Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/342

326 in progress, with forty-eight stamps, and twenty-four Arastres, (crushing mills,) which it was thought would reduce from 600 to 800 cargas of ore in the week. I was very much struck with the appearance of all these works, which were planned by Mr. Moro, the engineer to the Company, and executed entirely by Mexican workmen, under the superintendence of another officer, (Mr. Enrico,) whose patience and assiduity triumphed over all the obstacles which the inexperience of the natives at first created. The water-wheel of San Rafael is twenty-seven feet in diameter, yet not a single European has been employed upon it, or upon the machinery connected with it, which now sets in motion forty-eight stamps, with a power that was thought insufficient in former times, to work more than six.

But both in this and in every other respect the Tlalpujahua Company has been admirably served. The director, Monsieur de Rivafinoli, possesses not only an active and indefatigable spirit himself, but the art of communicating a portion of this spirit to those by whom he is surrounded. I never saw more order and regularity than is shown in every part of his system; and although the gentlemen employed in superintending the works are natives of many different countries, there is an esprit de corps amongst them, which it is really pleasing to witness. The