Missionary Activity Among tl,e Apaches, 1743-1758
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on to San Antonio, where he arrived on March 10. From here he sent a glowing account to Governor Barrios on March 29, declaring that the mines of Cerro de) Almagre were so numerous that he could guarantee a mine to each inhabitant in the entire Province of Texas. 65 The governor transmitted the diary and report of Miranda to the viceroy on July 20, together with the samples of the ore extracted from Cerro del Almagre, while Miranda, anxious to arouse interest in his enterprise, went on to Mexico. Upon the matters being referred to the Fiscal, he recommended on September 3, that an assay of the ore by qualified persons be made before any action was taken. The viceroy requested the two owners of the rich mines of Pachuca, Don Pedro de Terreros and Don Manuel de Aldaco to make the assay. Two separate analyses of the three pounds of ore sent were made and both showed over ten ounces of silver to the hundredweight. In reporting the findings, however, the experienced miners cautioned the viceroy that although the showing was most favorable, it should be kept in mind that a small, selected sample generally revealed a much richer yield than the bulk of the ore, and that the net silver produced in quantity operations was usually half of that of selected samples. To make certain of the real value of the recently discovered mineral deposits, it would be better to ask that thirty mule loads of ore be sent for assay to Mazapil, a mining town between Zacatecas and Saltillo. This sound recommendation was adopted, and Miranda was notified that he and those who had announced claims should get at their own expense the suggested thirty mule loads of ore for a final bulk assay. Miranda explained on February 15, 1757, that he was willing to comply with the request on condition that the viceroy furnish the necessary escort and that if the mines proved successful and a presidio was established, he would be made captain in recognition of his services. Much discussion followed before the viceroy finally granted the request of Miranda on November 23, 1757, and appointed him captain of the presidio, when this should be established. But by that time cir- cumstances developed which caused the abandonment of the plan, as will be shown in the course of this chapter. 66 The failure of Miranda to open the mines proposed had, nevertheless, a decided influence on the 65 Derrotero, February 17-March Io, 1756; Consulta of Miranda to Governor Barrios, March 29, 1756. In Testimonio de los autos fhos. a consulta de Don Jacinto Barrios, 11-25. Copy also in San Francisco el Grande Arc/ri1.1e, Vol. 14, pp. 1-19. 66 Testimonio de los autos fhos. a consulta de Jacinto Barrios, 25-59. See also Bolton, Te:r:as, 80-83.
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