Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-21
THE BAT0P|LAS MINE
A Monument in Mexico to the
Late Gov. Shepherd.
EVIDENCE OF HIS GENIUS
The Great Silver Plant Marvel of
Construction.
STONE DAM ACROSS RIVER
Soy,, ~ inr ~ %1> "nrL ArcoY, n1iS h.
EVIDENCE OF HIS GENIUS
STONE DAM ACROSS RIVER
Something of the Work Accomplish
ed by the Man Who Lifted Wash
ington From the Mud.

Away off in the wilds of Mexico, in a
gorge over a mile. deep down from the
rugged plateau through which it runs,
amid some of the widest and grandest
scenery on the American continent. lies
the stone and iron plant Of the Batopilas
Mining Corporation, a marvel of con-
struction and marvellous in it's existence in
the face Of the dangers and obstacles that
were overcome to place it there 1t Is
a monument to Alexander r. Shepherd.
the creation of the last quarter of CEN
fury of his. existence.
Only those who have had the fortune
to see with their own eyes can appreciate
the gigantic work of Gov. Shepherd, who
was totally inexperienced in mining when
he first turned his back on civilization
and sought other worlds to conquer in
those famous old silver mines in 1870.
From that day to this he and his sons
since his death have taken from their
depths full twenty millions of dollars of
the precious white metal.
Over Suspension Bridge.
Batopilas is good three days ride on
mules southwark from Creel station. on
the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient rail-
road. The trail is a good one and partly
new. 1t was built principally by the
Batopilas company. with some aid from
the state. On this trail. over the great
gorge known rs the Barranca de Cobre
and farther down the Unique river
is suspension bridge 1870 feet long.
over which animals can pass in safety
during the great floods. About kilo-
meter west from Creel the Batopilas
company has built large and substantial
warehouse for storing supplies, sta
tionkeeper's house and quarters. rooms
for Its employees. who go back and forth.
and stone corrals and stables for animals
of pack trains. which are the only means
Of transportation to and from Batopilas.
There are three other substantial sta
tons. about a days distance apart on
the trail to Batopilas.
Following the trail and descending the
great gorge to the Batopilas river lit
tie way down stream the first object seen
that indicates in measure the stupen-
dous work that has been done to make
these mountains Of silver available to
man is the great stone dam that spans
the river and diverts part Of its waters
into a splendid canal six feet wide and
five feet in depth. This canal Is Of solid
substantial masonry for more than three
miles down the north side OF the river
to the two haciendas or reduction plants,
with which it furnishes between 300 and
500 hOrsepower-mOtive power for the
works.
Along the Canal Route.
The canal like all the other works Of
Gov Shepherd, is apparently built for all
time. Along its route, in the way of every
cross-water course, it is arched over in
stone. with clear runway above. Far
Their down the trail, as it runs alongside
the canal. are the two great haciendas of
San Miguel and San Antonio. The first,
on the north. contains the 1O0-stamp mill
and the company's store. Both are pro-
tected from the river by great stone ma
sonry walls. Just little below, on the
south side of the river, is the San Antonio,
where are located the 25-stamp mill, the
machine shop and foundry. the residence
of the manager. Alexander r. Shepherd,
jr.. and the hotel for the American en-
ployes. Both these haciendas look like
huge fortresses with their frames of iron
and walls of stone rising maiestfcally
from the rivers edge.
Spanning the river, opposite the San
Miguel hacienda. is a magnificent bridge.
supported by mascIve stone piers which
place it far above hish-water mark. The
solidity and enduring character Ct every
thing in and abou@ this vast plant and
even :he vast works In the mines them
selves, seem to suggest the mettle Of the
strong character and the indonlitable de-
termination Of the one man who planned
them all AID TO whose memory they stand
as a monument today. The first ten
stamps In the San Antonio hacienda were
Installed in 1884. and gradually increased
to one hundred 750-pound stamps In 1906
There are ten Bartlett concentrating ia
bles which, by a process of rewashine.
concentrate fifty tons of ore to one. Each
stamp brushes one and a half tons in
twenty four hours.
Low-Grade Ore Mill.
The ore treated at this mill is low
grade, six to twenty ounces to the ton.
About one-third Of it comes from the Por-
irio Diaz tunnel, at the mouth of which
the hacienda is located, while the re-
naming two-thirds come from the San
Miguel group of mines across the river
the ore being carried in an aerial tram
about a half-mile long. The towers of
this tram are cut stone masonry. In this
mill is also located the electric plant
which furnishes light for the mills, resi-
dence buildings and store.
The mill in the San Miguel hacienda
has twenty-five stamps, pans, settlers.
etc. 1t is used to treat only the high
grade ore. 20 per cent of the value of
which is saved In the batteries. In two
open-hearth furnaces, having a total ca
pacity Of sixty-five tons a week, is treat
ed the pan-tailings from this mill and
the concentrates from the San Miguel
MILL
The great working TUNNEL of the mines
is called the Porfirio Diaz. 1t opens near
the San Miguel mill, and Is 1000 feet
long. 1t was begun by Gov. Shepherd in
1884 and finished in 1896. Like every
thing else connected with the Batopilas
plant 1t is constructed on a gigantic plan.
and evidently with the intention of ex.
tending 1t so as ultimately to cover the
properties generally. It cuts, In its course,
about 200 veins and stringers from which
the ore is taken out by a small railroad.
There are other tunnels in the San
Miguel. Camuchin and Animas groups of
greater or less length, all constructed In
the same everlasting manner. Seven hum
dred employees are occupied in and about
the Mines but a small number of which
are Americans.
A Contented Community.
1t is said that nowhere in the mining
districts of Chihuahua can be found So
industrious. healthy. quiet and contented
a community as at Batopilas. Everything
moves as quietly and smoothly as if run
by clockwork. A school, with four teach
ers, is maintained for the children The
company maintains a large store so that
its employees may be certain of supplies