Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/510

490 Concepcion, Guădălūpītŏ, La Estrella, Zacarias, and Dŏlōrĕs Mĕdĕlliñ, all celebrated for their riches, and all, from the unskilful manner in which they were worked at first, encumbered with water in the lower levels, which it is extremely difficult to extract from above, although the riches of the vein are known to have been undiminished at the time when the workings were suspended. Amongst the mines thus abandoned by the original proprietors, is Dolores Medellin, which was in Bonanza in the lower levels when given up. To drain it and the neighbouring mine of Zacarias, a new shaft called El Tiro del Compromiso, was sunk by a Company of Natives, at an expence of 170,000 dollars; but the enterprise was abandoned when the shaft had reached the depth of 280 varas from the surface, it being discovered that three malacates would not be sufficient to clear the mines of water. Such, however, was the opinion entertained of their value, that it was resolved to effect the object by bringing an adit, or galerie d'écoulement, from the level of the Potrēro, which, after passing through the whole of the mountain traversed by the Veta Madre, (called by the natives Barriga de Plata, from the immense quantity of that metal which it has produced,) would cut the vein about eight yards west of the sliaft of El Compromiso, at the depth of 277 varas from the surface, and just 2,000 varas from the mouth of the Socabon. The Company formed for this purpose consisted of the present Governor of the State (El Licenciado