Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/402

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386
MEXICO IN 1827

The German Company has three mines, Nuestra Señora del Carmen, (on the vein of that name,) San Antenogenes, (on another vein, which is from six to twenty varas wide,) and La Purisima, in a valley above the town, to the North.

The Mine of El Carmen was the only one, from which ores were raised, at the time of my visit. These averaged from six to ten marcs per monton, and, as they were found in great abundance, the produce would have covered all the expences, had not an establishment of two hundred and fifty horses been required for the drainage.

A water-wheel has been since substituted for the malacates, in which these animals were employed, and it is probable that, at the present day, the Company derives a considerable profit from this undertaking.

Two small Haciendas were attached to the German establishment; one. La Trinidad, with six arrastres, and the other, San Juan Nepomuceno, with stamping machine of ten stampers.

The Raya, or weekly payments, did not exceed 1,000 dollars; and was nearly covered by the produce, one hundred marcs, (equal to eight hundred dollars.)

Angangeo was said to have been in a much more flourishing state two years before my visit: forty-six Arrastres, or mills, and four Morteros (stampers) were then at work, which had been reduced to twelve by the increasing difficulty of obtaining ores. These