely touched |
its riches The shares of this mine, with
a par value of 500, are now selling for |
$4,000 each, and the company is distrib-
uting 500, 600 month in dividends
Another big discovery is the Dolores near
Chihuahua which was made by George |
Beverage, an American prospector who |
persuaded some people in Oakland. Cal. to |
furnish him the means to develop the prop |
erty. Beverage is now taking out about |
500, 600 month in gold and silver
Another sensation is the Naica mine near |
Concho Station, south of Chihuahua, on |
the Mexican Central railroad. 1t was an |
abandoned property worked years ago no. |
body knows when or by whom The hole |
left in the ground remained undisturbed |
for century. and perhaps more until an |
American prospector who came along that |
way concluded that he would go down to |
the bottom and see what was there He |
got some native cotton planters at the town |
Of San Pedro to furnish him little money !
and soon developed bed of carbonate of |
incalculable value. The shares In that |
company, par value of $780, are selling AT |
$40. 900 each. There are several other new |
mines, but these are the most sensational. |