Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/525

Rh money advanced upon the mine by Mr. Dollar, were paid.

It is through this gentleman, whose contracts were made over to the Anglo-Mexican Association, that that Company now holds a share in the Concepcion. They have likewise made some trifling advances upon the mine themselves, one moiety of which has been already repaid. Of the goodness of the mine there is as little doubt as of the power of the engine to drain it, if it be regularly worked; but the system at present pursued is so bad, and the misunderstandings between the "Aviadores" and the proprietors so frequent, that but little is to be expected from the undertaking. Seventeen and a half per cent, (including the share of the administrador, a tax of five per cent, called capilla, and another of two and a half per cent, in favour of a doctor who does not exist,) are now deducted from the produce, and distributed amongst those more immediately connected with the mine: the remainder barely covers the "memorias," or weekly expences; and while this plan is adhered to, there is little difficulty in predicting the result.

Besides the share in Concepcion, the Anglo-Mexican Company holds at Catorce contracts for the mines of Guadalupe de Veta Grande and Milagros. Both of these are regarded as undertakings of great promise; but the terms upon which the Company has undertaken to work them are so onerous that it is absolutely impossible that the drainage should