3-021-094 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Conveying silver from the mines [of Real del Monte] to Mexico [City], 1868. 'After the independence of Mexico had been acknowledged by Great Britain, an English company was formed to work the mines...A splendid road was constructed, fifteen miles in length, which is to this day, the only macadamised road in Mexico...Mr. Buchan undertook the management of the mines for a Mexican company, and almost immediately struck the great Rosario vein. Till last year this magnificent mine had not only paid all the expenses of working the other mines, but had left a profit of one million dollars a year...The average yield of silver is thirty bars in a fortnight. Until the end of last year a conducta or escort for the conveyance of silver to the city of Mexico left the mines every fortnight. The silver is in the form of bars, each weighing 70 lb., and securely locked in an iron safe. The soldiers belonging to the company are 150 in number, and make a fine show, whatever may be said of their fighting qualities. It appears that Mr. Auld, the able director, resigned his post at the beginning of the present year. This has occasioned much regret to the little colony of brave Cornishmen at Real del Monte, numbers of whom have already left Mexico'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.