Rosario M
, ine*
Honduras,
Central America
By KENNETH H. MATHESON, '11
Although numerous and heautifully sculptured
gold ornaments haTe been found in the ruins of
Jla:van tombs and places of worship in Honduras,
Costa Rica, and Panama, there is no indication that.
the Mayas or oth er Indian tribes were greatly in­
terested in the acquisition of either gold or sil\·er.
Their artistic efforts were devoted primarily to the
construction and painting of many beautiful and
ornamental, as we!las uHeful, domestic articles of
pottery now on exhibit in museums throughout the
'W estern 'W orld. Theil' most paiustaking efforts were
de\'oted to the fashioning of ornamental pendants,
plaques and statuary. Thcse were caned with un­
imaginable perfection, cven to the sculpturing of
obsidian and thc less difficult rocks of serpentine
and jade. As a :l 'ontinc dIOl:e, arrow and spear heads
were made from man~' kinds of hard silicious rocks.
First Settlement in 1509
It was not until the app(~ aranee of the Spaniards
that mining, as such, was ea1'llestiy pursued. Although
Columbus, on hjs fourth voyagc. in 1502 landed in
HOIHluras. it was not until 150H that the first settle­
nH'llt was establishcd on the north coast of that
cOllntry. Thus, the Spaniards were firmly established
in Honduras a full decade before Cortez completed
th e conquest of Mexico ill 1521. These Spanish set­
tlers mnst have come from Cuba, independently of
Cortez. Shortly atter the conquest of :~fexico, Cortez
equipped two expe(litions. Jlrohabl~' in the year 1523
to explorc sOllth into Guatemala. One expedition
was headed bv Alvarado; the other headed hv mid
was to procee~l by sea. Ah'arado and Olid \\'ei'e two
of his most trusted Lieutcllullts.
Upon arriyal Oil the north coast. of Honduras, OIid.
ballkillg Oil the remotenpst; from ~Iexico, establislw(l
his own independent jmlscliction, planning to take
full adYantage of the I'iches described by the ver~'
early settlers. \\'~hpn eY('ntllaJly, news of Olid's de­
• )(r. ~farhcsolI '~ intcf(' "tiUI-: artid l' ha~ bl ~e n .'h-ided illto two part s.
This i:o) I'art I. whi ch .Icscriht·s t·url.... du.\' lIlillill~ in IJonoufns. Part II, to
b~ Iluldi.·:;lH~ d in the ,July J ~lfi 1 i!<il'i ue (II Th e ~ll~ES lla'tfodlle. l'ecorO:i thl!
deH' loplll e llt nr tht· Hosario ~I ille JUI' iu!-t' and alh'r itM ~ecolld decad e o t
Illlt'r<Hi o ll s.
THE MINES MAGAZINE • JUNE, 1961
K. H. MATHESON, 'II
THE AUTHOR
Kenneth H. 1 latheson, born July 29, 1887, in
Jlcdheson, Colo., graduated from the Colorado School
of Jlines in 1911 with an E. M. degree. He was the
recipient in 1949 of his Alma Mater's Distinguished
A,chievement Award.
.lIr. Mathe~on gained his first practical training in
Goldfield, Nev., and joined the New York and H on­
duras Rosario Mining Co. in San Juancito, Honduras,
May 1912, as construction engineer. A year late?'
he wa.s made genera,l ~1tpe1'intendent of a Rosario sub­
sidiary, the Sabana Grande Honduras Mining Co.,
where he erected th e first flotatwn mill in Centreil
~tmerica.
In 1924 he was transferred back to Rosario as
assistant manager, assuming the duties of general
ma.nager in 1932 until he resigned in 1949. During
his sel'vice as general manager, he was instrumental
in acquiring the Neptune Mines in Nicaragua, El
DOl'ado .lline in El Salvador, and the Jlochito 11line
i'll IIondu'/'U.s.
fection reached Cortez in )lexico, he seut Francisco
de Lus Casas by sea to Hl'l'est OEd. Casas was ship­
wrecked on the Atlantic Coast of Honduras and
fell into the hands of Olid. However, he was soon
able to enlist the aid of 11 sufficient number of colonists
to overthrow Olid and take him into custody.
Cortez Heads Expedition
COl·tez learned of the shipwreck of Casas, but not
of the death of Olid. In late 1524, he took personal
command of an overland exppditioll to seck out and
punish Olid. Prescott, in his Conque~t of JIexico, de­
sCI'ibes in considerable detail the trl'rible hardships
of this march through spareel~' inhabitp(lmolllltainol.ls
cOllntry, across gl'eat rivers and swamps. and through
\'irtuaUy impenetrable junglps. Being a true ad­
\'('nturer and explorer, Cortez must hu\'c chosen the
ovrrland route to inspect pt'l'sonally the sOllthel'll part
of the yast empire to which he laid claim.
33
 Late in 1525 COl.-fez reached the bay of Honduras
ncar the extreme southeast corner of Guatemala. There
he learned of the fate of Olid whom Casas had ordered
beheaded in the market place of Maco for rebellion
against Cortez. Learning that the rebellion has been
suppressed, Cortez embarked on two brigantines that
had just arrived with supplies and headed for Trujillo,
the principal Spanish settlement on the Atlantic coast
of Honduras. There he was warmly welcomed upon his
arrival.
After resting for several months, except for short
journeys into the interior, he became convinced of the
rich agricultural possibilities of Chamelecon and Vlua
Valleys, and the placer possibilities of Olancho.
He, therefore, planned to head an expedition to
explore still farther south into Nicaragua, possibly go­
ing as far as Panama. However, learning from Zuaco,
one of his functionarios in :Mexieo City, that the pro­
visional government there had proclaimed his death
and had confiscated most of his property, he aban­
rloned the project. Cortez deeiderl to return to :Mexico
at once and to postpone further explorations south­
ward. He left for :Mexico by sea, on April 25, 152(),
amI arrived in :Mexico City in June. There he was
given a tumultuous welcome by th~ populace, al­
though the prO\'isional government officials were far
from pleased with his unexpected resurrection.
Although it is not recorrled that Cortez eyer re­
turned to Houduras, all of Central America was ex·
plored and conquered before the end of the 16th
century. Spanish domination continued for nearly
three centuries.
Mineral Deposits Discovered
It is safe to say that 80 per cent of all the present­
ly known mineral deposits in Central America were
34
discovered and were being worked in a crude way
by the beginning of the eighteenth century. The ore
deposits not discovered by the Spanish explorers,
and later found by French, English and American
enterprise, were situated in remote areas. Heavy
jungle, malaria-infested, and tropical rain forests of
the highlands, where forest debris covered mineral out­
crops effectively were the last to give up their secrets.
Nearly all of the lode mines discovered by the
Spaniards lie on the Pacific slope of the Continental
Divide. The heavy rainfall and very dense vegetation
on the Atlantic slope curtailed the explorations which
were carried out more easily on the more open and
healthful terrain on the Pacific side.
General Similarity in Climate
Although each Central American country has a
somewhat distinctive climate, there is a general sim­
ilarity. Altitudes largely gonrn temperatures, which
are hot and relatively dry on the Pacific slope until
an elevation of ~500 feet is reached. Above that eleva­
tion a remarkably temperate climate continues to an
eleyation of approximately 8000 feet. This area is
marked by very constant and distinct wet and dry
seasons. The drv season extends for at least five
months with n~ rainfall, except for a few light
showers. Even during the wet season when rainfall
averages 50 to 60 inches a year, rains usually occur
late in the afternoon or night, followed by clear days.
This condition makes for much less hea\'Y vegetation.
better traveling and working conditions than in the
low lands.
On the Atlantic slope, temperatures vary little from
the Pacific, but the higher humidity cansI'.'; increased
discomfort in the lower elevations. The dry season
there is much shorter but the rainfall is double
THE MINES MAGAZINE • JUNE, 1961

... Timber forest 6000 to 8000 feet elevation. Inset picture: Loading
bullion, two 120 pound bars to • mule.
that on the other coast. Tbe rain,~ occur more fre­
quently and at any time during the day it is apt to
rain copiously. The resulting heavy jungle vegetation
is almost impassable even on foot, unless a path had
been laboriously cleared. This almost continuous rain­
fall, nearly 150 inches per year, maiutains the very
unhealthv conditions found until the land is cleared
a~d the ~rea rid of mosquitos.
The difficulties of prospecting and living in the
rank jungles of the Atlantic slope .explain -in some
measure why the Spaniards confined their activities
mostly to the western slopes. In the pine and oak
uplands between 2500 and 5000 feet the temperature
range throughout the year "aried only between 50 and
90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Early in the twentieth e,entmy much of tht' jungle
on the Atlantic side of the range was cleared for
banana plantations. Usually these were confined to
the flat coastal plains and broad valleys where deeI)
rich soil overlays the basic rock. Some isolated sec­
tions of the mountains have been cleared by nati\"(~s
for corn fidds, so Vhat today the mountain COll1ltr~' of
the Atlantic side is reasonably accessible.
Ore Deposits Characterized
Many unimportant mineral deposits have been
fonnd. during the present century in th ese more re­
cently accessible areas. In general these have been
relatively unimportant, as the structural geology of
most of north and cast Honduras, a large portion of
Guatemala, and th e northern At.lantie side of Ni('H­
ragua do not favor the occurrence of well-defined and
continuous ore bodies. The distorted and crushed sedi­
mentaries and metamorphic highlands of that section
hu\'e been explored quite fully with little SHccess.
On the other hand, where the igneous formation
reaches practically across the central section of Nic­
aragua and well north on the Pncific side and up that
coast into 1Iexico (reaching in general to the con­
tinental di\"ide), several wry procincti\"e large uodies
of orc have ueen opened and worked during the present
ccntury.
Best President of Honduras
Becanse of continued insurrections, Honduras.
its independence in lR~l. failed to attl':\ct forci"'n
11 ftcl'
eapital. c\"cn though the Spaniards hnd fOllwl a~d
\\'orked more deposits there than in nny ot hel' Cl'n t l'a I
THE MINES MAGAZINE • JUNE, 1961
onlv trails existed. The most important road was a
100meter wide cart highway from the Pacific Coast
to Tegucigalpa.
In 1879 President Soto set up a mining depart­
ment, and that year his mining commissioner pre­
pared a factual report on the . possibilities of eco­
nomic developments in both mining and agriculture.
The report was published and widely distributed in
the United States and elsewhere.
Minin9 Report Interests Brothers
Fi\"e Valentine brothers and the two Marvins, all
living in New York, read the report with interest,
particularly the mining section. Not being mining
men they had the good sense to look for someone who
knew something about that risky but enticing business.
As a result, they hired C. O. Wederkinch, an ex­
perienced mining man, to go to Honduras to look
around. Wederkinch had been assistant engineer on
the Hoosae Tunnel, chief engineer on the Sutro Tun­
nel, and chief engineer of the Silver Islet Mine,
probably connected with the Sutro Tunnel.
Wederkinch Examines Mine
\Vederkineh left New York late in 1879, by steamer
to Panama, then across the Isthmus by rail and up
the west coast by yet another steamer, to the Honduran
Port of Amapala. This Port, situated on Tigra Island
which lies in the beautiful Bay of Fonseca, which in
turn borders on the three countries of Nicaragua,
Honduras and El Salvador. From there he took three
weeks to reach Tegneigalpa, the capital of Honduras.
Upon arrival he was grnnted an audicnce with Presi­
dent Soto. \Vederkineh was told that Soto and his
partner, General Enrique Gutierrez, a member of an­
other old Spanish family, owned a mine named the
Rosario, which was situated some 120 miles north of
the capital.
\Vederkineh was granted permission to examine the
small workings on the only vein then known: workings
that had long been abandoned.
There is no record that the mine was known to
the Spaniards or worked by them, but jUdging by
the limited amount of workings done, it had heen ex­
... Mule haulage on prospecting crosscut.
35
the transportation of ore fro~ undergr~u~~l workings.
Wederkinch reported finding a vein 3 feet wide
with an average of 1.5 ounces gold and 8 ounces
silver per ton. The richer ore had naturally been
high-graded by the old miners, and he was able to
sample only the vein sections left by them. Thcse sec­
tions were too low-grade for extraction in their crude
furnaces, and had been left behind. Even based on
samples of these remnants, he considered the mine a
good risk. He returned to the capital where he opened
preliminary negotiations with Soto and Gutierrez
before returning to New York.
Mining Company Formed
The Valentines and the )Iarvins decided to organize
least three weeks time. Prior to the construction of
thc New York and Honduras Rosario Mining Co. with
the Canal, five weeks were required, as in the case
150,000 shares with a par value of $10 per share.
of the writer's first trip to Honduras in 1912.
This was done in 1880, and \Vederkinch was sent back
to Honduras in November. taking with him 149,991
Funds Raised for Equipment
shares with which to purchase the mine. \Vhat hap­
When Wederkinch returned to New York with
pened to the other nine shares is not recorded.
74,991 shares, money was quickly subscribed to buy
50to Family Moves to Paris
The purchase transaction is set forth in a rather
peculiar way. It is rccorded that the mine was
purchased for 149,991 shares and that Soto and Gutier­
rez, the owners, donated 74,991 shares to the Rosario
Company for the raising- of funds. The net result was
that Soto and Gutierrez, between them received 75,000
shares or exactly a free half-interest in the company.
Soto resigned as president of Honduras in 1883
and afterwards moved with his family, consisting of
a wife, and either four or five sons, to Paris, where the
sons wcre educated. As so often happens, the family
went through a large part of his growing fortune. He
died quite young, and his wife, who continued to live
in Paris, died only some 15 years ago . She left only
some 500 shares of Rosario in trust for her grand­
chil<lrcn.
Thc Gutierrez sharcs suffered a similar fate, but
some of the heirs, living in Guatemala and El Salva­
dor, are still well off financially, although owning no
Rosario stock.
As late as 1946, the largest single block of stock
controlled by any individual was the 6000 shares held
by one of the daughters of Washington Valentine, the
man who was really the driving force behind the suc­
cessful development ?f <the propel:t~·.
Energetic President 'of Company
·Washington Valentinc succeedl'll onc of the Mal'\'­
ins as prcsidcnt of the company, early in its history,
and held that position until about 1920. He was ex­
tremely enel'getic and made frequcnt trips to the
pl·operty. In thc early days hc saycd much time by
riding from thc north coast in lcss than thrce days,
using good relay mules stationcd at intcryals along
thc lIIol'c-than-150 miles of rough mountainolls trails.
EYcn after a short raih'oad reached inland from
PUl'rto Cortez, some 50 miles, the normal time b~'
nlldc back to Rosario was se\'('lI da \-s. It \\'as not until
the lH'ginnillg' of the tirst \Yodd \Yar that this routc
36
was used by company employees, in preference to the
Panama Canal route. The Canal route required at
equipment and supplies to start operations. Some
equipment was shipped from San Francisco, and
Wederkinch left with the balance from New York on
April 30, 1881. He took with him the same engineer, H.
\V. Cole, who had accompanied him on the original ex­
amination trip; a carpenter, a chemist, and two
miners.
The party arrived in Amapala on May 22. They
stayed there to attend to the further transport of thc
equipment to the mine. This was accomplished by 20
miles by barge to the mainland and thence by mule
back 100 miles to the mine. \Vederkinch, as well as one
of the miners,' contracted yellow feyer, and Wederk­
inch died in five days after arrival. As was customary
in tropical climates, Wederkinch was buried the samc
day and Cole took charge. He cabled the New York of­
fice "\Vederkinch dead, am in charge."
The main equipment consisted of 3-300 pound
Kendall stamps, sectionalized mortars, two rock
breakers, a sawmill, a watcr turbine wheel, mining
tools and supplies.
lombard Replaces Wederkinch
New York immediately proceeded to engage Thom­
as R. Lombard as a replacement for Wederkinch.
·When Lombard arrived in Honduras in September,
he found the small mill practically completed. He COll­
firmed Cole's order for seven additiomil stamps, as
more ore had been developed. The man responsible
ror this was a Finlander, Alberto J. Smith, who had
gone to California by schoollcr several years pn>­
yionsly. There he sought his fortune in placer mining,
hut fa.iling this he retraced his steps to Hondmas,
wlwre Wedel'kinch hired him on his second trip.
The ten stamps, soon installed, had a combined
capacity of 25 tons a day, and were followed b.\·
amalgamation plates. Thc mill was lorated in the old
village or San ,T nancito, on the only favorable spot
ayailable, where the water from two mOllntain strcams
could bc combined to run the \Va tel' wheel. The loca­
I iOIl was 11/:! miles from the mine workings and some
THE MINES MAGAZINE • JUNE, 1961

lJ! ~'-A.&.LLo v.&. ........... av
II ..
...
\.~,::<
.t . . . ... # t
~". t1. ~
. t;
"-".I
~ ~
.... Bullion starting on 120 mile trip to coost.
1300 feet lower in ele\·ation. The problems involved
in locating the milt so far from the mine were rec·
ognized, but the decision was dictated by the source
of availible water power even though it meant haul­
ing the ore from the mine to the milL
Roads Built for Ox-Carts
Cole had, while erecting the mill, built the two
miles of steep road, mostly 20 per cent grades, neces­
sary to transport the ore to the mill by ox carts.
Shortlv after Lombard's arrival he wrote New York
that he
had purchased three yokes of oxen and had
contracted for five more, as he would soon be able to
start milling, This he did late in 1882, and pro­
duced $2-152 in silver-gold bullion before the year
end. The individual Kendall stamps were soon re­
placed by two five-stamp batteries ; each stamp weigh­
ing 600 pounds. Forn: amalgamating pans and two
settlers completed the mill circuit.
In 1885 two more batteries and four pans and
settlers were added. Latc in that year the entire plant
was almost entirely destroyed by fire, but was
quickly rebuilt in 1886.
Production $3.6 Million by 1892
By 1892, ten years from the date of the first
operation of the mill, accumulated production had
reach ed about $3,600,000. The mill had been in­
creased to 35 stamps. Power wa.'> furnished by a 5-foot
P elton wheel operating under a head of 295 feet.
Production was now about 20,000 tons a year, yield­
ing approximately 500,000 ounces of silver and 10,000
ounces of gold. For most of the first ten years, sih'er
sold at an average of nearly $1 an ounce.
A water wheel-driven air compressor had been
installed; five Rand and three Ingerxoll-Seargent drill­
ing machines had been purchased. All stoping was
still being done by hand drilling. Light steel rails
were being graduaUy substituted for the wooden
strips protected hy a strap iron, which had sen'cd
as rails , on the more important levels.
Aerial Tramway Erected
A 7000-foot aerial tramway had been erect!'d to
transport the ore to the mill 'from the 1650 Portal.
An intct"{'sting and acrurate scale drawing, made
by Allis Chalmers, is still in the engineering files
of Hosario. This showed how the 14,000 fect of
l'lIdlt,ss cable was transported on mule back to the
mine, Each mule (',al'l"ied its proportionate share and
trawled in the proper order. The draftsman must
havp had ('ollsidcrable experience with mule transpor­
tation. as hI' cl e ar\~' sketched the ear reaction of th e
THE MINES MAGAZINE • JUNE. 1961
.'.
.... ..,........... "'..... .., >J ............ .l'--~01 . " -- 0­ -- -
the surface rights to a large area, including the village
~
,
. ~
. " of San Juancito.
~ '
.'~~.
,
Mineral Zones Acquired
Mineral zones covering t.he entire mountain were
.;:.:
acquired, mostly by denouncements, although the
·r·-· . .·· .• _.. :-~. Colonial Vein had to be purchased from its discover­
ers, the Zelayas, another old Spanish family. Colonia
was one of the few veins that out-cropped on the
• surface. It eventually produced 170,000 tons of high­
grade silver ore. carrying a high gold content. By this
time (1892), total dividends paid amounted to
$442,500. Dividends were now being paid monthly
having begun this practice in 1887.
How long Lombard stayed is not recorded, but it
was probably very few years. He published a book
tn 1887, called The New Hond.ums , which was copy­
righted during the same year. In it he relates that
he was granted a concession in late 1882, in Yuscaran,
Honduras, and that he formed the Yuscaran il'Iin­
ing Co., in which ·Washington Valentine owned shares,
but not the controlling interest.
Control was held by Civil War veteran, Major
Burke. who had been state treasurer of Louisiana.
and while in office allegedly took off for Honduras
with a large sum of money belonging to the State. At
that time no extradition treaty existed with HonduraJ'l,
and, with easy access from New Orleans, Honduras
was for years a haven for shady characters and ad­
venturers.
Yuscaran Mining District
In the middle 1880'g, Yuscaran, some 60 miles
southeast of Rosario and in a similar geological forma­
tion, became a very act.ive mining center and con­
tinued so until 1892.
At least five companies were operating there.
one headed by another Civil 'Var veteran, Colonel
Imboden, and his brother. A Swiss company was head­
ed by the Zueher brothers. Another mine was @wned
by General Strcber, a shrewd German. In 1924 the
writer saw an old abandoned stock book of the
Zucher Brothers, Ltd. Most of the inyestors were
• Five by six foot ball mill shell hauled by ox cart.
37
 _... _ - -___ ........................
to Yuscaran and to their respective mines, so that
they could drive by coach and mules to the mine
workings. Too often they celehrated week-ends in
Tegucigalpa.
Serious political disturbances broke out in 1892.
At the same time the price of silver declined and this
resulted in most of the miners, as well as many
foreigners, joining the government forces against
the revolutionists. These miners never returned to
Yuscaran to work, and Major Burke eventually ac­
quired questionable title to all those mines. Many
of the U. S. citizens- the Imbodens, Colonel House,
,Tohn Conner, and others-later found work at Rosario.
Joe :McCarthy and the O'Haras drifted to other mines.
Mining Activity Recorded
Between 1885 and 1895 many foreign companies
were operating lode mines scattered over most of
Honduras. Activity was so great that Fitzgartner, a
former New York State geologist, published a week­
i.'- mining paper for several years. In it he reported
what each mine was doing, and how production was
progressing.
The writer in the early 19308 was able to purchase
.... .......f:,U\.lLOU.a.pa.
It was mentioned above that W ashingt~n Valentine
had a substantial interest in the Yuscaran Mines. He
and Major Burke became bitter enemies; and would
never discuss negotiations. Burke told · the writer
personally that his son, who lived in New York,
became involved in a serious scrape. The son appealed
to Valentine, who helped him book steamer passage
to Africa. There the boy was killed by savage tribes,
and Burke held Vaientine responsible for the loss of
his only son.
Rosario Buys Yuscaran Mines
Burke promoted his Yuscaran mines unsuccessfully
until his death. It was not until the mining laws of
Honduras were changed, so that abandoned mines
could be bought for taxes, that Rosario was able
in 1945 to acquire aU titles to the mines in Yuscaran.
Almost $250,000 was spent in recovery work, new ex­
ploration, and development. Although some of the
mines promised a small return on the required addi­
tional investment, it was decided to abandon all in­
terest. Later attempts by others to operate successfully
these mines in Yuscaran also failed.

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38 THE MINES MAGAZINE • JUNE, 1961

 - *
Rosario Mine.
­
Honduras, \.

Cenh"al America

By I<' ENNETH H . MATHESON, '11 K. H. MATHESOH, 'II

ll llrill;.!,· ih e s('{'ol1<l (lc('aLle ot: HOSilrio operati olls,

lll:lll)- d ifii(:ulL ics developed. Mos L or: th o devel opmcllL THE AUTHOR
\\'(1S l)cillg ('onfilled to thc lo\\'el' 300-foo!. level, alld J1.enn eth 1I. Jilathf'-so ll, Il orn JILLIj 29, 1887, W
jp\'l'!s :thOle, \I'lii('1l h.\· JS~)-! \\·c~n.: SOIllC~ -WOO [cet in t.o Mathf'-son, Colo., umrlu(/( ed [rom lhe CoLorado Sch ool
11\(~ IIlOl1li\aill. The Hosilrio \'(~ ill , thell up to t.he ze ro o[ Milles in 1911 willi. Ill! J~. M. (leyrc f'-. II c was the
I
Je\'cl , siloll'('(l C\'('l'.\' illt/icalion OL ge(( ill~ heller up­ l'cciz)icnl in 19J9 o[ /tis Alm(/. Mulr;)"s Dislinyuishcd
J 11chicvcmcnt J1w(trcl.
\\'(\rd Hild ill\\'anl. Velltilatioll was bceolllillg' a. sel'ious
7 Mr, Mathc son uaiHcd his [irst practic(d tl'aining in
]1l'ohl('lll , cspc;cially lot' the hand chillers iIi slopes.
C ;\ long: t:l'ossl'.uL at the U]lper JSO-Ioot level, to ill- Gold[ield, jVcv., and joi1tc(l (hc Nf'-w York al1d IIoll­
11;I'SI'I '\ the jll'o.j('ctl'tl extc ll sioll of !IIC Hosari o and Lo dnras Rosario llfillil1(j C(). in SUi!, ./Ilonr:iio, JJ ondlln~s,
1c PI I sl\ ([1' n ;\opllH': l1t 011 t.hc 1,O\\'er G:JO le\'l.~ l was stu l'1 ctl ilJay 191 2, as C(J1/ slrllcti()n cn(/illcc r. 11 ycw' iaicl'
11f: ill til e YeaI' 1882, TIl(' fllture lool,ed sufficiellll\' ell­ hc leas made gcncral sllpcrintendent o[ a· R osario slLb ­
{i!: ('Oli rilgi;lg: h.\' thL'11 to ;jllstit\ Ihis <1e<1(1 'w ork 0(~000 sidi(l)'Y, the Suuana Gro1ldr. lfonrlnra s Mininy Co.,
lIt i'(! (' L Oil ti l(; upper l:iO 01' tlit' l'('lI a I3lallea leve l, ill the wllc/'c he Cl'cctcd lh c [il'st [lotation mill in C cn lnd
il u hea rt ll[ \\'hat JaLer Pl'o\'(!(l to he Lhe IlIost])rodlictive, Jlmel'ica .
1)L' l \' crt.ieal range ill the lllillC. The Lo\\'cr GoO had 110t In 192-1 he wa s tnl1ls{crr ccZ. uack to Rosal'io as
!lIn hee ll g:in' ll tlie 'IL!.Clltioll iL deserved, as it was below assislant managcr, ((SSII )Jiinf) the duties of [Jelleral
( Ill' Illns! or tliL~ pl'oelllc1i\'(: Ol'e OCell l'l'Cllces. Latcr iL \I'ns manaucr in 1932 until hc ?'(!siuned in 1919. Duri11lj
,hi! III PI'lI\'!: Y;"lIahle as tile lllaill olltleL for wa('.I' aud his scrvicc as [/cner(J!. 1Il1L1/(/!/ C7', hc was inslnl1He1lial
'It t: Ol'C l'I'1I1 11 all 0\'0,1' tlie lllill e. It r\·clltllall.\' pe lletl'ated in acquiring the Ncplullc jlhllcs ~:n Niwrauva, El
))"() i ]~,O()() Jed ill oIll: dircctioll <111<1 10,000 ill allother, ])o1'(ldo Mi11e, in El 13(lll)((<701', (lnd the Mochito ilfine
:!) 11 'riti! lllallY el'osseuts ,mel drifts. in lIoII dun!s.
lid,
: i II ( Politics and Drought
lel'l P oliLiL'al dist.uI'IJalll:es rlgaill 1)(~C <lllle Lhe order of small way 1.1]) 1.0 thc Uppet' aoo, buL that secti on was
('llt Lhc d ay, \\'hilc droughL cOlllilllted to llwkc it Ilee essar~­ llOt connected t o the lllaill llIill e workings ullLil1009.
to illlport com, Iwalls alld ri\,e for the worklllcli. Mule
'na, [1'(~ig:h1: rUSt: (,Olit illlJ;illy, as l1lllk o,,'lIers feared their Profits Reduced to Danger Point
13: l1luks would lJe eO lifis(';lt ed h.\' polilil'.tl l·i\·a ls. Ne\'cr­ All lh e ore lind to Iw lr<lllsporl{'(1 UI'Olllld [I,c 11101l11­
1.-; I, thdL'ss, the lllill C ('olltillU('d te work ]Jrofit'IUI.\'. ULill, iirsL b,\- lllllie hatk alld !<tter uy ox carts, so tli at
II !'C I3.\' 18% \'cllLilaJioli waS gTcatly ill1pronc1 b~' eOll­ it could be (ho pped (lowlI a raise frol1\ Lite surfa('e to
'(II t: ll(' ( ~t, illg' j Iw LowL'1' :lOO le\'L~1 with the Prlla Blanl'a, the Lcmcl' (;:in ]p\·rl. Jll<:j'( ~ ;ISill~ :tIlIOllills of suJ pllide
1;11', a t'1<'1' it lInd 1'('a('lll'd t li(~ Ol'e 1'.01le. 13.\" ] ~)O:2 tile Lo\\'c'!' OJ'(; l'cslJ!tetl ill hi~hcr Illillilig <~osts. Jic<!uvery ill 1.1Jr'lI
I1II! G;)O lc\'c! \\'as cOlillel'lcd all tile wa~' to the Upl'el' lS0 dropped ulicI lack or prop el' Illille plUllllillg- (;o llplcd
(0 bv ;t se ries of raises. with alltiquat ed Illillillg' Ill ctliods, rcdul:ccl IJl'ofit:; to
\11. . Nc\\' \'(:ins. bl'<lll Cllill'I' off t.he Hos<ll' io, \\'ere brill" a tlall~erous ]Joillt b.\- 1~J02.
til
d(;\'(~I ()p cd jll 'ltig'h-gT;lllL:=' OJ'(~, ll(Jta]'I~' til<: C<llldld<ll'i~ Tile 11I:lllilg'('l', \\'. (: i(!rlil1:.','s, ",IHI app:lrc! lIl.1y l ool<
.:S.
<lilt! tit e BlI( ~ lla Vt:l1tlll'a. Frolll I)()tit o[ tll('s<~, ulliel' <:h:lr:..':L' ill .1H!I;I, did 1'1'111:1 rki"dy well I).v a<'qllil'ill~ ;lIId
:Cl'(
spli ts \\'ere bl'ill~ Pl'ospccted. The Colollia VL'ill Oil the pcri'eet.illg t.itles to ,ill lllilwl'i11, water, all(l timber
1l0l.,
pllrcha:;ed Zelaya ]Jl'Ollel'ty hall IJ<!ell dnoloped ill a l'i~hts eOYCl' ill~ the elltire lllOllllLlill. He built lleccs­
,I II;; sar.\" ace('~<;-roads to t,iIlil)('r, <:h ar<, o:lI, alld I i me de­
• Tlli~. l';\\"t II or Mr. "f:lth(,~oll':O; nrLic1c-, pr(,!'~lIlA n d i..' t!'likd n("count
t,i I 11 ('If j'\(:\\'York 1Joll<llll":\~ I!os:trio ~ tjldllU Co.'" op("rnliolUl in CI'llll:"!\ Allu'r. posits. IIO\\'C;VC'I', it. is snid lila!. II(: r"ilc:cl to buil<] lip a
iC:I. P:nt I, 111.lbli ~ 11('d l:l ::;. t IIIOl\th, (h'!'crilwd politica l l'Ulldiliolll'i, l.' Jilt\:1.k' (;O lllpetclIt staff' alld Jailc!d to l( ee p lip \ViLh 1ll0UCI'Il
01'1, alld tO Jlo:::: rnpJ.y of ll(llldllr:l~ :lllti tolli D.uoul the or~aniz:t.tion of t.1l~ com­
'-ell' ])aIlY and o f its initial operations. dcveloplI1ents ill 'b oth millillg- alld lllillillg. At this
22 THE MINES MI\GAZINE • JULY, 1961
 -......

f:
(/-/50

<l
'i
00

~ "
/ (JJ L . NJe>

I~ C/ 5-00 '.~f

l
', :
d
T Ro,ario Mine-,~eleton pl.n, few level, only, ,howing .v ein ,y,tem .
0
A
tillle all St.Opillg' was by hand, ill opell stopes stlllling­
Noble haJ l'eCOlllll1elld eulllllny (:hallg\~s ill thc mill,
n to th e b;H'j, for platforms, <II\(1 llwny Jc\'ch; were ca 1'­
and therc \1':1.<; IIllwh work to be dOlle. ]" !'lle vanners,
I: ril,tl nt. 200-foot illter\'<!Is. Ore I'csel'\'cs \\'(,I'C also dO\I'1!
illstalle(1 in 1800, w e re I'c plac: c(1 I)y ,Vi i Uey t.auJ (;s,
,1 (
to a dal!gcrolls poil!t.
with ad eqllate s izillg' aheu t1 of t.h c Li\ ljeS. J) o ulJ lc di s­
;11 charge battel·.\' modal'S were ill s tall( ~cl , an d 30-lI1csh
· ~c
If L. N. Noble Issues Report Sl'rccns rcplal:ed the :lG formerly llse <1 . T he table COil·
'} ('l'ntl'ail's, ,Ii'tcl' l'C<ill('illg' thc wejl~ht 1).v l'o;l.<;lillg, \l'erc
,' , Valentinc (kcitlcd that :;Ollicthillg had to bc dOlle. ship]l cu ill doubl e lwgs sllital)lc for 11I1I1e·lJaelc trallS­
')
lle cl!gaged Louis N. Noble, it pl'olllillent ])CI!\'('l' cllgi­ portation , to SellJ.I-, while the tailill l,;'s \\' (~ nt to alJl ai ­
u II CCI', to 1l1,lke n. eOlll p lcle :;lll(1y of the Hosal'io sit \la­
galllatioll . The \l'cig-ht of baUe ry s tem s \\'<1'<; increasc(l
I. t iOI!. Nohle spellt three lIIol!ths 011 the properl,\'. There
~
hy llsillg !Jl',l\' ier hosshea(1s.
!ll', Cllllt1l'IIUICl1 boUt the Illillillg' am1 lllillillg Ill c t Ilods,

,~
cOlilpleted exhau:;ti\'() mill t est.s, alld filially made his
'fhc sOl'Lillg' pLlllt at the !IlouLh oj' Ihe L()\\'cr GSO
'5 1'ecollllllellc1atiolls il! J UIIC 1~02. .
Ic\'el was I'C\'<l1lIjl l.: (1 with revoh-illg' SCI'eCIlS alld sort·
t ing belt, while s e tllillg tanks werc installed to ca.teh
1 The rcsult of the L. A. Noble report was a decision
l, to "clean housc," anJ .lUI'. Noble was probably illstru­
the rich s limcs c:tnieu by the large amoullt of minc
e ment:!l ill seeurillg' a new alld competellt ·staff. ,Joc

1 'Weelelle, who helcl all im porlnat posi tiol! \\'i ill the

[J
~
Leadville smeltcr, was ell gaged as manager. He took

11: with him a llew mill superintenelellt, three enginecrs,

alld a new aecolilltant. Detailecl costs on every opera­

ii tiOIl wcre illclutled ill ,\VedJlc's reports.

~,

".,

J
Whitaker in Charge of Mine
Olle or thc ellp;illeCl'S, Orville ,Vhitaket·, just. fUll!'

-'Im' 'fIB' 'Jm' 'rm

~ ~ - ­ . ---:­
1. years on t of the Colol'aJo School of 1'lines, was lIlade

111 inc sn perilltendell t. ,\Vhitakcr's Oll tstalldiug abi Ii ty,

-it _mI_ _
'I
whieh latcr cal'lled him a placc as one of thc t l'\ll~­

c
gTl'<lt. Colul';ldo t'lig-illl'l'!'S, was \'el'y e"idcllt ill his lirs!. _UJ _B_'
allllll<lil'l'JlllrL of opera.tiolls ill till' Illilit'. (:ood, aCCllrate
maps and l..;corus wcrc prcpared undel' the liew engi­
lleers, Hellry LcFcbrc, and H . G. Palsgrove. Both of
t.hesc men made a Ila mc fol' t hClIlsel yes i It I a tel' yea rs.
,Vhitakcr also brollght to HOS<lrio allother YOlllI'g but
jll'llIl1illCllt. Colorado mall, H-ussell B. l'aul, as <l:;sist,utt
llIill sllperintelldellt to H. C. ,\Vatsoll. Q. os.,io-gencr.1 office.
THE MINES MAGAZINE • JULY, 1961 23

T Lelt: typiol mincrs, Right: ore h'auldgc train ,
\I'<tter cOllling Ollt at t.hat Il~\"(~ 1. Costs soon llro llpe d 10
$~1 it t on ill ~ llldilig freight. Oil tom'elltrntes ('o lllpal'cd
(Il :r:W (ll' III()re lll'!'lll'c tit,' :ld\"'llt or i\()I)II', I(c t o\'cl',\'
ill th e lllillrose to Sol pe l' l' l~ llt. o\' lhc sil\'l!1' ,llld S7 pCI'
c'c'lli ll L t.he gold, as agaill st. a tOllibillCd sih'cr-gold
l','('O\'P I',\' of '/:3 per I'Cllt h,\' ;11Il<llgallwt i011. AIII,dg;IIII;L­
(illil \\,;IS (,OlltillllC'd 011 11! 1~ taldc~ tailillgs ulilil lite
",\'al lidc' process \r<lS illstalled lirst experillll'lItall~' ill,
l!l();" 'l'llis [ll'()\"cll so sUl'l'c'sslul thaL h;-' 1!)()8 :llilal­
galiialioll <lIHl talJk t;Ollcelltr;ltioll \\'crc both di~ c al'dcd
ill LI\'Ol' of cyallidatioll,
Staff Again Reorganized
Til e g\)oll orl.!;;llli l'. aLi oll s,~(. UjI b,\' Nohlc \\'<IS UIIl'or­
ttullIt ely shol't-liHd, \\' h itab~r amI l'alsgTlJ\" c ill:­
P;II't eel 'a!' soon <IS t hei r two-.\'e;ll' COli tract cxpi rcd , OI'C
res('n'cs hllilt. up t.o O\'(~r :)0,000 tOilS h,\' Whit aker
r<lpilll)' dcclillCLl, ]'I'<Iehillg' :t lo\\" of 10,000 lOllS b:'
1 !)Ot;, V,dellt.illc <lg;ain 11al1 to take a halld, goillg to
lI ollulll'<l s wiLh t.\\'O cOllsultallts, Frcd Millanl alld
C;l~o rg e O. Stonestreel"
1L W;IS c1ceillc(l to reo l'g'<llli i'.(~ t he staff. '\-edli lc \r aS
kt 0111., log'eLber \I'iLl! !Iis SUII, Halllh W eddl e, \\'110 had
llel' lI Illill C SnpCl'illLcmlellL. IJalc r ill ID07 Yal cliLilic
dc'cide(11o l'elurn \.0 IIOIIUlll'HS to lake pcrsollal chargc,
li e took \\·i tli him ,J oc 1\L ])(' If,lrt, 110\ a Illil1ing Inal1
1)111, a ver,\' e;lpahle adillillistralol' who for ,\'l~a I'S Ilad
ht'l'11 ill {,h c New Y or k offic e as l"alcllLilll' 's ri,~ht-hant1
(
111;111 , Valc llt.ill c sta\' cd lIlIt it October. " ' hclI he rc­
I turll l'll 10 Ncw York he pbccll ])cHart ill l'olllplet c
II ('li;lrg'(~ oi' op e rati olls, wit. h ,L IICI\' g(~1l1'I';tl slllwrillll'lld­
a, l'llt. E , A , Nis, 'l'he lat.l e r wa s l'espollsible [or tll\ ~ IIlille
F/ }lrlllH'l' al1d the lIew d e\'C lo jllllcllt laid ouL b:' l\1 ill:tl'll,
CO llllit iOlls faill'll to illl]ll'O\·C, so Ni :; was (li:;c/i;lrged
alill A , H , c: 0 1'11011 , mille [orClll<Lll, was prolllot cd to
of, llIilll) :;llpcl'ill{ellllell1. UOl'llull pl'o\' cd a [,!'ood filld , ,III<]
In' ell e rgetically cal'l'iell out Lhe II C\\' program of LIen'lop­
10, lIl ellt ,
off
('Il It Minard Named Permanent Consultant
Ull'i H.\' t.h e l'll ll OL I !)O!) ore rcsc rl"es \\'l're O\'l'r l(;O,UUO
01' ,~ tOilS of *:2::> orc, aL GO-C Cllt sib·cr. ~lillal'J had bcell
'I'CI", Ilamed as th e pcrlllallcllt cOllsult.illg cllgillccr, Hlld
tJlC ' dl,\'()tl',l ;Ill his tilll,\ to s\ull.\·il1g plalls fill' the futurc,
' l) II ::'II ill,ll'll lll;lll bee ll til e Jield ellgilleer lor John Hays
Ibmlllolld Oil lhe Call1jl Bird cxamillalioll befo re go ­
'J illg- to lIollduras, '
Tad,
1',; II "\ltliou).!,'h thc mill h,lll 110\\' a tot,ll of 00 st allips
;1.1"'/ ,L1lll L\\'o ]wlJbk Il1ills. it \\"a_" g,'l'<ldllall,\' Ltllillg" tl)
! he picec!'. lL \\',IS cIII il'l~I,\' illadNlu,tle ill "iew of tll( ~ J'apiLl­
,o;iell 1,\' iIlCl'C;ISillg ore l'l~sel'\,cs, Its llIaXilllUIll capncit.y wa!'
{lIe IlOt. Illorc thnll 100 tOilS pcr cla.~·.
l'll 1 ?lfillnl'll COJlyillcl'L1 thc Ilil'cclors to a.uthol'ize COIl­
d sf. sll'lleLinll of ,\11 I'lltin'l\· 11(~ \\' ~OO -!.()1l c\'anille Illill Ileal'
iiI. ( Ili c pOl,t:l1 or the Low er G!)O level. III ,;dllitioll t\\'o Jl e\\'
th h~' lho-clccLl'ic plal1t s \\'erc to he cow; ll'uetcd aml all
: M/ 24
.1.11 1...: Jl \.:.\\ .... )ttll ·/ll ( lJU; llU ii ,' uru jllCJJH , Ull I..: 1dU:U Ul1UCl
a hl'ad of 1:lO0 fl'e!., with two /-tcllemlo]'s ll cli\' cl'illg a
lol,ll or :-;r)() 1\ \\', Lall'!' [i'e \\'a!.( ~ I · wllc(:\s we n: chang;l,d
alld tli(~ salnc g Cller,ILol's weI'(: al)le Lo dclivcr ]LOO
K \\" (This spcal,s \rcll of tltc Olll -lilil C gCllcrators aml
COlllprcssors as comparcd with fadol'Y oulput t0d ay.)
'1'he C:lI <lllalup e It,n ho plalll, lIsillg t. ll e cl isc lt al'gc water
fronl th c !::lall .JlI :Illl;i to plant. opl:['a,L( ~ <1 Ull!1e1' all cr­
f eeL i\'c head or: 47;; feel alld gelll!l'ate<l ;;10 KW, Tillis
\\'as lat er illcrcase d by illlLJl'o\'e d wa tci' wh eels lo 800
K\\'.
Location of New tv1ill Site
To lilld a lIlill sitc for Lhe Ilt\\' Illill 11 <:;[ 1' t he L em er
GGO llaulag-e le\'( ~ I - with ad equilt e: 1'011111 Tol' hOllsillg,
oflites, \\'arehollse ,11111 silops al)('\'<:-jlrcscIlLcrl qllite <L
COllsLrudioll JlroiJ11 ~ JlI. The llillsid(: SIO]lI:(l n.t lI earl y
4G degrccs, witli sliale (lippillg Ill~nrJy thc S;lllIC, As
a l'l;slllt eUllst,l'llcl.iol1 proved IIlu ell l1lorC cxpcn:;ivc
thall c:;tilllalc rl, },'olllldat,ioIiS \I'cre sel as Jccp as 25
fcet ill lllall," pl,I CCS, ill sure l)crJll,lll cll(:,I',
Millard It <I 11 1)(,(: 11 SI:llt 011 all ('.'(lellsivc t.our La study
l',\':tlli(k plant s LlirougliuuL UI I! lJllit.ed ~1.al (' s, Ir c Il(! ­
sigllcd , fo l' those oIays, a \' CIT '.II'('cpLaiJle g-l'[l\'i Ly mill.
lJo\\,(!\, e r sO lli e g-Ltl'illg: faults c rcpt ill. 'l'htsc ID ult.s
\\'(,I'l~ rClll erlic(l wiliiout. t.oo lI1uch cxpcll se alt c!' lhl~
Illill \\' ,lS JJla el:ll in operatioll,
'1'1l(! origiJl;ll plan <'a,lled for (:I'llSli illg :lllll grinding
ill \I',lI el', !i1i ckl!lI illg nnd dcwaterillg- alld t he n adding
lh e eyallid e so lution nllll raw c,\';Illi cle, 'f h is proccs:;
\\"(lS ulisuc cess ful as Lhe J feillhix dl:w:tt.crcl'S failc(l Lo
\\"Ol'1;:, salis ra (:tori ly 0 11 tlte lili cly -g rulili u Ol'e , AILcl'
(JlIlI' a \r eek's t rial Lhi s :;YS t. Clll wa~ aiJandollcll, antI
c rll:<;hill g- \\"as d Ulle ill cya;lide :;olutioll,
Mill Equipm ent List ed
Tli t: Illill \\',IS 1;lid out \I'iLh a lUUU·lolJ coarsc urc
hill to tak e tlie gri;t,i'.l,\· alld g,\'j',i\ory Pl'otl lll:t \\'iL It font'
illui\'idllal Cha ll c llg c !'cellcrs t o fou l' S\; lllI)) ba LLe rics
o [ [i\' C slalllp:; l'a"Ii, ' '1'11 1\ SI,IIIlPS wI\ighed 1800 }Jollllr1.'),
t.l1( ~ he;l\' ies t. II s( 'd lip to that t.illl( ~ ()II 1.h (: / \llll ' l' il: all
('Olltill c lll , altli( lu~ 1 1 silililar olles \\'l~l'c ill usc ill Africa,
Thrce 5' x 22' tull c Illills , usillg' J)allisit ))c!JIJIl's, \\'en'
uSl'd ill th e g rillding cin' uit, ])OIT e la ss ifie rs illid
lhieh~ llers \\'I!rU inslalled, ullll JS' x 4G' P:i c. hu("t tallks
\\'c re used ful' CI'allil1u t.1'< :at 11Il'1lt. 'J'II CSC \I'('I'C foll o\I'pd
by thil'kclIel's, a'lIll ~\lclTill slilllC presses, "\11 \\,,~ I'e built
fol' movcmcllt: h.\· ~'l'(tvity fl ow, req uirill g' a tota'! verti­
cal el c\"at.ioll oi' Il('arl ,\' 300 fc c t fl'om top to hoLtoll1
of III(~ IIlill, 'fllis Illade ('01' c:\jJ(!lIsivc '.L1ld c1if'(jl:ltlL
SUP('l'\'ISllJlI,
Haulagc of Lhi:; Ilca\",\' llIill cquipmcllt prcsc ll Lc Ll
a fOl'llli(lahlc jl)'()iJl CIlI, espceially in gc LLill~ it O\"CI'
Iile 1l11111111,lill rO;ltl 1'1'0111 'l'l'glll'ip,tlpa , (:I',ltiCS or l:i p CI'
CCllt to ~o ]ll!1' ('tilt were 1'0111111011, a lld VC l'y sh'1I11
s\\'iLcltlJaeks had tv bc Ile gu ti utcd ,
Truck Transportation U nsucc essf ul
\\'hl!11 .\lill;II',l iil',o.;i. 1)(,':;11111 ' ('(llllll:<:I.I:d wiLh t.hc
COllI pall:' , he 1'()(;<J IlIIIIl!II<!t:d Il'lwk t.1'<llIspodat.ioll froJl1
thc coast to Tcg'lleig-alpa. At that. t,illl C th c hi gl l\\' ay
had bcell rc g l'aclccl :llldw:IS ill It fair sUllc of rcpa ir.
TIIl'pc l'a cl,<!nl t,l'll el, s n 1111 thei I' (ll'i \'en; \\' crc s it i ppc<l
to Jlol1dlll'; l.o.;, Till',\" llad S" ;U'(' ld,\' s i.al'i.(!ri lialilili g \\'il( : 11
a lel'l'ilic !',liIl SIUl'Ill O(;elll'l'cd ill Oct.oiJer l!.JOG . Thi s
rainsto!'1Il \ya shed out In'id ges, includin g n. vc r,)' :;ub-
THE MINES MAGAZINE • JULY, ]961
 allu ([own t.IlC l[l()llnl:lI11. T;tl\:mg IUI'IlS CI ' cn ' lIl a ll :S
cart was 1l10\'cd o"cr the lll{)Ulltai~l. Th ere \\'er~ alw ays
plcllt.I' or \);lrdool. rn:i ~ ht(:rs Lo lIrg(: aloll~ t.!1(! oxell
wiLh "]llIyas" (goad st icks) Il'ilit 11illCh yellillg <lllcl
I. -c ursing.
'.:
,! Th c mill took much 10llg'er to erect than plann ccl,
hut li lla ll~' wellt illto operation in July 1 ~Jl2, 'l'he
,j
wriler \I'<1S olle o f the first s hiH-b osses in the n e w mill,
! ' working un cle I' L1 0yJ H{)bcy, allother Coloraclo School
, I!
j... . ' .~ I'
,of }!ill es m a ll, who h ad hcen sup e rin tendent of thc
.. ~ , olcl Illill.
1,
'. ~ Cl ean Up Yields Fortune
'.
I

, A contract was given to Mess!'s. ,Jurgenson & Co"

I,.,
lwo AlJleri(:;llJs. t.o c lea ll lip tlte old mill. I<'rom !ncr­
c ur.l· ,t1ld <l1"<llgalJ! )'(! (;o\'c)'(:d ;i.Wlllld lhe old ta.lIks,
/1
from the c )'( ~ek 1){~l o\\', ana from cyanidillg- in the old
;1 mill all o f t llC su rrou lldillg tcnni)), ove r *2G U,OOO \va s
',\ g r ossed, Th e con tracto rs werc sa id to ha.v e rece ived
:ZS p c I' cell t as t hei I' sllDre,
'. ~ .
., B ,lsil D, Davis, ;l \'C ry COJII]leLC lit elect rical cngi ­
I )I<: C I' , Ir,lS ill ('ha!).!·c or ('ollsll' u(:lioll, Durillg th c la.st
I
i. r
~'cal' of eO ll sll'l!et ioll, DeHart l'ctul'lled to the New
{I
~.
. .'
1-' ..... Oxen hduling tube mill. York offi ee t o ex Jled i [e the sh i jJlll c n t of the new ma.­
chine r:.., ;lJIel a !l CW malJag·cr,\V , Darlin g, was en ­
'{ g aged. ,AlthoL1~h able ill m;UlY )'especLs, h e becallle so
:-;h lll t ial nl,l~ O Il I'\' 111'idi!:l' l.:O IlIl l'cL in g Tegll\'i ~;!lJl,l <l liel
the slllllll'b u[ COll l<lyagliela, llllillcllse dalllag-e \I' as ulipopular with t. he stafr that he was let out before
I'

(';tlls\~\l to th c hi glt ll';l~' ,IS \I' pll ,lS to the COllipa llY r oa d
thc m ill \I'as ('olllpJclel~' fillis h(~ d. A ncph ew of '\Va.<;h­
10 I he lllill('. The l'o ,l!l (1allla g\' ruill c(l all,l' cost ad­ illgtUl1 Y ;ilelltillc , Lui s l<'. Valentinc, although quite
\
rOl1l1~, look 0 \' (;1' ;IS lliallagcr.
,.

" alltage c:qwe1l' d from truck tran spor t a ti on.

Serious Error in Mill Design
,' -. "\£tc1' n. yea r's se nice thc !l lul e ·freight I)l'oycd
I
" lll O l'l~ ecollo illi eal Oll bol h incoming' supplies nn el out· Th e m ost se r io ll s errol' i II I he mill dcsign \I'as th e
I··
g{) illg COIH'Cllll'a[r s hy SOllle !j; lO,OUU a y('a.l' , Tnl!:I, locatioll of zi n c d ust prcl.:jpilatioll at the very l)ottom
" ' \ l'all sp()l't<l 1ion \1·<lS g il'('11 uJl , 11 \\'as IlO t. uil lil ,\Vor](l of the lllili. T It(! preei piL lle wa,s thell ])ulrIped t o the
'\Val ' l li<l(l w d! st;lrled, all d llll: l1. S, Anll ,l' c lilisted prceipilalc Ji lters 0\' (; 1' :WU lee\. \'c rti <:aI Jy ahov e; , , L'; the
the aid oj' th e Intll ca rls in the cOlls trtl('[ ioll of th e ref inery \I' as located at the llc,l(1 oj' th e mill. The pre­
Panama hi g h", a ," , t.hat the l'Ompall.l· was io!'('cd 10 (~ i]litak l, ip elin es "'ere at lea st SOO feet long. Before
use t.rucks at a llluch high e r c()st. thall })I'el' iou s lllUIe lon g it W,L'; (li s(:o" e l'cd t.hat llJuch of the precipitate
a lld cart ireight. \\,:is lIot r eac hing lhc rcfinCl'Y.
,I
i Th e accllllllllaliOll in til e IJiJlelines soon eauscd
Freighting with Wagons
broken cam s h alts 011 the Aldri c h Triplex pumps, Fin­
'\\' ag-oJls w ere sh ippcll (lm\'ll ll tl l'ing' [he ra rl~' (la ~'s <lll ~' the lin es liael to l)e clea lled hy emptying the
of the lie\\, cO ll s truct io n, Th ese W;tgOI1S w c r e ]lulled ellorlllOUS amounts of acculIlulatecl prec ipitatc ill to
h~' oxen as the hl';)vicl' picces \I·eigh(:d as llIuth as solUl ion tanks at Lh e bo\.lolll or th e milL l"rom there
10,000 poullds, but the wa gons Jll'oyed t.o be too h ig h it hall Lo be carried in buckets up to the refincry.
o ff the ground. 'rh ey were too hea\' y 10 suit. thc na li \' e The 27' tube lllills had n ot been properly al igned
eo nlrac t ireigh ters who dise<lred thcm ill fill'or of befo re ri\'e t illg the Lhl'ce-seetioJJs of each together, so
their own ll ew cart s llulll e with Il ca"icl' \\'OO(lCll axles
o r steel axks. For 10ll g pi eces of equipment, t\\'O carts
were illge lliousl~' coup led together. It is amazing \\'hat
the natil'l's ran ,J(:('oillplisit wilh cnrts and oxc n if left
to Iheir o"'n lle \'i('l's ,
At the foot of Ihe 1l1Oulitain there werc 20 per CClit
gra des and s harJl t Ul'll s to conquer, There the fre ight­
ers used 1 0 1l~. h ('<I \' ~' lIlalJilla rope from the com p a ll)'
\\';J.I'<'I lU lise, \\'iLil Id ol'l, <lll(l t;t(,l;lc .. ;lIl(.l h(';L\',Y ])osls seL
in the tUl'llS to 1Il0\'e t.h l~ loads , The load c<l carls were
LIstened to Olle hl oek. and the oxen to t h e fr ec clld
o[ the ropc, so t.hat III haulill g the loa d up hill the
OX('II were goillg' dOWJl hill. Aft e r reaching t he to p

t
; .,

,lI\(1 st,<lrtillg' (loll'll, Lhc jlrold ('111 was to hol (l the carls
frolll O\'cr.l'ullllillg; the ()X(~Il. Thc block all(l tad;!c "'-~.
was then attached t o the rcar of the cart and hea"y "..Pouring bullion, prior to use of Monarch type furn~ce"
THE MINES MAGAZINE • JULY, 1961 25
l' I CI - ""' \, JI1 '-' J.~ V ) J., "Lt.., . . . .
--""--"- • .... 'jl. ~ .. ... • •

""'II' ''-J. l- ''''' 1J J l l l t \... j,,- JJ\.,lV It i .l (~"'

::\lclling: \\"<1S (lone ill stationary fl1l'1l;l ces using- e!ll;u'­ In 1!113 Luis Yn\l'lltinc, upon the s\Hlc1en death
"II;d 1'01' 1'\1,,1, ;111<1 till' gT ,lphilP ('l"lI"ild"s I\'('l"\' lil·t('.) or his wif(', l'('si~' Il('d as 111;lll:J~(~r. J\I I'. (;oJ"(loli, who
0111. hI' tOll!.!:S Oil ;111 oITJ"h(';~,l ('I'alle . ;\1;11111 ill s is tcd (lJ!. had dOlle oulstalJ(lillg- work ill thl: J1li/I(~, )"( ~ pl'l\:cd iii/II.
'Iddil;~ ex~e~s ive <lln OUll\s of zinc as he was 1I0t ~el­ ::\lr. (;orooll remailled tllIl il his hcaltll forced him to
ting' thc product call ed foro,Y Lhc head awl tailings resigll at the cnd of 1!.l3 2, \I:hell th c writcr took o\'er,
:-;;I.111\l1,'s. Tile vall\(' oC Ihe )lIT(·.ipit;lt('S (ll'oPI)(,(l to (i;) .J\llil()llg-il t\l(, pri('.e of silver was dowll to 4G (,Pl1t s
11('1' (','Ill. ill g-old alld sill'\~r, alld it IH'('<Illle illll)(lss iIJI(, ill 1~1I!i, it )"(,a<:he d the \llliI(~a)"(1 prie(: or $ I.:!fj 1)(~1" oz,
to melL tll('nl. Th e n .: fillcr,v mall, Bladdlllrll, quil, <llid ill I~J20 . B y l\le end o[ that yeaI' tlie jJriee was lw('k
l.he writer took ovcr his job, working frOll1: six ill tJ 1C to G9 ccnts, and it weut lowcr ill 1921. Durillg 'World
mornillg to llill C at night. III n11 ,U'g-lIlllt' lIt with ::\Ltllll 1\'i11' 1 tlie cos t or supplies !Jad illet"C'IS('.u apprc ciaIJI,\',
()\""l' til e ;I\!I'i saiJ ilit,I' 0 1 : e red.ing" a solillion t;lllk;1l tile Illillillg c(lsls we re ri s illg <111(1 1ilosL oJ t lie \"eillS JOIIJJ(l
rd iller:-' ;llld jlrc(' ipit a tillg' t llelT, he was fired. illld dCI'c lop ell Oil the northeast: slop e of tilc IllOUllt,lill
'Whil e ill Teglll,ig,l! pa Oll lh c way Ollt, thc \lTit('r \\" t; I'C wcll depleted, en.:1l to old fills \\"hi eh had l)ecll
W;ls l'ehi\,\~ ll 1>.1' 'Va lc ntine, t.o take chargc of th e clCI'cl­ gi\'ell ('ollsicl erable attelltion \l'iLh the illlprovcd s ih' e r
ojllllell L o [ th e Sil ll r.i'IITOS 1\lil\(' ill SaiJan<l l;r<lIHle. jJrice ill 1!J20.
AllllOlIg'll l(){'at('<l (iO lllil<,s 1H'lo\\' th(~ ('apital all the Although llie UjlPlT J:iO Espcl'<Jll za cross('ut to
ro ,Hl t.() tile l' ;jvi fi l'. , l{os;ll'io hall )"('('e llll,I' <ll'quir('d th e explorr. Ihe sOlllh(~;J.st sidl' or t.IlC 1llOlllllaill hail \J\'('II
propcrty. sl,lrte<l ill l U12 , olll." a 1'('11' llIillol' veills were 10UI)(l
'W ithin a fel\' lllOllth !'; 1\lallll was let ollt , all d the alld ]lul'tiall,I' <lncloped, In May 1D20 this crosscut
rea ('h( ~d till' ~;J!I',l\lol' VCill, II"llit,h proillised lICW life
S-,"S tl'lll o[ jlJ'('cipilal iOIl elJ<lIlg-(~d at. tiw sallie I illl e I hat
the ~\llis-C;h:lllllcl's 111:1 11 was reali gnillg tile 1\I \.;e mi l ls. 10 lli e mill e. U lIlil tlii s ('ould lH~ del'clop l.!ll awl Ihe.
Bi ll :l<Jill l, who h ad (,Ollll' l10WlJ to rcpla('c I I\( ~ \"Ti ll'I' I\"urk c:uu ld bc I'co l'gn/lizl'd lo eut e xp ellses, the oul­
ill I he mill , W,IS lnade !llill s upcrinl ell dcnt. ::\Iol'e Iro\!­ lou k ['01 jl\'ofits \I",I S dismal.
1)1, ~ l1L'\'vlope<1 llS t hi; '/ " halte)',I' (', 1111 sil:l Us IJl'()i; c a Min e Sh ut Down ill 1921
j'P\\' lI'eeks aHc r goillg illto sen-ic c. \\'hcll ll ell' Ili('kcl ­
sl el, l s haHs II"cl'e illsl.all etl thc t roublc \ras l'clll e(1i('(1. II Ir a::> (ll'c iil ed to sliut (It)\\"n th e lllilW and this was
dOll e ill early J !)21. Efforls II'crc de\'o\('u to rcpair alld
\\' hclI a ll the bu gs w c rc \\'orked out, Illc mill r cpla(:ClII c. n t 0 1" Ill<ll'hiller,l' alld illlpr()I' ell1ellt 'ill th e
proH'd 10 k t\'c a ea.pncily 01 300 tOilS, ill s lea(l or tli e mill , \ri tli 0111 ,1' a skeletoll crcll' I,ept ill the mille 10
:200 for \\'ilil'il il II';IS desigllell . H('('ol·('r.'· I\',IS 1' ~J jln Jllaill ta iJl iL ,\lId del'clop th c Sall'adol·. Thc staff was
Ci'lll. UI1 the s.ill' c r, UO ]lC1' CC1l1 Oil thc goill. This \r ,:s ('uL (1rus tiell ll,I' . .A slud,I' wa s 1I1,Ide to reduee milling
improv cd 1J)' Lhc additioll of JlIOl'C l' ,ll' hu (,<l lallks. t he ('Ij:,.t ~ , p ;lrl il:lIlarl,I' b,l' slI'ite!Jillg- tu llJorc pi ecc \l'ork
('J"('('l ioll of: wliich kill lJ <: (~1l delay ed \JCCH ll Se tlie g; lllg ,11\(1 ('!lll ( ri\('ts. By the ('I)(J of eight Jllollilis, eeo lloJlli c
nl' i\('\\' York ]"i\"(~lcl's, ilin'd rol' en~dill:': all 1; 111\;";, ('lJ/lC iJ{ io! IS iI :( l il llp )"o\"('d sllrri\'icll~ly, alld opcl"utiolls
iJ Cl' ;111\(; cllt.irc ly too o\)IlOxiollS for til l' rest of th e (':Illljl. II'C!'(! re,,;uill l!d ill DecclIilJc J".
The ril'<:\.l'.rs \I'crc SCllt hOllle , 13\' 1 ~Jl ·l \\"hcll I lie III il l Ali l1\ l\l g1l il lllille sl rike of fi\"(: wCI,I,s (1ul'ution l ook
\I';\ S w ell Sli,lkcll dowlI, milling: <' ()sts \\"e re <lOIl' 1l to pi,J('I' Jll'() l ~ "t illg- Ihe nell' \I'or k ill ~ s .'· st (~ nl, L1 w year
*1.!l:2 )lC\' lOll eOlll]l<1l'ed with $~~.GO ill tlie old lllill <It 1!)~:Z sho ll' cd greaL illJjll'oV ClllcllL -;\lill llcad,<; were lip
the t illll~ it. was s ilut (loll'l1.1'oWC1' COllSlllllptioll fo)' to 2:3 OUll ces sill' e l' as ;Ig-ainst. ]4 ill I.!J 20. Total ojln,d­
Ihl~ ('llt.irc mill r(,;lch c(l tlw V(~l'y h\'ol'ablc jigure of
illg' ('osts ~lro ppe d frol)) $G.S!J 10 * G.4:3 pel' tall, ,Illd
1.7 Up . p CI' tall Ireated, fr om :i-l (,(' Ilt", vcr sil\'er UUIl CC to :30 CClltS.
Cripple Creek Miners Hired Improvements and Additions
Coupled with II\(~ prelimillary troubles ill the li e II' j)urill~ lhc follo\\"in~ 20 ye,lrs, wallY illlprol'e­
mill, the lllillcrs, takillg- ;t ell- allta gc of thc (lClll;Jll<l Jut' lll<:ll\s and addit iOlls were 1Ilalle. Th ese illelntletl IIC\\'
incrcased tOllnage, called a strikc which shut dowll th e ]JO \\"C l' iJls[(dlatioJls, Jl('\\, sho]ls, <lJlJ. additiona.l nil' COlll­
lllill for 21 days ill Septembcr and Octooc r 1912. presso r e<llJaeit.~·. Ball mills replaced tltc tube mill s,
'l'hirt('cll mill e rs \I·Cl'(~. hin~ll ill C ripple Cn'e\;: , alld all(l lllallY nddiliollal agit.atiull tanks, as well a:-: S\illH':
a.part frOI11 C[ui('\d.\' hreablJg th e s lrike, thcy IJl'Oyc (l a hlter.') \\" e rc adt1ed. ] )c I'CIOj>lllCllt cOllLillueu in the
grcat asset in tea eIiillg" th e loca.! la\JOrcrs to rUll t ilc so utheasL sectioll ancl llUlllerous lle\\' and rich HillS
air (ll'ills a.lld to IJrcak groull<l to good a.dvalJtagc . werc elleou ntercu.
Most of t.hcm l'ctul'll cd to Cripplc Crcck within a A Diescl )Jo\l' e r plullt was iJuilt in 1939 t.o alleviatc
f(' II' y ears, but 1,\1'0 of I !J(~ hest reillaillcd wcll illto t he thc (:l'iLical ]lOI\"(': l' shortage which (l\:UllTe<.1 eaeh year
l!l~Os. Dill JUll('S, a \\Telelllllall, \I'O\'kcd ill S,i1Jall:t dllrill~ lhe dr,l' SC' ,ISOIl frulli Jo'eIJru<lry ulltil .Junc. ])Ul'­
Grande for t.he \\Titcr until 1!J20, \"hell he l'elul'llcd illg this lleriocl, thcrc was Hot enough watcr Lo gener­
to Cripplc Crcck nlld \I'as kill(~ cl 1J\' a ro ck slah, Thc atc s nrfici cnt ]lOWe1' to l\ccp \wLh the mill and winc
(lth('!', !::·l<-(lll .I' J)llll(,:lll, :llso w e ill: l.o'Salla1la Crall<1 (~ in ojlcratillg", all(l1.he ll1ill \I'as sli ut. <1mI'll for six to eig-l1t
]~J:.?-I- ;111(111';1:; 1(~rL ill chaJ''''(~ 10 ('leall uplile n'lIlaillin" hours (\:iii." lluring Ille ]leak load period, Considerable
orl~ in thc Sail Mareos llli~ c whcn tilc writcr took o\'c7­ malic." had hecll cX)J('1ll1e ll ill cOllstructing s torage
ns assistant mallngcr at Hosario. Scott)' \I'ns shot in rcsc n-oirs, hilt thc probl em \I'as n ot soll'ed until the
I.h e onek latc th:lt year ll~' his clnlllkell l;ig-ht fOrl'lll<l II , Di esc l plant W,IS COllst l'u ctcd alld in opcraLion,
<!.1l\1 the writer Il<lcl t o ]"l't UI'll Ih('\"(, ulltil n. Ilell' JIlal; Thc cost or ])iesel fllvl oil \\'liS (;llt !lras tital1\' lJy
frolll ]{osario, 1\11.', Collins, \I',I S broken ill 10 lal' l' Ihe eldin'rill :; iL lo storil~e tallks Ileal' tlte lJOLLolll of th'c
job, moulltain Oll the Tegucigalpa side, and pipillg it
26 THE MINES MAGAZINE • JULY, 1961
 ;111l[ t.Ile llOl"Ln !:Ho e Ol tllc nlOlllltalll, P<1I'tI<lII,\- lor ex ­
plol'<lt iOll IllII'POS(,S, Illlt also to g-aill cllc;lp' <1('('('SS to
I ill II H'I' ; III d ; Id d iii 0 II; 11 I\' <ltv 1', ), 1'0 lll,d II I It n III g-" II \('
IIlill\' rot' lite hydl'u ·('lecll'i(' pl;lIlts, ()I'C I"('S('I'\'\'S \l'VI'\:
IIlailllaillC(l \\'ell ;t1lUut GOO ,OOO tUIIs alld were of sulJi­
ci(,lIt. i':r;Idl~ to I<lkl~ (,;ll'l' of allY elllcq.!:ell(,,\' in lIletal
]1l'i('('s 01' Ilnllll'al di,-;a ,~ tl'l's , l"ortllll<ltd,\', IlUllC of these
Il<lPIH'll l'll durillg- Illis pel'iod, Aillioug-h tllc <lY cl'ag-e
)ll'i('(' Ol silH'r 11 l'OPWd to :2!) cCllh ill 1!):1:2, eamillgs
still 1'1'l llailled ;It a satisfal'tol'\' fi g-ure \\'illl ;t1Hlll<l,llIt
hig'h gT;l\le OI'C 10 hI' Inilk<1, II. \\'<lS 110 prulJl('1ll to [{ cCll
lllill hl';lds al'oulld :\0 Ollll(,('S siln' !' if t\l'ellll'd ;1(l\'isalJle,
Outstanding Company Ex ec utives
'W illi am J\ , 1'l'l'lldel'gasL S ll(' ('\:edl~ d ,\-ashill g toll
,-alellt,ille ;IS prcside nt ill 1 'II!) alld hca lled the COIll­
pan)' ulltil liis <i('all! ill 1!IJ+, lll~ hall hccn eOlltroller
of N ('\\' Yo!'k Cit,I', <llld l:ikl' ;Irkl' lip 1>('(';lIlle ('\Ill,
lI('('l ed \I'illt l{u,-;al' io, was al'[>oilllcll ehairlllall of the
Siall' l'uhli e SC l'\'in~ CUllllllissio n, h,l' Cion'mor ?liill er,
;lllll 1'<'I;lilll'<1 h," <:<11', j" I';IIII,l ill D , l{O()'iI'I'l'It, lulli! th u,l'
di s;lgTI'l'(1 Oil jlolil.'i('s 1'1'(,lI d(']'g; lsl. rcsigll!!(l ill 1!) 30 10
d CI'ol(' all his lillw to HUS;Il'io, lIe had had llO lllillillg'
exp cricllce, 1..>ut, Jll ~ \\,;1." a b rilliallt executive and a
wonderful lIliln for whonl to \1'01'1" He (leserves as
11111('h l'l'\'di t 1'0 1' tit e oulst<lllding sll('('CSS of the ('0111­
pall:" lUHl er his adnlillist rat iOIl as Mr, Yalclltille dc­
sCl'I'l~d ro l' th e III()]'( ~ dirti('lIlt ear ly growth,
IL JI , Heillingl'l', a Colo l'a do lllilling produt:l, out­
sta llllillg' in his work ill l!ondul'a:; ullder the \\'ri 1('1',
allll wh()111 r pi('k('<1 to s(,lld to !'\e w York as all appar­
en tl ," lli u ('li-n(!cdl'd 111 <111 ill that. orriee dllrillg 1I1 l' diffi­
c\llt l illIe illlllledi;Jtel~' J'o llo\\'ill g World War II, be­
('<I Ill<' pl'!.'si<1en t Up OIl ':\1.1'. l'n' ll tlerg-ast's dealh, )11',
I~('ill i l l:':' l 'r 's ,'iII('(,(,SS h;l s \) (' 1'11 the SOUI'l'e o( gl '('at sa lis­
i';I(' I,io ll 10 IIll! \\Tilcl'.
Ol ile r me11 wh o dcsen'e 1I1 CllLioJl indude Lcwi s 1.
UI;lrl; c, <tss()tia l('\l \\' il h tile l'OIIlIJ<lIl~' lor a grca t Jllall~'
,1'(';] I'S Oil Ilw hoard or tli rvcto!'s, as dlail'lll;l11 of I,hc
hO;ll'd, l en lp ol'; ll',\' pres id elll, alld ill lila 11 ,1' illlpo!'tallt
l'Hpa('it.i('s; ]LIIT,I' ;\ , Cu css, IIho WHS eO llsultallt. fol' ,
nl;1ll,\' ,H'ars aJ'Il' r )1 inar L1; J l'el'lillall, fo1' lllaJl~' ~'ea!'s
SI!(,I'l't ill'.\' alld pUI'chasing' ag'clll; FrHllk C, ] )(,H'1'CIlX,
;L gTt'ilt 111t,t;lillll'gisl. alld IIlilllll<ll1 who die(1 o[ )lllt'U­
; I
lllollia dlll'illg tIle la st war ; }', 11. S tcphells, for Jll<lll,'"
,,"cars lhc abk Illill e SlIpe l'ilitellllellt. all<1 assislant 111<111­
agel' 1111(1('1' Ilt c \l'1'ilcl'; ~tc]lhcI I Karrer, o[ till' ellgi ­
1l1'(!J'illg' d('pal'lll ll'lll ; (:us Hu('ltil', 1I1Cl'h;llIi(';11 d('part­
111('111; I '~, C, CUillll'lI, ell'<:t ri\',li 1~ IIg:ill('(' r still wit it til t!
(,Olllj)illl,\' ill l'Ilo('itilo, )lilllY olitej,s I'C."Olltl lllelltioll
wilitill tile seope o[ titis his to ],y tOlllril)l\led greatly,
Technical and ,Economic Statistics
'rh l' Illi11l~l'i ll-1JI'al'illg' ZO lll' was a large body of ill­
trusi\'e da c ite alldesile wi l h sedilllclltaril's on all
frin gcs, ;In d rh,\'(di t < ~ tufes, (;o\'ering a large part of
thc mount a in Lop, 'rhe Hosa rio vein pCll et rat ed Ihe
oull,I'ill;.:' shalc ['o r <l g'l'!!al, di s tall te 011 I li e C;l.'it s id c,
bu t, WilS lllljll:odlll'li\,(' in thc shale, Oil tlic west s ide
o( thc 11Iolllllai11, 0111 ,\- olle Ye ill, Lhc ,) ocu al'a 2, penc­
t,rate d the Slllllc, ;lll<llav al ll lOs t entirch' in lhat struc­
turc, It pl'o(luc l!ll ()\'cr 400,000 tOlls of high grade OI'C,
Tite mill(, h<ld ;1 lir(~ or 7 , ~ )'(,<I],S, elosinf,! down ill
1~);) ·l:. It ]ll'Odul'ed OI'CI' $100,000,000 frolll slig:hlly Icss
than G,500,000 \.ons; roughly, $lG per tOil I'('(;o\'ered.
THE MINES MAGAZtNE • JULY, 1961
1IIIall('(' ollH'r 1ll1ll('S, j\sst'IS 01 lIeal'l,l' :t'v, V S( III
J'('llIaill('(l a[[('1' abo\'e cx p c11<liLurcs,
l)lIrillg- 111l' 1;1.-;1 I(J ,\'('al's or ils Ilrl!, J(os<l rio avel'­
;Ig\'d Iliure t hall $!iOlJ,OOO ill diyid elldx yearl,Y, frOIll ore
or an a\'er;lge of IG OUllces sill'el', and 0.10 g,old ore.
The mille (~1Il1ed with DO miles o[ \'cin levels, 011 over 70
veins; 50 11Iilcs of crosseuts; eight Illaterial and man­
II<Jlldlillf,! slw(Ls', wilh eOlTespoIl<lillg hoist.s; two ekc­
, tric t.rolley haulage Ic\' els, Olle with 50 pound rails,
the other "'illl 3!)-]lOUlld r a ils; se\'cnlocomotiv es; thrce
h,n 1ro-cledri (', planl s , t.otalillg 2!i(JO 11p ,; Olle D ies(!!
plan t of llOO 11 p, 00,000 feel of ilull1e lill cs sel'villg
Ih c plaids; (;000 !'<:('l. of l~lilillgs ,(li s posal flullle; a very
erlitiellt 57G tOlls PCI' day cyallid(! plallt, cO lllpl et.e with
cY<Lllitle re(:ovcl'.\' plallt; exce ll clIt mechani cal, electri­
cal aliI} ca1'pcnter shops; a foulldry, gus prou.uccr
pl:lllt; Ih1'ee llHli\'l~ s('llools with ]!) teu(:hers; poli c(!
baIT;)('I(s, alld two 1I10l'i e hOllses for UI(~ llatives; bes id es
I'c ry cxtensive housillg facilities, tenllis co urt, bowlill g
alleys, and swinllllillg' pool.
Veill s aV\'l';I/,.:(~<1 less citall :2~ illch es wiue; lllllTl ero us
rieh veills as 11<1 nOli' a.s G inches, hut seve ral UlJ t o
thrcc feet, and occasionall y uut rarely widelling, t o
eig-ht fcet ill spols, TOllnagc per foot. of developmclli
was llat.ul'all y low, but th e vast majorit.y of t he YeillS
produced frolll ('lose lo 80 )ler eellt 01 thc \'cin aJ'(~a,
The clll'iehcd ZO IlC ~I' as usually betwecn the Lo\\'er ;WO
level amI the LJppcr 300, an average vertical rallge
of 800 feet, <Il thouglt 11 Wllcrous veills 011 the llorthea.st
siLk had it pJ'ot1l1etil'e \' ert.ieal l'i.lIlge of 1200 fee t. Lead
<111(1 ziJle eame in SI!'OIlg-ly l)dow thc Lower 400, SOlll!!
ore \I'as lllillC(1 below th e LOI\'er GriO level, !.Jut. ll ot
much, Ex]llo 1'<1 tioll 011 I he Lo\\Cel' 1150 level to i II H~st i­
ga te the possibilit y o[ \I'orkalJl(! I(!ad Hila zi n c O)'(!,
fai\ell to sho w ('Ilollgh to bc eeoll(Jlllieul with th c Iligh
lreiuht rales illl'O!\'(!L1.
Laho r, Jurillg Ule la st. 10 yea,rs, averageu. more
t han 1000 mell per day , )lot inellltlillg freighters, tim­
!Jer, lime, charcoa l, :ll1l1 IUlllber cOJltl'adors, OperatiJig
cOsts \\'erc <lOWll to $G,50 l,cr LOll, which, with ta.xes,
deprcciation, depletioll, a lld Nell' York cx))cnses, ran
the oyer-all jo arollud $8,50, This held as lute a.s the
t':II'I~' ] !);:)Os, Irllell la1Jol'<I1ll1 supply eost.s rose apTJrcc;i­
ably,
H:lIldsollll! proi'ils were IWIlle ill the late yea rs,
OIl orc ;tl'eragillg- ] 3-oullce silver alld 0,10 OUllCe gold
prr tOil, 1 [~' d),o-l l\ )\\'cr eosls \\'(~ ]'(! about. $(LOO~ pel'
K\\- hOllr; Di esel !lower $0,0:2 , bu\' f01'tunately the
Diesel s 11;](1 to sllppl~' Oll the a ve l'ag-e only 10 per c(!nt
o [ tile 10,000,000 K \\" hUll rs <:onsullled yea rl y , Assays
ill the JleighlJorhoo cl of 60,000 a- yea-i' cost $0,25 pel'
",'isn",; sehools $14,000; hospital $10,000 yearly; 1'01 ic c
aroulltl $17,000; IlliJL recovery (ll'el'agell !Jl pel' ce llt
Oll silver, nllll U3 pel' ccnt on gold , Dorc bullion, rou:;h­
l)-, 2000 IJar~ allllllall~-, weighing 120 pOl~nds e<le h,
\I'cre ill latc yeal's shipped {rOIn T eguciga lpa by planc,
ill In'dcl'cllce 10 ~tl',IIIll!r nll valurem rates,
Other Rosario Mines
Bl'siclcs the Snn l'lareos min e, in SabulltL Gl'<.lnde ,
(l eplcted ill 1!):28, Hosario investigated during its Jast
:\0 years I](~arly cI'e r.\' k110WI1 old millc a1l<.1 jJl'osped
ill llomlul'ns, alld mail,)' others throughout Ccntral
.:\llll'l'ieu, Amollg thc 1I10l'e »l'olllillent can be included
27
 ~ ... -" , " n'H " ' - " " l f l l l I ' , f l, 1.1" \; 11 ;':"llHII', J JtJlll! ~""lil1", •...,U...!111­ 01. ~ 1L\"t;r, ~d, ;'; "i::.l Oll l l l' ( 'S UL ;':'\J1 ll • .lU,~I' L UJl~ Ul Jl',IU­

}lI 'l ' Vi\·;!, <111(1 ollH'I 's. 'J'he 1';d l~ 1l IIlilH's 1I<\(1 iJl'[~1l quite
,'xll'II.';i\·l'\ ,\- \\'tll'l,,',1 ill tli e (';11'1 ,\' '1!)10s, by t.ll l~ TOllopait
?llillill~ L!o" :It, a lo ss or S[)IIH! ~j;:~,O()(),OO(). "\ViLh golll at
*;:!O :111[1 local ed ill tli;lt l'ClJlOt c jUllgle country, the
ope ],;ltioll (li(t JlOt. have a chUJl(;e, with Ull ayerage
12,'l';lllc of 0,3;) oUllce !-!,'old orc . .All these golll JIIilles
\\'L'l'C ~1('q uir L'(l arIel' l'o ll s iu.e raiJl e ue\'cl0p lll clIt, aml a
Sl'jl ;l. ral e ('lllll]l<llly, (he l\e pt.ulle GolllMilling Co. was
forllled, ~\ llI dl (0 I-he \\'I'iLe r's chagritl , A, S. & R Co.
an(l OtJIl'l'S " 'e rc ;d lo\\'('d to pa.rti cipate to t he exLellt
or 70 )ll'r ('('Ill, lIoL\\'iLlisl:llldillg' t.ile fad Hosario \\' <lS
ill posi t.io ll 10 iili<llll'e Ihe est il ll:iled ill\'C's lm clIt of
~l llll ('\\'Ii:\t . 0\'['1' ~ :! ,OOO , O()(), Tod ;I,\' I ill',se mill es, served
('Xl' lllSi\' cJ:,' In' :lil'piall C ha\'e ]>l'otilll',ed Ilc,ll'l), f),QOO,­
OOll low:; s ill l' 0 1 ~) ; l 0 , ()\,(~l' ] ,..J:OO,O()O OUIlCCS o[ ~old,
a lld :Z,OOO,()()O l1Ull ees 01 siher hav e becn pl'oduccd alld
nCilrly J,OOO,OOO t OilS o[ ore rcmaills, III 1!J41 Hosa rio
look ;111 optio n Oil all ouLcrop , ullscrat.eiled, kIlO\\'ll <Is
:'Ilocililo, lo cate d JH';Jl' Lalce Y o,ion, 011 t.h e Atlanti c
silk nl' J Illll t1 l1l'as, ' L'llis W:IS a hi ~ il-gl'atle IC: lll-si l\'C/'
l'l'p la L: l'llll' IIL deposit ill Ji lllcs tOIl C.- :t t \\,:IS ]lllrCII:lS(,d
;lllll ]lui illto pl'l)(ll.le\,ioll ill l!J-! S. 'J'o tlak thc cap il al
i11\'('S( IllCll Lin th is ])l'ope r ty exceeds S;2,7 50, 000 . The
the l:tUel' s llIelte(l ill El Pa so, Texas. This )ll'Odli e tioll
from GOG,OOO tOilS silo\\'s :l J'(!( ' OVCI ' ,V o[ h(!tt.(!I' tilall :!()
Ollll(:es or silvcr 1)('1' t.OII. lL lias provcn vcr)' l'l'Olit<Jid e,
wi th at least GOO,OOO Lons in l'eSC l'\'e ancl mally fn tu rc
p oss ibilities for a long life.
Sillee the delllise of the ]{.os:trio llIille, thc COIlI]):Jlly
has takcn interest ill ot.her milles alld proj ects, ]Jcyol l(l
thc scope of t his article to ellUlilerate. The old. mill e,
JlOW a g'host camp, lllu st Lc remcmbered. as OIlC o[ the
~reat. si lvcr mill(!s or t he worl(l, alillOLI~h hardly l:O Il I­
p:tr,LlJlc wiLh till' st. ill g'J'C'aler IlIilJ(!s (If i\ Jc xi(:o all d
Callada, E\'ell thcse ha\'c iJ ce n f ew ill llumlJer. It was
truly a mill cr's paradi sc, wiLh it.s mallY natural ad­
\'anta~cs, a IJI Ollllt.aill o[ J'i eh n:ifls, ( ~ II(::LP ]Iow cr, no
ore OJ' wasil: hoi st in g', n o water prolJlellls, unbeata hle
climat.e alld a fricildly g'o\'el'nlllcnt. to woric with.
"\\' iLhoul Lhe great foresight., unLirill~ encrgy, <Lnu
Lellacit)- of "\\'ash in g'toll Valell Line and his assoeia tcs
wlio dal'cd t.o CI1 !.(~ 1' Sll(',1i a prillli!.i\·e COUII!.I'\' ;I S J 1011­
dura,,; I),ll:ic ill ]SSO, iL lll ig li L ha\'(~ IW(~1l a fa i'lu J'(~ , Fol'­
LUll ate l" thc y had whaL it takes to IJelll!fiL [rolll lla­
t mc 's 1;0 U II I.)',

"

VISITORS TO THE
ALUMNI OFFICE
( C,;nt/lIl/oJ frOIll /J a!}c 12)
.. \l~ ~()L D G. ;'1 0S 1EH., '54, is now Ii\,­
i ng :It 3:) 00 !\ lc:lde S t. , Den \' e r II , Colo.
J\ rtl o ld h:l , fi ll i., hcd a t ou r ~, Jnet~lllIr­
), isl f or B,. :J <ic ll Clipp er Co , i ll Ch ile. Now
hI.! is clllt:-.id cri nj.! S t. 1I11Cthill ,~ ill th e Slat es,
l ll i l Illay return l O Suuth i\lllc l'ic a.
(~ US T:\ \'C L. NEU1>'!A Nt\, '21, worb
t ut' tht U, ~, Bureau of rodi ""s , but lives
in Collq,:,' l'Hk, :\'\t!. Gus was het'e fo r
C OIIIIIIL' IIC l'IIIl'lI l "lid [ he Allnual Banqu e[,
b o[ h of ",hid l hL' elli oye d.
THO l'o-t :\S E, ~OH,TIIOI', '32 , who i s .
direct o r of En g i neeri n g and Operation s ,
(l1S.'\ F) CI': 7S 00 dl i\ BC R U A I'(~ 21S,
Ne \\' Yo r k, W:l~ ill Denver fur :i s hort
visit. Ile 111:\" be addresseu at 4135 E.
16th 1\vc" lle;\\' tr, Co lu. \\'e arc :1 1\\':1 )'s
plea sed ",hell >I) l11e o ne frulll o , ' erse:lS
1I1a k es Ihe crron t o cu m e in ~lId sec us,
an d I'm ,o rry t h at w e Ji d not hav e ))\ o r e
lilll!! tO$.! bhcr.
RICII:\lnl ],' PITNEY, '60,
throu/!:h ])en,'cr en rOllte (0 fort B ch'o ir,
Va " wh e r e he will clJIllpic [e his Illili ' ary
ser vi ce . I ll: is on m i litary leave fr o ln
Columbia Iron Minin/!: Co. of CedH C it)',
Ulah. A [cn1 1">rary addr ess fo r Dick is
S I 5 S. lli gh St., j)'enycr 9, Cu lo ,
JOIlN S, TI B B S, '37 , chid gcologi,[
and ge lJp hysiciq, Pellll s al l Chc Illical C orl" ,
was on t he C:1l1ljHIS attcl1diI\~ the :-i lion
cu urs!.: ill <"~c o dl!:Jnislr .\' t h:1l i~ bL'ing (Jf­
feled this Sll llllt1cr. lI e \\, :1:-; ill lprc :-::-. cd
wi th l hL: cOllrse and said 111:1 1 e\'ery gCI1I­
oJ.: is t s ho ulu have such a co urs e if he
expects to r emai n currellt ill the dn'clop­
n) ellts in the application of C;coc h elll istry.
John 's h oule addre ss is 1{OUlc No. 3,
1\\arioll, Ky, (S ec rcport clsr\\'Itnc ill
thi s issue cuncerni11g lhe G eoc hl'ltli s trr
Course.) ­ and [he other one was Rubert II. If yf1U
28
LE S TEIZ C. TIlOM 1\S, '12, a lifti o llJ.:
supportcr of 1>! ine s, was in o ur of fi ce , 1
reg re t tha [ 1 did 1I 0 t have an op portuni,y
to talk with Lect, for he has Jlways I) cen
(JI)e o f our s tauncltest fricnu s, Bellcr luc k
lil'xt ti llle .
]01 1:-< s, \'A N DEEPOOL, '55 , wh o has
bee n a gcoloJ.:is t f o r Phillips Petroleulll
Co . was in Den\'cc look in J.: fu r :1 ne\\'
si tua[i o n . lie nlay st ill be reached at J SOO
Dc l Nu rt e IZanch, N. 1\1. Howe,'cr, John
er pee ts to Ino"e h is falllil,- from th ere
sho rt I)'.
WI L Lll\;>'! II. WAllL, '58, of 2555
D l\ke Street, IZi c hm o n d , Calif., slopped in
while here ,un a Co lo rado visi[, 1 under ­
stand that Bill was returning to Rich­
lIIonu within the next few Jays.
JEIUZY J. WARNEI{, ' 5 S, geologist
with Northern Illin o is Gas Co" has heen
illv ol"c d in J.:as storage for the past thrce
), e;)I'S J S h is company is developing in
si [u s to rage lI ear e nou g h to slI pply Chi­
cago at peak lo~ds. His h o me addrcss is
956 \\'estcrtl A\,e., \Vateseka, lit.
was
J\LBERT 11. WIEDeR, II, '60, wh o ha s
been w ith Ihe US GS Se rvice \\'a[er
Branch in Tu cs on, Ariz., was vi s iting in
DCIl"rr en route to Fort lleh'oir [0 COIll­
plete his Illilitar y service, IIe is on mili­
[al'Y Jc :1 VC frum the USGS, alld hi s per­
ll!:lI le nt :1ddress , for the presem wil l be
123+ S. Gilpin St. , Dellnr 10 , Culo.
ROBERT f. ZI1\!1\!ER1\!.-\N, '5 3, is
now an Al'plicaliun Ellgillcer with Allis­
Chal lllers 1\ \allllbctliring Co. lIe is li,' ­
io g :It 5+1 3 \\' . Lin co ln Avc., 1\!ilwaukcc
J 9, \\,i s, ! was pleasetl to meet Robert
f . for it has been rather complicated to
ha"e tw o Rohert Zi,lllnermalls both of
wh o lll gradllateu as IIlc[311l1rgicai eogi­
lIeers io 1 95~. This "':Is further COlllpli­
cated hy [he fa Ct that one was Robert f .
write about the Zimlllerrll~l\ s, be s ure to
Us e the correct midtlle initial.
TII01\fAS 11. GAH.NETT, E,M, ' II,
98+ 13[h 5 1" Bo ulde r, Colo" :11'0 who li st s
hilllself as retired (actua!ly he is bu s ier
[hJn most of us), came dow); to ch ec k O f}
[he progress of the plan s fo r the 50 th
IZr u Jliu li o f his cbss,
CORDON L. GI{A Y, Ceoi. E. '50, of
Cali~ar)' , A!l'ena (2+1 2 Sandh'Jrst Ave,)
was here on bu ,illcss , IIe is a lllcmiJn of
Ihe consuiJillg lirm of IIunt, RaddifIe and
Gray.
llO\\'AIW L. MINI STER , E,M . '16,
c all)e OUt to se [lle a lollg- s[:tJltiing con ­
truv e r s)'. It was seltled to the ben efi t of
all concerned, and llo\\'artl is again an
acti\'t~ me lnG er of the Ass ociation.
Il l\RO L\) E. KELLOGG, Ceot. E. '55,
who is geol "J.: ist, /\ merican Oversea s P e­
tr o leum, Ltd ., ca llie by while he is home
n n lea ve. llc is re tur ning to Ankara, Tur­
k ey , wh erc hi~ audre ss is P.K, 52, Veb­
I e lie r.
CLEl'o- ! ENT A . LEIINERTZ , Jr., Geo l.
E. '52, is a l'anner in Exploration Engi­
Ileering together ",ilh ,\dam Thomas '52
allti Bob Turley '52, with oflicc~ in the
!'o lllh Co:"t Life Buildin g , Hou sto n,
Thill gs are l oo killg lip for this young
ceJlllpany alld )'OU ha"e ou r best wi shes
f u r succ e ss in the ventllre.
j .'\i'vlE S II. MUNRO, Ceo!. E, ' 39 , who
has bee II Add re ss Unkllown for several
),C3I'S ca l"e hack to MINE S fur the first
time ill 20 years. I!i s au d ress is 6[8 So,
Lake, Miles City, Mont. We a re pleased
to remo vc YOll r Ilallle from [he Adtl re ss
lInk"own ""d we lcume YUlI "S "n active
'Jll"llll) c r.
(Colllillllet! Oil page 40)
THE MINES MAGAZINE • JULY, 1961