Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/532

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MINING, MANUFACTURES, AND FISHERIES.

chuca, and Zacatecas. Argentiferous and platiniferous ores are found in the district of Jacala, or Santa María de Álamos, in Hidalgo.^[1] Most of the gold and silver ore in Mexico is found in veins.

The following is the order of the best mines, by states and districts, from past history: In Guanajuato, the districts of Guanajuato and Villalpando; in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Sombrerete, and Fresnillo; in San Luis Potosí, Catorce, Cerro de San Pedro, and Ramos; in Hidalgo, Real del Monte (Moran, Pachuca), and Zimapan; in Jalisco, Bolaños; in Durango, San Dimas or Guarisamey, Topia, Guanacevi, and Gavilanes; in Chihuahua, Batopilas, Jesus María, Santa Eulalia, Cosihuiriachic, Guadalupe y Calvo, and Parral; in Sonora, Mulatos, Álamos, and Caborca; in Sinaloa, Guadalupe de los Reyes, Jocuistita, Rosario, Copala, and Pánuco; in Michoacan, Tlalpujahua, and El Oro; in Mexico, Temascaltepec, Sultepec, and Zacualpan; and in Guerrero et al., Tascoa and Tehuilotepec.^[2]

The district of Santa Fé de Guanajuato was the richest in Mexico, and had a steady production, seventy-five per cent of it coming from amalgamation and twenty-five per cent from smelting. It is believed that this district has produced from first to last $800,000,000 to $1,000,000,000.^[3]

The district de la Luz some years ago shipped over $200,000 of bullion weekly. Most of the mines are now abandoned. The state of Zacatecas has been the

↑ The number of silver districts are as follows: in Chihuahua 15; Durango 33; Guanajuato 13, including the renowned Valenciana; Guerrero 4; Hidalgo 2; Jalisco 10; Mexico 7; Michoacan 2; Morelos, the San Juan de Dios; Nuevo Leon, the Minas Viejas of Villaldama; Oajaca 4; Puebla, the Tetela de Oro; Querétaro, the Doctor; San Luis Potosí 6; Sinaloa 26, some of which have proved immensely productive; Sonora 10; and Zacatecas 16, all very rich. These districts yielded all the gold and silver coined throughout Mexico from July 1, 1978, to June 30, 1879, namely, 547,324,905 kilograms of silver, and 1,029,519 kilograms of gold. Busto, Estadíst. Rep. Mex., ii. 2d pt 7.
↑ About 16 of them have American machinery at work, either for hoisting, pumping, or reduction, or for all. The advent of railroads may entirely invert or change this order. Dahlgren's Hist. Mines Mex., 28.
↑ The Rayas mine, next in importance to the Valenciana, is said to have yielded in 44 years about 87 million dollars. Rochi, Estudio Estadíst. Min. Guan., 1884, p. 18.

[1] The number of silver districts are as follows: in Chihuahua 15; Durango 33; Guanajuato 13, including the renowned Valenciana; Guerrero 4; Hidalgo 2; Jalisco 10; Mexico 7; Michoacan 2; Morelos, the San Juan de Dios; Nuevo Leon, the Minas Viejas of Villaldama; Oajaca 4; Puebla, the Tetela de Oro; Querétaro, the Doctor; San Luis Potosí 6; Sinaloa 26, some of which have proved immensely productive; Sonora 10; and Zacatecas 16, all very rich. These districts yielded all the gold and silver coined throughout Mexico from July 1, 1978, to June 30, 1879, namely, 547,324,905 kilograms of silver, and 1,029,519 kilograms of gold. Busto, Estadíst. Rep. Mex., ii. 2d pt 7.

[2] About 16 of them have American machinery at work, either for hoisting, pumping, or reduction, or for all. The advent of railroads may entirely invert or change this order. Dahlgren's Hist. Mines Mex., 28.

[3] The Rayas mine, next in importance to the Valenciana, is said to have yielded in 44 years about 87 million dollars. Rochi, Estudio Estadíst. Min. Guan., 1884, p. 18.

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