The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-27
AMERICAN CAPITAL
 IN MEXICAN MINES
Mineral Wealth of Mexico Is
 Almost Fabulous
RICHES ARE UNTOUCHED
Scientific Mining Methods Into Mexico to Develop the
 Resources

San Antonio, Texas, December 2s- l Special. .)-American capital Is still being poured into the mining industry in the Republic of Mexico Mining men claim 1t is a domain that is destined in the fu- ture to become the greatest producer of the precious minerals of any country in the world. It's mineral storehouse has barely been touched. notwithstanding the fact that scratching around the sur face in spots has been in progress for two or three centuries and untold mill lions of dollars of wealth in gold, silver and copper have been extracted. There Is scarcely a state in Mexico in which min ing Is not carried on more or less ex- tensively. Tn the localities where the mines are advantageously situated as to railroad transportation facilities and oth- CT modern adjuncts to successful and profitable mining the mineral develop ment has made giant strides during the last few years.
 The Guanajuato district may be cited ass an apt illustration of the wonderful things that can be accomplished by the adoption of modern methods of mining operations backed by ample American capital and4the exercise of the indomita- ble energy which characterizes these in- vestors. Ten years ago Guanajuanto was dead mining Camp. In the times of the speniards it had produced an enor- nous amount of rich ore, but for one reason and another most of the mines were abandoned. The fuel problem was the main cause for the inoperation of the mines. Then came the installation of great hydro-eectric plant at Fl Duro, state of Michoacan. The fact that Guam ajuato was more than 100 miles away from this electric generating plant did lot deter its far-seeing promoters from carrying out their plans of providing cheap power for the operation of the ma chinery of the mines. A transmission line was built to Guanajuato. American capital began to flow into the ancient camp in a steady stream. Old mines were re-opened and new ones developed. During the last few years many millions of dollars of American money have been invested in the Guanajuato district. It is now one of the busiest localities ip Mexico. It is producing an enormous yield of rich ore each day. Some idea of the extent of these mining operations in Guanajuato may be had when 1t Is arthoritativefy stated that more stamps are now dropping into that one district than there are in the whole state of Nevada. It is strictly an American min ing district. Cheap power is the secret of this rejuyenation and development that has been accomplished in that dis trict The same thing is going on in the mining district of Fl Orc, state of Mex leo; at Lachuca, state of Hidalgo. and at Santa Eulalia, state of Chihuahua.
 Projects on Foot
 American projects are now on foot to establish other large hydro-electric plants in various other localities of Mexico, par ticularly at La Joya and near Santa Rosalia, both on the Conchos river, state of Chihuahua, and on the Santiago river near Guadalajara, all with the special ob- l ject in view of transmitting the power thus generated to mining districts whose development is now being retarded on ac- count of the heavy cost of power In all portions of Mexico where the precious minerals exist steady development is in progress. It is notable fact that American capital Is far in the lead when it comes to the source of this class of investments. In fact, in some of the min ing districts Americans are practically in control of all the best properties. This 1 is true, not only as to the more aceessi- ble localities, but also in the remote camps which are reached by long and dangerous travel oyer mountain trails on burro-back.
 |, The story of the late A. R. (Boss) Shep- herd, who, in the days of his political power in the United States, iaid out and made beautiful the city of Washington, and when criticism was poured upon his head buried himself fin the heart of the Sierra Madres of the state of Chihuahua, where at the mining camp of Batopias he recoupped his fallen fortune and left mines and property valued at several millions of dollars when he died a few years ago, is being repeated in many other mining camps of Mexico today by venturesome Americans who perhaps had an early history not quite so eventful as that of MT. Shepherd.
 The Invention and utilization of modern cyanide and other methods of treating the ores have also served to open up great numbers of new mines and to make 1t possible to work at profit existing properties in Mexico. Tn these things | Americans have set the pace. It Is a we'll established fact that there are min. erai districts in remote parts of that | country which are just as rich as those already noted for their large production and the building to them of railroads and the providing of cheap power are all that is lacking to bring about their quick development.
 The American Smelling and Refining company is one of the large aggregations of American capital that is operating extensively in the country and bringing about great increase in the mineral production of Mexico This concern op- crates a number of large smelters in diff ferent parts of the republic It is gen. orally known as the smelling trustsbut in Mexico it is not in full control of that branch of the industry. as the independ- ent smelters there are doing large and profitable business.
 Phantom Deer Killed
 The famous phantom deer. milk white, and said by the Mexicans to bear a charmed life. carrying the maidstone, '' after eight years persistent hunting has been killed. The white dear was brought low on the Taft ranch in San Patricio county, east of San Antonio, by G. B. Patterson, assistant foreman on the ranch, which is owned by Chahes P. Taft of Cincinnati, O., brother of the President. Hunters from the north. from San Antonio. and many other points have camped out for weeks, year after . | year. awaiting the chance for a lucky