Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-10-19

is Famed throughout Region TOR
Generosity, But Shirks Publicity.
Mexico City.-Pedro Alvarado. about
whom fiction and fancy have woven
tales OF fabulous wealth and countless
treasures, is Mexican peon. Willing
ly has he submitted to the fiattery and
adulation which his fellow townsmen
have lavished upon him on account of
his ownership of a bonanza silver
mine, albeit in the profits of that
mine he has had but a meagre share.
All the extravagant tales of Pedro
Alvarado's wealth, of his ability to
pay the Mexican national debt, and
of his efforts to commission several
regiments Of Mexicans to subdue the
Yaquis, are pure myths.
He believes himself to-day the
wealthiest man of the universe, and
no one has ever dared to dispossess
him of the delusion he cherishes, that
his mine is the greatest thing of its
kind In the world. But Notwithstanding
he is reputed to be worth $4,000, 900,
he has had the greatest trouble with
in the last three months to raise $780,
900. The fact that he only has been
able to accomplish this at sacrifice
of practically all he possessed has still
failed to bring him to a proper esti-
mate Of his fortune.
Lack of Management.
AS one approaches Parral on the
branch of the Mexican Central rail
road from Jiminez, tales of Alvarado's
greatness are heard on all sides, if the
average Mexican poems are doing the
talking. If, on the other hand, one
strikes the expatriated American who
has been living in the vicinity for
year or two, he will confidentally tell
one, "on the side" that the MeXicans
are simply reporting what they have
heard. If one fraternizes with the
poems for any length of time one will
find that their ideas of Alvarado's
wealth are derived largely from the
rich ore which their relatives employ
ed at the mine abstract surreptitious-
ly from time to time.
The system under which Alvarado's
property has been operated has render
ed smuggling of this character quite
easy, and the belief is general among
the intelligent class at Parral that If
Alvarado had ever received one-tenth
of the value Of what his mine produc-
ed he would indeed come close to
meeting the many stories that are cir
,culated about him.
Mine Well Equipped.
The Palmilla mine is situated on the
outskirts of Parral, and the story of
its development is filled with legend
airy tales, out Of which it is difficult to
deduce the truth. 1t is enough to say
that the mine is we'll equipped with
the latest Of American electrical min
ing machinery, which furnishes a
striking evidence OF tho ability Of
American drummers to sell Alvarado
almost anything they care to tell him
about
Less than year ago hustling rep
resentative OF large American mine
car company showed Alvarado SAM
pie of the company's latest product
So taken was he with this car that he
Immediately gave an order for 100 like
1t. He has never used one of them, but
keeps them in storage for his own per-
sonal edification and for that Of his
guests.
"The time will come when l will
need them ALL" is what Alvarado an.
swers when questioned about his fol-
ly.
Visit to Alvarado.
After becoming acquainted with the
important developments at Parral, if
one has the necessary influence and
pull with somebody who is on friend
ly terms with Alvarado, an invitation
to visit his property is soon forthcom-
ing. While his ideas of hospitality diff
fer in many respects from those to
which we are accustomed in the
United States, still, when showing his
guests his property, he seems to for
get his alleged greatness and be-
comes quite chummy with those he is
entertaining.
The invitation to tho writer of this
article to 60 into the Palmil,a minc
called for a prompt attendance at the
mouth of the shaft at 5 o'clock in the
morning. The mine being sltrated on
the very top of one OF the highest
peaks in the district and tho road
leading 10 it being very diGlcult The
visitor was half an hour late.
Sitting on Ore Pile.
Alvarado was found Sitting IN tho
apex Of one of his richest ore piles.
Without even so much as rising he ex-
tended his hand smilingly rs the in
aterpretcr performed the introduction.
After a time Alvarado suggested a
halt in the exploration, and seating