Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/393

to drain the upper levels: from this a cross cut was driven in the supposed direction of the vein, which, however, only demonstrated its non-existence, by traversing the whole distance between the two shafts without cutting it. Upon this the enterprise was abandoned; but not until fifteen or twenty thousand pounds had been thrown away upon a mine, from which the natives had all pronounced, at the very outset, that not one ounce of silver would ever be extracted. The loss, fortunately, fell upon persons to whom it was of little consequence; but it is much to be regretted, that in a country where, by the judicious application of the same capital, so much might have been effected, the choice of the managing agent should have been influenced rather by the beauties of the scenery, than by the intrinsic value of the mine which it was intended to work. All Mr. Bullock's preparations seemed to be calculated upon a certainty of success, that not even the command of a whole district can give, although its probability increases in proportion to the number of different points upon which a vein is explored. Where the vein is of known goodness, and the possibility of draining it, by the application of a given mechanical power, ascertained, the interval may be employed usefully, as it has been in most of the great negotiations, in the completion of surface-works; but where the very existence of the vein is questionable, to commence operations by a large