Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/482

442 MEXICO. at the present moment, of producing seven bars weekly, or 365,000 dollars per annum, could a sufficient number of work- men be procured for the extraction of the ore. Of the two American Companies mentioned in the sketch, (those of Baltimore and New York,) I can say little, except that the first only has effected an establishment in Mexico. The mines to be worked by both are situated at Temascal- tepec, (about thirty leagues from the Capital,) and the works are conducted with great economy and activity by Mr. Keat- ing, a distinguished mineralogist of the United States. With regard to the result, I have been informed that, from the tables of former produce, during a long series of years, there is reason to hope that the mines may pay an interest of from nine to fifteen per cent, upon the capital invested, which does not exceed 100,000 dollars. The completion of the works will, probably, be effected in the course of the year 1828. The preceding pages contain the only data, upon which a calculation " of the returns likely to be made to the Adven- turers by the Companies now established in Mexico," can, at present, be attempted. The result is by no means such as I could have wished, as it is founded upon conjectural evidence, and amounts, at best, to nothing more than probability ; but I have no hesitation in adding that 1 regard this probability as strong, and that, after a very careful investigation, I see little reason to consider the expectations of the Directors as exaggerated, or to suppose that, before three years have elapsed, these expectations may not be realised. If this be the case, the addition to the amount of Silver now raised, in the year 1830, might be roughly estimated in the following manner : — Dollars. Real del Monte Company . . . 2,500,000 Bolanos . . . . . 2,000,000