El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-29
Mining Industry Of State Of Chihuahua
(From consul Leo ]. Keena, Chihuahua

From consul Leo !
The richest and most important mining
districts of the state of Chihuahua are Ba-
topilas, Parral, Santa Eulalia, Ocampo,
Cusihuiriachic, Morelos, Guadalupe y
{ Calvo, Urique, Uruachic, Corralitos, Ia
puri, Santa Barbara and Palmarejo
With the exception of Morelos and
Guadalupe V Caivo, discovered in 1880
and 1885, the mines OF Chihuahua were
| known and worked successful during
the Spanish dominion, in spite of the
j fact that labor was very scarce and
| transportation and refining facilities so
| crude and expensive that ore yielding
! less than Is ounces of silver per carga
! 900 pounds) was considered worthless.
! OF these old districts, Unique, discovered
| in 1880. but now practically abandoned,
was famous for the richness of its sill
yer and lead mines. Batopilas, discover
| ed in 1852, is credited with having pro-
duced more than $40, 600, 900 before 1921.
| All values in this report are given in
American dollars). Cusihuiriachic. dis
covered in 1866, returned up to 1884,
! S22, 500, 900 worth of silver Santa Eu-
lalia and Santa Barbara are also two of
the very old mining districts Shipments
| from the former (silver and lead) prior
to 1903 are said to have aggregated over
/ $500, 100000. Santa Barbara in 1907
produced $4,000, 900 gold and silver.
Growth of the Mining Industry.
The later growth of the mining indus
try in chihuahua is shown in the stead
lily increased output of the mines and h.
the immense area covered ny mining
claims. From the records of the Casa
de Moneda (mint), established in the
city of chihuahua in 1911 and main
tanned there until 1895, the estimated
value of the mineral output during those
years is given as $29, ,444, of which
S28,498,4 80 was silver, $853,750 gold,
and s25,214 copper.
The value of metals mined between
1895 and 1908, inclusive, 13 years, was
S64 ,433, 1874, as compared with the fore
going figures of s29, 377, 444 for the So
preceding years Between 1895 and 1908
the year of smallest production was
1896, s1,435,O54 and the year of maxi
mum production was, 1907. S1I, 989, 905.
The output in 1908 totaled S10,995, 0S2.
On July 1, 1908, there were 1924 valid
titles to mining properties. comprising a
total area of more than $1,000 acres in
the state of Chihuahua. By May 1,
1909, the number of mining titles had
increased to 1886. distributed as fol-
lows, in regard to the character of metals
found on the various claims: Gold, 1874;
gold and silver, 1896: silver, SOP; gold,
silver and copper, 573; gold, silver and
lead, 965; gold and copper, 30; silver
and copper, ISL; silver, copper and lead,
90; silver and lead, 1141; silver and
manganese. q antimony, 5; sulphur. 1;
copper, 108; copper and iron, 81; copper
and lead, 5; iron, %; manganese, 2;
mercury, 10; lead, %; rock salt, 1 zinc,
49,
Statistics concerning the mines and
reduction works in operation in the state
in 1908 are as follows: Number of
mines, III, employing 10,025 men and
236 boys; number of reduction works,
Is. employing 1859 men and bows:
number of machines, hydraulic, 20. of
$500 horsepower; steam, %, of 1704
horsepower.
The Mines by Districts.
The state is divided into II districts
or counties, of which the following
statement shows the number of mines
in operation and the value of their OUT
put in 1907:
Iturbide: The best known sections OF
this district are Santa Eulalia (silverl.
and Placer de Guadalupe, Santo Donin
go, Ooyame and Magistral "COPPER" In
Santa Eulalia there are more than 80
mines; output, S1,500,00O.
Braves: only few mines were in
O00
Arteago: This district will become
of great Importance in gold and silver
mining upon the complentiOn of the
Kansas City, Mexico q Orient railway;
two mines were in operation near GuaZa-
paras. and seven near Chinipas; output,
$537. 920.
Hidalgo: At Parral eight mines. at
Santa Barbara eight, and at Villa Esco-
bedo eight, were in operation; five reduc-
tion works were in operation and three
idle; output, $3.50, 2S5.
Andres del Rio: This district con-
tains some of the richest gold and sill
yer mines in the state; 10 at Bato~ilas
and six at Morelos were in operation;
output, s1.250,000.
Jimenes: Principal mines in opera
ton, two near Ciudad Jimenes. one cop
per and one gold. and six at Alena; out
put, $3.50 ,554
Camargo: Principal mines in opera
ton numbered three; output, s342,725.
Rayon: A rich gold and silver min
ing country Handicapped by poor trans
portatiOn facilities. Mines in operation:
Two in Ocampo. six in Uruachie, and
-four at Morris: OUTPUT S56S, 900.
Guerrero: Gold, silver and lead are
mined in this district Mines in opera
ton: One near Gudad Guerrero and
one near Temosachic; output; s1,077,-
600.
Benito Juarez: Four mines in opera
ton, the output being valued at $751;
200.
Nina: Mines in operation, two at
Guadalupe Calvo. three at Dolores,
and three at Calabscillas; output, s75,-
900.
Galeana: There were 81 mines in OBJ
Grafton in this district, at Casas Grandes,
Ascension and Galeana; output, s2,351,-
$50
The value of the output by districts,
Sl2,22O,0 exceeds the official value.
81 i ,989 ,905, by $3.50, 129, for the reason