MEXICO. 433 Captain Vetch, the Director of the Real del Monte Mining Association, in a Report dated the 26th September, 1826, after stating the produce of the mines of Count Regla, during the fifty years in which they were in full activity, to have been twenty-six millions and a half of dollars,* calculates that, by working the two great veins, (La Biscaina and Santa Brigida,) at once, (which was never the case before,) the Company may expect to derive from them a yearly return of one million and a half of dollars: — He adds another million for the other mines belonging to the Company on the Veins of Moran, Acosta, San Estevan, &c., in the same district ; and at Pechuga, Zimapan, and ozumatlan ; and declares his ex- pectation, " that the mines, in the course of the year 1827, will cover their own expenses, and that, in 1828, the produce will be two millions of dollars ; fully equalling, if not sur- passing, the annual average amount derived from them before the year 1810. In a second Report, dated 16th March, 1827, Captain Vetch confesses that delays have occurred in the completion of the preparatory works, which will, in all probability, ren- der some farther advances on the part of the Company neces- sary during the year 1827 ; but he does not modify his opinion with regard to the prospects of the Adventurers in any other respect, and appears to consider success in the years 1828, and 1829, as certain. The same gentleman, in his capacity of Director of theBolanos Company, estimates the probable annual produce of the mines of Bolaiios, after the year 1828, (the whole of which will be oc- cupied with the drainage,) at two millions of dollars, (Report of 1st October, 1826 ;) and he adds in a subsequent Report, (of 16th March, 1827,) that he sees no reason to change his opinion either with regard to the mines, or the time at which they may be expected to become productive, as he is borne out in all that he had stated in his former report, by the
- Average 530,000 dollars per annum.
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