174 J. P. Kimball on the Silver Mines of Sta. Eulalia, Mewico. | 
erous lead, and otherwise indicating imperfect reduction. Fuel 
is far more costly at Virginia, Neveda, than anywhere in Chi- 
huahua, but this difference follows from the higher price of labor 
there—the supply of fuel really being greater than at Santa 
Eulalia.* : 
Thus will be seen the mistake of treating the ores of Santa 
Eulalia by a practice which is so costly as to render unavailable 
the great bulk of them, and to absorb almost the whole value 
of even the choice ores in their reduction, when by a cheaper 
practice the whole run of the ores could be treated with profit, 
and the industry improved and expanded in all respects. I 
allude to amalgamation as practiced in Mexico itself, and which | 
the climate, labor and facilities of the country especially favor. . 
In 1846, it was estimated by Mr. John Phillips, seven-eighths of 
the silver se sussen in Mexico was obtained by amalgamation. + 
_ The lack of surface for patios at Sta. Eulalia, together with 
the scantiness of water, are circumstances sufficient to account I 
for the prevalence there of smelting, notwithstanding the ores 
are of a nature to yield readily to patio amalgamation. Tha 
these difficulties have never been stirmounted is to be ascribed = | 
to the isolated condition of this section of country, and its lack 
of facilities for extralimitary supplies. In the last century, + 
during the period of its prosperity, as I learn from a manuscript 
in the state archives, amalgamation both by patio and cazo, was 
carried on at Sta. Hulalia and Chihuahua to the extent of keep- 
ing in operation in the two places 72 drag-mills (¢ahones), and 6 
stamp-mills (morteros de agua y caballerias). The reduction 
works, just erected, of the new Chihuahua Co. have not in the 
least departed from ancient models. Nor would a change of 
Eulalia, it must be seen that present operations without modifi- 
their present meee As : 
long as they are thus limited, they are favored by the choice oo: { 
di : : ec - 
sowese 4 oF Steen, Bog nd aes? 
ap liances for dressing ores any considerable outlay is avoided. 
The silver 
> Notwithstanding the rates of labor in Nevada are more than treble 
Santa Bulalia, the ores of the Comstock lode are extracted for a half to 
and reduced for less than a half cheaper—their average yield ranging in diff 
mines from $: to ; the wide « eu" 
economical conditions of the industry taken as a whole in the two localit’ 
* 
