Volume 12 (1866) (428 pages)

She Wining and Scientific Dress, SALES OF THE WEEK BY THE &, F. STOOK & EXOHANGE NOARD. Saturday, February 17, 17 shs Savage at 970@1225 per foot. lsh Savage at 980 per foot, b 5. 2shs Savage at 950 per foot, s 20. 13 shs Chollar: Potosi at at 310@300 per ft. Sshs Chollar-Potosi at 305 per foot, b 3. 25 shs Hale & Norcross at 990@940 per foot. 5 sbs Hale & Noreross at 955@970, s 3. 6shs Overman at 60 per share, b 5. 16 sbs Overman at 48@49 per fout. 5 sha Overman at 50 per foot, b 15, 156 shs Ophir at 440@435 per foot. 25 shs Ophir at 440 per foot, s 3. 120 shs Ophir at 450 per foot, b 30. 24 sbs Ophir at 440 per foot. b3. 17 shs Beleber at 190@215 per foot. ish Belcher at 195 per foot, 83. 8shs Belcher at 200 per foot, b 5. 33hs Beleher at 200 per foot, b 3, 1shs Beleber at 220 per foot. b 30. . 24 shs Crown Point at 910@9U0 per foot, 3 3. 12shs Grown Poiat at $00 per foot, 47 shs Yeilow Jacket at 441@480 per foot. Gshs Yellow Jacket at 445@4165 per ft, 63. 4shs Yellow Jacket at 440@475 per It, $5. 6shs Yellow Jacket at 445@450 ver ft, 5 30. lsh Yellow Jacket at 475 per foot, b 3. 20 shs Alpha, G H, at 260 per foot. 4shs Gould & Curry at 1055 per foot. 93 sbs Imperial at 116@118 per share. 20 shs Imperial at 126 per share, 5 30. 15 shs Imperial at 11534 per share, b 5. 10 shs Imperial at 118 per share, b 3. 5shslmperial at 117 per share, s 5, 8shs Imperial at 116 per sharo, 5 15, 17 shs Bullion at 65@64 per shure. Gshs Bullion at 6732 per share, b 30. 15 shs Bullion at 62 per share, $ 3, 20 shs Exehequer at 64 per share. 100 shs Lady Bryan at 4 per share, $3, 70 shs Lady Bryan at 4@434 per share 60 shs Lady Bryan at 5 per share, 3 5. 8shs Confidenco at 40 per share. 6shs Emplre 0 & M ©o. at 180 per sh. 3 shs Cal Steam Nav €o at 62 per cent, b 3. 3 shs Gal Steam Nav Co at 60 per eent. Amount of sales.. .o..0+ee0e+-S147,698 50 Bronday, Febrnary 19. 17 shs Savage at 950@9{0 per foot. 2shs Savage at 950@910 per foot, s 30. 7 shs Savage at 910@945 per foot,s 3. 2 shsSavage at 940 per foot, b 3. 59 shs Yellow Jacket at 425@470 per foot. 7 shs Yellow Jacket at 445@425 per ft. 3 3, 6shs Yellow Jacket at 455@470, s 10. 4shs Yellow Jaoket at 470 per foot, s 5. ll shs Yellow Jacket at 465@435 per ft, 530. 5shs Yellow Jacket at 455 per it, $28. 6shs Yellow Jacket at 455 per foot, b 15. Ish Yellow Jacket at 465 per foot, b 20. lsh Yellow Jaeket at 460 per foot. b 30. 2 shs Yellow Jacket at 430@125 per ft, b 3. 20 shs Hale & Norcross at 985@945 per ft. 2shs Hale & Norcross at 955 per sh, 3 3. 5 shs Boleher at 200 per toot. 36 shs Ophir at 43234 per foot. 12 shs Ophir at 43234 per foot, 33. 40 shs Exchequer at 7 per share, b3. 10 shs Confidence at 41 per share. 30 shs Imperial at U6@116!4 per share, 8 30, 30 shs Imperial at 1173,@118 per sh, s 3. 49 shs Imperlal at 11734@118}4 per share. 49 shs Bullion at 68@674¢ per share. 105 shs Buliion at 674 per share, h 30. 75 shs Wide West at 9 per sharo, 83. Ssbs Empire M & M Go, at 18) per sh,b3 lsh Cal Steam Nav €o at 60 per ct, 3 60, AFTERNOON SESSION. 192 shs Ophir at 410@445 per foot. 6 shs Ophir at 450 per foot. 12 shs Ophir ar 450 per foot, b 5 12 sbs Ophir at 455 per foot, b 30. 4shs Yellow Jackot at 440 pcr foot. lshs Yeliow Jacket at 140 per foot, s 5. 8 shs Yellow Jacket at 430 per foot, s 30. 4shs Yellow Jacket at 44244 per toot. 2shs Yellow Jacket at 44234 per foot, 3 3. 6shs Yellow Jacket at 445 per foot. 1sh Belcher at 200 per foot, s38. 3 she Belcher at 195@19 per foot. 5shs ChollarPotosi at 305 per foot, b 80. 7shs Chollar: Potosi at 400 per toot. 20 shs Oould & Curry at 1000@1025 per foot. 6 shs Savage at 960 per foot. 6shs Savage at 950 per foot, s 20. i2shs'Alpha, O, H., at 270@265 per foot. ‘24shs Alpba, G. Fi. at 275@27734 per ft. 16 shs Alpha, 0. H. at 280 per foot. aghs Hale & Norcross at 950@980 per foot. 2shs Hale & Norcross at 980 per foot,s 10. 10 shs Hale & Noreross at 965@960 por foot. 40 shs Exehcquer at 7@634 per share. 41 slis Bulhon at 65 per sbare. 2shs Bullion at 65 per sbare, 35, 15shs Bullion at 66 per share, 10 sbs Imperial at 117 per share, 3 30, 10 shs Imperial at 119 per share, b 3, 2shs Empire Nill & M. €o. at 180 per sh. Amount of sales,... ++ +$177,080 25 Tuesday, February 20. 15 shs Choliar-Potosi at 300@30732, s 3. 2 shs Chollar-Potost at 295@315 per foot. 5shs Gnollar-Potosi at 300 per foot, s 30. 5 shs Chollar Potosi at 314 per foot, b 2. lsh Savage at 940 per foot, s 30. 6 sbs Savage at 940@915 per foot. lsh Savago at 920 por foot, s 10. 2shs Savage at 910 per foot, 33. 6shs Dale & Norcross at 980@950 per ft. 2shs Male & Noreross at 980 per sh, b 6. 4shs Oould & Curry at 1060 per foot. 40 shs Crown Point at 925 per foot. 21 shs Yellow Jacket at 430@400 per ft, s 30. 8 shs Yellow Jacket at425@415 per share 7shs Yellow Jacket at 420 per foot, 310. 1sh Beleher at 180 per foot 1sb Belcher at 180 per foot.b 5. 24sh3 Ophir at 43734 per foot. 16 shs Exchequer at 7@6°34 per share, 3 5. 133 sbs3 Exchequer at 644@734 per foot. REPORT ON THE CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO. (Extracts from a work now in Press in the Miving aad Scieatific Press Job Priatiag Office.) Among the number of celebrated mineral districts, that in former years yielded such fabulous wealth in silver and other precious metals, BATOPILAS ranked as one of the principal oues. Zhe history of this place can with certainty be traced back about 200 years, although its greatest splendor appears to have been in the middle of the last century, when a numher of its mines made it the envy of all Mexico. A Mexican writer of note, Don J. A. de Escudero, in his very interesting “ Noticias ESTADISTICAS DEL Estapo Ds Caimsuanua,” says silver ($7,876,000) into the King’s treasury at Chihuahua, passed hy that office from the years 1785 to 1789, the only other mineral contribution being that of Parral,—this sum being the Derecho del Key (King’s dues) of 20 ge ct. levied on the amount taken out of the mines, which must have yielded, in those five years, $36,880,000, besides what may have beeu secreted and stolen by the workmen and others. It is, indeed, greatly to be regretedt that the conflagration of 1827 laid a large portion of the Capital of the State (the City of ChihuaBatopilas. That misfortune has deprived us of the authentic facts, referring to the yield of each mine by itself. Very few old documeuts, however, yet remain scattered over the country in private hands. More or less silver continued to flow from Batopilas until 1810 to 1812, epoch of the Mexican Declaration of Independence, when the district commenced to feel the eonsequences, until 1821, when the war had placed the country in a chaos of misery, and the Spaniards were expelled from it. This, at one hlow, stopped all the works, and put an end to the long period of prosperity, gradually reducing Batopilas to a state of perfect staguation. The huts and “adode” houses fell in for want of care, aud lay in ruins, dilapidated and roofless; the few now remaining are scarcely iu a hetter condition. } A few years afterwards, the celebrated district of “ Refugio,” in the same State, was discovered; a rush of the, as yet, remaining able workmen of Batopilas took place, and the district fell into the greatest gaining a subsistence by picking them over, aud the hope of sometimes meeting with somethiug better worth their time, induced a seanty proportion of the former numerous population to remain, It is reported, that at one time it amounted to some 5,000; whereas, at present, it may not be over 600 souls. Jt was only occasionally that any important discovery was made by these poor people, who hardly had a fit instrument to work with. Such induced then, momentorily, a revival, calling hack from other places a share of former deserters, who did not know how to take advantage of their good luck, for the reason that as soon as acquired, was again expended; people essentially migratory, who would collect at first report of a “honanza,” dispersing soon after, leaviug no trace of enterprise. : Besides a very few tolerahly good houses, the small church, the remains of several reduction works, (“ Haciendas de benefieio,”) once moved hy water, and a number of others by horse or mule power, were, or rather are, the only remaining vestiges of its former opulence. the inhahitants composing the population; the very limited communication that it had, for the reason of its isolated position, with the more civilized parts of the country, and the very few attractions it presents to persons to undertake costly huildings. THE MOUNTAINS, that shut Batopilas in on all sides, and fall off in a very steep declination, generally reach a hight of from 1500 to 2500 feet ahove the river flowing through the gorge, overtopped by the eliff-crowned peaks of the “Sierra Madre,” and furrowed and divided hy deep ravines and rocky spurs; their surface heing eovered by a thick vegetation of high thorny shrubs and gigantie eactus, whieh make it extremely unpleasant to leave the heaten traeks. With regard to the MINERAL VEINS, Batopilas eompares favorably with the richest mining districts; as at least one hundred, of more or less note, are known to exist iu a very limited eireuit—a majority of which seem to coneentrate in one of the hills called the “ CERRO DE ANIMAS,” to the north of the town, whieh really seems to he furrowed hy veins, as well as the hills “San Antonio” aud “ Descuhridora.” Mining District of BATOPILAS, in the State of that Batopilas paid the greater part of the sum of 922,000 marks of. hua) in ashes, destroying the archives relating to the District of misery. The extreme richness of the rubbish piles, the facilities of We must, however, take into consideration the general character of AS AUTHORITY, to refer to, in regard to the richness of some of the mines of the district, there are only two sources left to us at present: say—a very limited numher of still existing official documents, and the traditions and experience of the old working men, whose number is, however, fast dying out. . The latter, if not entirely to he relied on, place in our discriminating hands a very serviceable thread, and are very often the only means of getting any information at all, The former prove to us, that in reality such vast amounts of silver were extracted that seem fabulous and ineredible, yet leave no doubt on this point. Not all the various mines, however, gave their owners the riches of Croesus : many turned out unremunerative; the number of those that gave great “ honanzas” was comparatively limited. Again, we have here to consider, that the Spaniards of those days worked almost exclusively those lodes where they could see the silver cropping out on the very surface, leaving others, where such was not the case, unnoticed, or at least never went to any expense to prospect them. Principally among the former “BONANZA MINES,” rank “ Pastrana,” “ Nevada,” “ Arhitrios,” “Cata,” “Dolores,” “ Vallinas,” “ Roncesvalles,” ‘“ Carmen,’ “San Antonio,” Descubridora,” “ Martinez,” “ San Pedro,” and some others. Besides these, there are a number more pointed out which are likewise known to have given their riches—some of them even at a recent day—to a greater or lesser degree, as for instance, “ Camuchin,” “San Antonio de los Tachos,” “ Candelaria,’ “ Animas,” “ Baltazar,” “San Nestor,” “ Trinidad,” “Tajos,” “ Valencia,” “ Fierro,” “Santo Domingo,” “El Santo Nino,” “ Guadalupe,” “Rosario.” All these mines lay now more or less abandoned; their supporting pillars having been taken out for the sake of their rich metal, caused them to cave in entirely, or partly hlocking them up by rubhish and rain, which for a great leugth of time entered freely through their unprotected openings. As the reason of their ahandonment, it is not always to be supposed that it was their metal giving out.“ Auy such conclusion would be abnormal, and agaiust all practical experience and scientific ohservations. The frequent discoveries of rich silver in them, within the last few years, show to the contrary, Their wealth most likely continues at some further depth heneath their present bottom. They have never been worked to any considerable distance helow the surface; the greatest depth reported being that of the “ Carmen” and “ Pastrana,” hoth of which are said to have obtained ahout 150 varas (440 feet English). The Spaniards have a proverh in regard to this—* that all mines have three distinct and different periods of ‘bonanzas’;” meaning therehy that the giving out for a time of one need not discourage the miner, for, by going deeper, he will he sure to find the other. And, in fact, the common reasoning, “ that the old mines have been ahandoned on account of their heing worked out,” is entirely without foundation ; and only admissible where it actually has been proved ; or to he concluded from exterior reasons. It is therefore much more likely, that new works, going below the old ones, must strike again the precious metal somewhere. : In some instances it may not he advisahle to work old miues anew; but this has always to he regulated hy local circumstances connected with the particular one. Nature indeed seems to have favored the District of Batopilas with a, most lavish and particular outfit of silver metal, in a virgin or almost pure state, which sometimes meets the eye with a color white as snow, yellow as gold, black as iron, or green as grass. Its ores are found in yarious combinations, one of which forms the interesting ruby stlver ore, whieh frequently presents itself in regular cut erystals of a hrilliant lustre and purple color. All the different classes turn out the most heautiful specimens, which serve to adorn cabinets, and are frequently purchased for more than their intrinsic value. NATIVE SILVER is generally classified as: ist. Massive.— Plata macira,” which may he hammered out or eut hy ehisels, but will not break. 2d. Wire.—* Plata Alambrada,” of more or less thiekness, which separate themselves by pounding; when very fine and near together it is called “plata broza,” which yields one-half, and even two-thirds of the weight of the stone in silver. 8d. Naiws.—“ Plata de clavos,” silver in the shape of nails, more or less thiek. 4th. Leaves.—* Plata de hoja,’ silver in the shape of leaves or sheets. 5th. Lumes.—* Bolas de plata,” showing little on the outside, rich inside. 6th. Surpnurers.—“ Metal de Azogue,” showing small specks of silver, mostly sulphurets. THE BENEFICIATING of the foregoiug kinds of ores and metals is done, according to classes,

She Wining and Scientific Dress, SALES OF THE WEEK BY THE &, F. STOOK & EXOHANGE NOARD. Saturday, February 17, 17 shs Savage at 970@1225 per foot. lsh Savage at 980 per foot, b 5. 2shs Savage at 950 per foot, s 20. 13 shs Chollar: Potosi at at 310@300 per ft. Sshs Chollar-Potosi at 305 per foot, b 3. 25 shs Hale & Norcross at 990@940 per foot. 5 sbs Hale & Noreross at 955@970, s 3. 6shs Overman at 60 per share, b 5. 16 sbs Overman at 48@49 per fout. 5 sha Overman at 50 per foot, b 15, 156 shs Ophir at 440@435 per foot. 25 shs Ophir at 440 per foot, s 3. 120 shs Ophir at 450 per foot, b 30. 24 sbs Ophir at 440 per foot. b3. 17 shs Beleber at 190@215 per foot. ish Belcher at 195 per foot, 83. 8shs Belcher at 200 per foot, b 5. 33hs Beleher at 200 per foot, b 3, 1shs Beleber at 220 per foot. b 30. . 24 shs Crown Point at 910@9U0 per foot, 3 3. 12shs Grown Poiat at $00 per foot, 47 shs Yeilow Jacket at 441@480 per foot. Gshs Yellow Jacket at 445@4165 per ft, 63. 4shs Yellow Jacket at 440@475 per It, $5. 6shs Yellow Jacket at 445@450 ver ft, 5 30. lsh Yellow Jacket at 475 per foot, b 3. 20 shs Alpha, G H, at 260 per foot. 4shs Gould & Curry at 1055 per foot. 93 sbs Imperial at 116@118 per share. 20 shs Imperial at 126 per share, 5 30. 15 shs Imperial at 11534 per share, b 5. 10 shs Imperial at 118 per share, b 3. 5shslmperial at 117 per share, s 5, 8shs Imperial at 116 per sharo, 5 15, 17 shs Bullion at 65@64 per shure. Gshs Bullion at 6732 per share, b 30. 15 shs Bullion at 62 per share, $ 3, 20 shs Exehequer at 64 per share. 100 shs Lady Bryan at 4 per share, $3, 70 shs Lady Bryan at 4@434 per share 60 shs Lady Bryan at 5 per share, 3 5. 8shs Confidenco at 40 per share. 6shs Emplre 0 & M ©o. at 180 per sh. 3 shs Cal Steam Nav €o at 62 per cent, b 3. 3 shs Gal Steam Nav Co at 60 per eent. Amount of sales... .o...0+ee0e+-S147,698 50 Bronday, Febrnary 19. 17 shs Savage at 950@9{0 per foot. 2shs Savage at 950@910 per foot, s 30. 7 shs Savage at 910@945 per foot,s 3. 2 shsSavage at 940 per foot, b 3. 59 shs Yellow Jacket at 425@470 per foot. 7 shs Yellow Jacket at 445@425 per ft. 3 3, 6shs Yellow Jacket at 455@470, s 10. 4shs Yellow Jaoket at 470 per foot, s 5. ll shs Yellow Jacket at 465@435 per ft, 530. 5shs Yellow Jacket at 455 per it, $28. 6shs Yellow Jacket at 455 per foot, b 15. Ish Yellow Jacket at 465 per foot, b 20. lsh Yellow Jaeket at 460 per foot. b 30. 2 shs Yellow Jacket at 430@125 per ft, b 3. 20 shs Hale & Norcross at 985@945 per ft. 2shs Hale & Norcross at 955 per sh, 3 3. 5 shs Boleher at 200 per toot. 36 shs Ophir at 43234 per foot. 12 shs Ophir at 43234 per foot, 33. 40 shs Exchequer at 7 per share, b3. 10 shs Confidence at 41 per share. 30 shs Imperial at U6@116!4 per share, 8 30, 30 shs Imperial at 1173,@118 per sh, s 3. 49 shs Imperlal at 11734@118}4 per share. 49 shs Bullion at 68@674¢ per share. 105 shs Buliion at 674 per share, h 30. 75 shs Wide West at 9 per sharo, 83. Ssbs Empire M & M Go, at 18) per sh,b3 lsh Cal Steam Nav €o at 60 per ct, 3 60, AFTERNOON SESSION. 192 shs Ophir at 410@445 per foot. 6 shs Ophir at 450 per foot. 12 shs Ophir ar 450 per foot, b 5 12 sbs Ophir at 455 per foot, b 30. 4shs Yellow Jackot at 440 pcr foot. lshs Yeliow Jacket at 140 per foot, s 5. 8 shs Yellow Jacket at 430 per foot, s 30. 4shs Yellow Jacket at 44244 per toot. 2shs Yellow Jacket at 44234 per foot, 3 3. 6shs Yellow Jacket at 445 per foot. 1sh Belcher at 200 per foot, s38. 3 she Belcher at 195@19 per foot. 5shs ChollarPotosi at 305 per foot, b 80. 7shs Chollar: Potosi at 400 per toot. 20 shs Oould & Curry at 1000@1025 per foot. 6 shs Savage at 960 per foot. 6shs Savage at 950 per foot, s 20. i2shs'Alpha, O, H., at 270@265 per foot. ‘24shs Alpba, G. Fi. at 275@27734 per ft. 16 shs Alpha, 0. H. at 280 per foot. aghs Hale & Norcross at 950@980 per foot. 2shs Hale & Norcross at 980 per foot,s 10. 10 shs Hale & Noreross at 965@960 por foot. 40 shs Exehcquer at 7@634 per share. 41 slis Bulhon at 65 per sbare. 2shs Bullion at 65 per sbare, 35, 15shs Bullion at 66 per share, 10 sbs Imperial at 117 per share, 3 30, 10 shs Imperial at 119 per share, b 3, 2shs Empire Nill & M. €o. at 180 per sh. Amount of sales,...... ++ +$177,080 25 Tuesday, February 20. 15 shs Choliar-Potosi at 300@30732, s 3. 2 shs Chollar-Potost at 295@315 per foot. 5shs Gnollar-Potosi at 300 per foot, s 30. 5 shs Chollar Potosi at 314 per foot, b 2. lsh Savage at 940 per foot, s 30. 6 sbs Savage at 940@915 per foot. lsh Savago at 920 por foot, s 10. 2shs Savage at 910 per foot, 33. 6shs Dale & Norcross at 980@950 per ft. 2shs Male & Noreross at 980 per sh, b 6. 4shs Oould & Curry at 1060 per foot. 40 shs Crown Point at 925 per foot. 21 shs Yellow Jacket at 430@400 per ft, s 30. 8 shs Yellow Jacket at425@415 per share 7shs Yellow Jacket at 420 per foot, 310. 1sh Beleher at 180 per foot 1sb Belcher at 180 per foot.b 5. 24sh3 Ophir at 43734 per foot. 16 shs Exchequer at 7@6°34 per share, 3 5. 133 sbs3 Exchequer at 644@734 per foot. REPORT ON THE CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO. (Extracts from a work now in Press in the Miving aad Scieatific Press Job Priatiag Office.) Among the number of celebrated mineral districts, that in former years

yielded such fabulous wealth in silver and other precious metals, BATOPILAS ranked as one of the principal oues. Zhe history of this place can with certainty be traced back about 200 years, although its greatest splendor appears to have been in the middle of the last century, when a numher of its mines made it the envy of all Mexico. A Mexican writer of note, Don J. A. de Escudero, in his very interesting “ Noticias ESTADISTICAS DEL Estapo Ds Caimsuanua,” says silver ($7,876,000) into the King’s treasury at Chihuahua, passed hy that office from the years 1785 to 1789, the only other mineral contribution being that of Parral,—this sum being the Derecho del Key (King’s dues) of 20 ge ct. levied on the amount taken out of the mines, which must have yielded, in those five years, $36,880,000, besides what may have beeu secreted and stolen by the workmen and others. It is, indeed, greatly to be regretedt that the conflagration of 1827 laid a large portion of the Capital of the State (the City of ChihuaBatopilas. That misfortune has deprived us of the authentic facts, referring to the yield of each mine by itself. Very few old documeuts, however, yet remain scattered over the country in private hands. More or less silver continued to flow from Batopilas until 1810 to 1812, epoch of the Mexican Declaration of Independence, when the district commenced to feel the eonsequences, until 1821, when the war had placed the country in a chaos of misery, and the Spaniards were expelled from it. This, at one hlow, stopped all the works, and put an end to the long period of prosperity, gradually reducing Batopilas to a state of perfect staguation. The huts and “adode” houses fell in for want of care, aud lay in ruins, dilapidated and roofless; the few now remaining are scarcely iu a hetter condition. } A few years afterwards, the celebrated district of “ Refugio,” in the same State, was discovered; a rush of the, as yet, remaining able workmen of Batopilas took place, and the district fell into the greatest gaining a subsistence by picking them over, aud the hope of sometimes meeting with somethiug better worth their time, induced a seanty proportion of the former numerous population to remain, It is reported, that at one time it amounted to some 5,000; whereas, at present, it may not be over 600 souls. Jt was only occasionally that any important discovery was made by these poor people, who hardly had a fit instrument to work with. Such induced then, momentorily, a revival, calling hack from other places a share of former deserters, who did not know how to take advantage of their good luck, for the reason that as soon as acquired, was again expended; people essentially migratory, who would collect at first report of a “honanza,” dispersing soon after, leaviug no trace of enterprise. : Besides a very few tolerahly good houses, the small church, the remains of several reduction works, (“ Haciendas de benefieio,”) once moved hy water, and a number of others by horse or mule power, were, or rather are, the only remaining vestiges of its former opulence. the inhahitants composing the population; the very limited communication that it had, for the reason of its isolated position, with the more civilized parts of the country, and the very few attractions it presents to persons to undertake costly huildings. THE MOUNTAINS, that shut Batopilas in on all sides, and fall off in a very steep declination, generally reach a hight of from 1500 to 2500 feet ahove the river flowing through the gorge, overtopped by the eliff-crowned peaks of the “Sierra Madre,” and furrowed and divided hy deep ravines and rocky spurs; their surface heing eovered by a thick vegetation of high thorny shrubs and gigantie eactus, whieh make it extremely unpleasant to leave the heaten traeks. With regard to the MINERAL VEINS, Batopilas eompares favorably with the richest mining districts; as at least one hundred, of more or less note, are known to exist iu a very limited eireuit—a majority of which seem to coneentrate in one of the hills called the “ CERRO DE ANIMAS,” to the north of the town, whieh really seems to he furrowed hy veins, as well as the hills “San Antonio” aud “ Descuhridora.” Mining District of BATOPILAS, in the State of that Batopilas paid the greater part of the sum of 922,000 marks of. hua) in ashes, destroying the archives relating to the District of misery. The extreme richness of the rubbish piles, the facilities of We must, however, take into consideration the general character of AS AUTHORITY, to refer to, in regard to the richness of some of the mines of the district, there are only two sources left to us at present: say—a very limited numher of still existing official documents, and the traditions and experience of the old working men, whose number is, however, fast dying out. . The latter, if not entirely to he relied on, place in our discriminating hands a very serviceable thread, and are very often the only means of getting any information at all, The former prove to us, that in reality such vast amounts of silver were extracted that seem fabulous and ineredible, yet leave no doubt on this point. Not all the various mines, however, gave their owners the riches of Croesus : many turned out unremunerative; the number of those that gave great “ honanzas” was comparatively limited. Again, we have here to consider, that the Spaniards of those days worked almost exclusively those lodes where they could see the silver cropping out on the very surface, leaving others, where such was not the case, unnoticed, or at least never went to any expense to prospect them. Principally among the former “BONANZA MINES,” rank “ Pastrana,” “ Nevada,” “ Arhitrios,” “Cata,” “Dolores,” “ Vallinas,” “ Roncesvalles,” ‘“ Carmen,’ “San Antonio,” Descubridora,” “ Martinez,” “ San Pedro,” and some others. Besides these, there are a number more pointed out which are likewise known to have given their riches—some of them even at a recent day—to a greater or lesser degree, as for instance, “ Camuchin,” “San Antonio de los Tachos,” “ Candelaria,’ “ Animas,” “ Baltazar,” “San Nestor,” “ Trinidad,” “Tajos,” “ Valencia,” “ Fierro,” “Santo Domingo,” “El Santo Nino,” “ Guadalupe,” “Rosario.” All these mines lay now more or less abandoned; their supporting pillars having been taken out for the sake of their rich metal, caused them to cave in entirely, or partly hlocking them up by rubhish and rain, which for a great leugth of time entered freely through their unprotected openings. As the reason of their ahandonment, it is not always to be supposed that it was their metal giving out.“ Auy such conclusion would be abnormal, and agaiust all practical experience and scientific ohservations. The frequent discoveries of rich silver in them, within the last few years, show to the contrary, Their wealth most likely continues at some further depth heneath their present bottom. They have never been worked to any considerable distance helow the surface; the greatest depth reported being that of the “ Carmen” and “ Pastrana,” hoth of which are said to have obtained ahout 150 varas (440 feet English). The Spaniards have a proverh in regard to this—* that all mines have three distinct and different periods of ‘bonanzas’;” meaning therehy that the giving out for a time of one need not discourage the miner, for, by going deeper, he will he sure to find the other. And, in fact, the common reasoning, “ that the old mines have been ahandoned on account of their heing worked out,” is entirely without foundation ; and only admissible where it actually has been proved ; or to he concluded from exterior reasons. It is therefore much more likely, that new works, going below the old ones, must strike again the precious metal somewhere. : In some instances it may not he advisahle to work old miues anew; but this has always to he regulated hy local circumstances connected with the particular one. Nature indeed seems to have favored the District of Batopilas with a, most lavish and particular outfit of silver metal, in a virgin or almost pure state, which sometimes meets the eye with a color white as snow, yellow as gold, black as iron, or green as grass. Its ores are found in yarious combinations, one of which forms the interesting ruby stlver ore, whieh frequently presents itself in regular cut erystals of a hrilliant lustre and purple color. All the different classes turn out the most heautiful specimens, which serve to adorn cabinets, and are frequently purchased for more than their intrinsic value. NATIVE SILVER is generally classified as: ist. Massive.— Plata macira,” which may he hammered out or eut hy ehisels, but will not break. 2d. Wire.—* Plata Alambrada,” of more or less thiekness, which separate themselves by pounding; when very fine and near together it is called “plata broza,” which yields one-half, and even two-thirds of the weight of the stone in silver. 8d. Naiws.—“ Plata de clavos,” silver in the shape of nails, more or less thiek. 4th. Leaves.—* Plata de hoja,’ silver in the shape of leaves or sheets. 5th. Lumes.—* Bolas de plata,” showing little on the outside, rich inside. 6th. Surpnurers.—“ Metal de Azogue,” showing small specks of silver, mostly sulphurets. THE BENEFICIATING of the foregoiug kinds of ores and metals is done, according to classes,