El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-26
(By Phil Mclaughlin

(By Phil McLaughlin.)
~ ARRAL. Chin, Mex, Aug. 26.-
r. Parral. in southern Chihuahua.
on a branch of the National
lines. is situated about 81 miles from
Jimenez. on the main line. 1t is prin-
cipaily mining camp. though through
fits scattered territory much farming
end stock raising is being done. Pre-
vious TO its discovery as district
whose undersoil contained much valu-
able ore, it was vast wilderness COW
cred with trees and rocks OF immense
size. the latter relics. probably. of
some volcanic disturbances in days
mountain sides in places are colored
q deep fire red.
Ancient Mining Center.
The archives Of the jefatura in this
city contain very little written his
tory Of the past but a glance through
them seems TO convey the knowledge
that Parral was first founded along
about the year A. d. 1910, a copy of a
letter being on file written by don
Gonzalo Gomez de Cervantez and d.
rected to the marquis of sinoloa A D..
in which is recommended certain re-
forms in the administration of mining
affairs, in order to encourage that i'm
portant industry IN this district; in
cidentally, mention is made of the San
Cristobal mine, and the. year 1910 is
mentioned in connection Herewith. So
1t is seen that the mining industry of
this district has been going on for
over 800 years. The San Cristobal
mine is being operated on a large
scale today; only lately discoveries
rich ore running as high as nine
pounds in silver.
Progress in 1911.
Parral came into possession of at
least three valuable assets since the
first of January last in the compile
ton of three of the largest cyanide
mills in the northern section Of the
republic. the Alvarado Mining and
Millingcompany' plant, with a daily
capacity of 500 tons; the Veta Colo
rada Mining and Shelter company's
plant, daily capacity $50 tons, and the
San Francisco del eros plant with it's
capacity of 300 or more tons per day.
The Alvarado was the first to grind
the wheels turning on Thursday, jan
uary 5. 1911 Following a week later
came the Veta Colorado. The San
Francisco del Orc started up their ma
chinery early in June and a short
time afterward things were humming
constantly. All three mills have main
tanned a steady and profitable grind
since their beginning. Arrangements
are now going forward TO increase the
capacity of two Of the mills men,
toned.
Handling Low Grade Ores.
AS said above, the addition of these |
much needed industries to the dis |
trict has proved a valuable asset in |
1t was only a grade of ore above a |
specified number Of grams which /
could be shipped to the smelters at a |
profit. Today, ore as low as 800 grams |
can be milled in the district with a |
fair profit
At no time during the 800 or more
years in which mining has been con- /
Quoted in the district has it been pos |
sible to handle any but high grade
ores. Up to several years ago ores
were carried long distances for treat
ment, on the backs OF burros. Though /
labor was cheap in those days, none
but the very valuable ores could be
mined profitably. Every phase of the
work in those days showed evidences
Of crudeness, and which, therefore
was expensive Despite these facts.
however, fabulous sums have been
realized. With the coming of railroad
facilities came interest in the district
and with that interest came capital,
and thus the opportunities for profit
able mining on a large scale became
Many idle mines changed hands
during the regeneration of the dis
-rict from the year 1884 to 1907 (the
panic year, and were worked at