Mining

Concerns Indians moving to Nuevo Leon after terrorizing Laredo and Rio Salado. Indians arrive well-equipped with guns, spears and arrows on foot and horseback. says Indians take captives and murder innocents after destroying ranches. Mentions cruel treatment of victims before mass murders begin. Indians steal horses, mules and all personal property from ranches. When ranches later deserted, diminished labor forces mines out of operation. Vaamonde has given permission for civilians to defend themselves, but these troops have no horses, arms or munitions. Also, while these family men are on patrol they can't support their families. says 100 murders in area. Vaamonde sends arrows collected from dead as proof for virrey. Also, sends set of documents and comprobantes from area residents. Letters relate incidents and describe raids in detail. Letters request military assistance. Vaamonde says these incidents are proof that Ugalde must return two troops taken earlier to another province. To ensure proper punishment of these Indians, cooperation with troops in Nuevo Santander and Coahuila is also needed. Virrey, having received comprobantes orders troops back to Leon. Advises Vaamonde to meet with troops in Lampazos to review and ensure they are properly equipped. Orders Vaamonde to provide reports on conditions and operations. Vaamonde mentions with letters from Baez that troops still insufficient and Indians in area have doubled. Virrey says he must work with companies from other areas. (M. Dannemiller, November 1988)

Croix proposes establishment of comandancia general with Durango as headquarters due to great distance and inefficiency of governing Provincias Internas from Mexico City; reasoning includes efficient control of rich natural resources, necessity for outpost on borders to guard against foreign conquest of territories; suggests establishment include Casa de Moneda and Silla episcopal to convert Indians and minister to settlers effectively; also need for troops and comandante general for effective protection. (D. J. McClelland, January 1988)

Deals with Lorca y Villena's concern for ruination of mines in region due to decadence and plan to stop similar situations in other mines where workers were not carrying out their duties. (K. Hubin, September 1989)

Concerns Apache raids on mines and nearby towns, deaths of 14 persons, governor's request for military protection for these areas. (K. Hubin, September 1989)

(A. Dean, August 1989)

Report of diputacion cabecera de Jurisdiccion de minas; begins with three printed pages of guidelines for reports from each real (mining town). Each real to list 1) number of people, condition of town; 2) names of mines, owners, products; 3) number, names of haciendas supported by mines; 4) quantity of Mineral extracted; 5) quantity of Azoque needed proportional to Actual mine products; 6) list of natural resources in area of mines; 7) drawbacks of area. Report concerns primarily mines of Chihuahua, Santa Eulalia, Cosiguriachi, Parral. Gives total, annual silver production 1703 to 1791 in Santa Eulalia, 1731 to 1791 in Chihuahua. Discusses peso value of silver, distances between mines, other places; history of founding of Santa Eulalia, including names of all duenos with list of assets of each. Mentions some women mine owners; mine disasters; raiding by Apaches; mining supplies. (A. Dean, August 1989)

Series of documents recounting events concerning construction of churches in Chihuahua and Santa Eulalia. In 1727 merchants and miners of those villages donated 80,000 pesos in silver for churches, but silver was appropriated by military for war effort. Villagers lodged complaint, which was considered in 1787, and in 1790 resolved that money be returned. (A. Dean, January 1989)

Fuentes' letter to Palacio includes quote from Palacio with stated goal of fully exploiting mines of San Carlos Tamualipa suspension of Alcavala, Media anata; land made available to miners; extension of cattle grazing; wood, materials and equipment tax free; sale of gun powder at Mexico City price; quicksilver to be sold at San Luis price; as well as other ways of promoting metal production. Palacios to Croix expresses desire of miners for priest sundays and for festival days; tax on silver to construct church; need to develop water system. Discussion of favorable metal production in San Nicolas. List of group of miners some who are witnesses and elected members included with Nava and Fuentes in report promoting mining. Fuentes in letter to Palacios explains that some mines are not being worked due to absence of their discoverers, uneconomical conditions for exploitation, and lack of tools; abundance of veins and continual discovery. Lists made by Fuentes of San veins; quantity per load of ore extracted at each mine. Partial copy of duty charges of Alcabala from may - June 1768, includes who sold what to whom (especially food) (ff 316). Letter from Nava to Palacio discusses state of individual processing abilities; production capacity. Letter also tells duty Charged on silver and gold. (L. L. Woodward, October 1988)

Secret investigation of Alvarez de Nava ordered by virrey. Have you known Alvarez de Nava; what is quality of his work; opinion of others in San Carlos of Alvarez de Nava; if he is sociable; if he has used wealth of Alcabala for personal profit; involvement in silver mining; if he is friends with governor; and if he has caused trouble--7 witnesses respond. Escandon writes Cruillas concerning mining in Tamaulipa; mining operation continuing despite illness and invasion of Apostate Indians of which it is now free although Principal Miner dead. (L. L. Woodward, October 1988)

Miners and vecinos state that new discoveries in Sierra de Tamaulipa in last 4 years provide legal standard of quality (6 ounces of silver for each load of metal), and proportions given for other qualities which exceed legal standard. Costs of firewood, transportation and other costs make it difficult to make profit. Need for greater population; enemy Indians have returned with depopulation in center of Sierra de tamuaulipa and Apostate Indians raiding surrounding area. Complaints of Nava's offering low price for silver and using Alcavala money to buy silver (attractive to miners as it saves transportation cost and robbery risk. In Guadalcazar, nephew of Nava levied 10 real Alcavala. Nava's influence with governor allows him to exploit situation. Charges that document supposedly from miners and vecinos is really false, need to interview witnesses. Description of founding of San Carlos in 1666 and formation real de San Joseph. Description of San Carlos church and other structures. Advantages of having established beneficio de metales at San Carlos. Suggestion of miners working metals in their own home in areas nearer to mines. explains how to contruct a galeme. Control of silver and transport to San Luis Potosi treasury. Noriega charges list of witnesses is incomplete, and agrees to provide documents to Bucareli. Testimonies on metal profits, Nava's conduct, discussion of abundances of metal, wood, water, ovens, transport costs, and amount of metal resulting after processing. List of owners on mines, number of workers on each, and ounces extracted per load (Leyes) of metal, and economic class of miners. List of depopulated mines. Also list of owners of patentes, galemes, and metal processing equipment (basso, dissetisor) according to location. Ocotillo and Barreta listed as most abundant wood for processing metals. Discusses price of production relative to output of metal. (L. L. Woodward, October 1988)