Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/465

 M EX ICO. 425 viously occupied in repairing such parts of the road between Veracruz and Perote, as must have proved impassable for loaded waggons. Nothing could be more honourable to the director, Captain Vetch, than the flourishing state of the establishment at the period of my visit ; nor do I think that the most timorous of the shareholders, would have murmured at the expense, had they seen the ability with which the whole plan had been traced, and witnessed all that two years had enabled their agents to effect. At Bolanos, (which, though a distinct company, was like- wise under the direction of Captain Vetch,) the expenses have been confined, almost entirely, to the preparations for the drainage, which consist of one great work, designed by Captain Vetch, and executed hitherto under his superintend- ence. The Company possesses there fourteen shafts, commu- nicating with each other below ground, and occupying a space of 4,100 yards upon the vein. The mines, though peculiarly rich, were abandoned in 1798, from the enormous expense of keeping down the water, in which, at that time, 5,000 mules M'ere employed. As a substitute for these, a single water-wheel is now to be erect- ed ; if having been ascertained, by repeated measurements, that a sufficient fall may be obtained to work this wheel, by bringing a canal, or leat, from the river, which runs through the barranca, (ravine,) in which the mines are situated, at a considerable distance up its course. The length of this canal is 6,176 yards, or three miles and a half, of which 3,034 yards, (or nearly one mile and three- quarters,) must necessarily be carried under ground, by ex- cavating a tunnel. In 1826, 1,943 yards of the open cutting, and 1,629 yards of the tunnel, were completed, (four feet deep and six wide ;) in addition to which, ten lumbreras, (or air shafts,) had been sunk, the aggregate depth of which was 180 yards. One