Springfield
Silver Member
http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C...chrome&ie=UTF-8&q="mining+in+colonial+mexico"
For those of you who care to know the truth about New World âSpanish miningâ, particularly in Colonial Mexico and environs before the end of the Mexican War, I suggest you review some of the links provided above. For the period mid-1500âs to mid-1800âs, you will discover where the mining and exploration occurred, who was doing the mining, what extractive methods were used, the expenses and financing that were required to extract the metals (primarily silver), what skills and experience were required by the primary and highly paid miners, the availability of unskilled labor, and the Crownâs true involvement and its demands from the mining industry. Concerning the Kingâs demands, Iâll provide the following to consider:
.... More systematic was the state's contribution to the long-lasting expansion of silver production by establishing a sound legal and institutional framework that had little in common with the one assumed by various popular generalizations about colonial Hispanic America. By a series of measures enacted in the 1720s, the state mining policy in New Spain promoted growth indirectly. Especially important were the low and decreasing fiscal pressuresâincluding total exemptions in some casesâon silver and mining inputs, the maintenance of law and order, the institution of a specific body (the Cuerpo de MinerĂa and its Tribunal General) to defend and promote mining interests and prestige in 1776, the partial liberalization of foreign trade in 1778, and the promulgation of the relatively liberalâby international standardsâmining code of 1783. There was no predatory colonial state confiscating the results obtained by individuals from their productive efforts in New Spain's mining industry. This was openly acknowledged by Ward (1828):
"The King (individually) was not proprietor of a single mine, nor is there one instance, since the Conquest, of an attempt having been made by the Government to interfere with the mode of working adopted by individuals, or to diminish the profits of the successful adventurer, under any plea, or pretence, from the more fortunate, a higher rate of duties than that which was payable by the poorest miner to the Royal Treasury. By this judicious liberality and good faith, the fullest scope was given for private exertion; and this, in a country where mineral treasures are so abundant, was soon found to be all that was requisite in order to ensure their production to a great extent."
Humboldt (1822) agrees with this judgment:
"All the metallic wealth is in the hands of individuals. The government possesses no other mine ⌠The individuals receive from the king a grant of a certain number of measures on the direction of a vein or a bed; and they are only held to pay very moderate duties on the ores extracted from the mines." ....
Mining-Led Growth in Bourbon Mexico,the Role of the State, and the Economic Cost of Independence, By Rafael Dobado and Gustavo A. Marrero
No. 06/07-1 of The David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Working Papers on Latin America
Prior to the 18th century, you will find very, very little evidence of mining having taken place north of the Durango/Zacatecas/San Luis Potosi regions in Mexico. Yes, there was limited exploration and settlement above the Northern Frontier â in todayâs New Mexico, Arizona and California - nearly all of which was well-documented by the state-sponsored parties, several private journals and letters, in the archaeological evidence and in the oral traditions of the natives encountered. In my opinion, there may well have been additional undocumented and well-funded expeditions of âfree agentâ adventurers/prospectors that slipped under the radar, including possibly some of the religios. There is no doubt that there were also a significant number of small âwildcatâ Mexican forays to certain areas of the current American Southwest later in the 18th and 19th centuries. If 'Spanish' mining was widespread in today's USA, one would think the easy placer gold fields in California would have been an easy target. These placers remained untouched until the 1850's and later. Interesting, no?
Be that as it may, the point is this: the large number of âSpanish cachesâ marked by the âKingâs Codeâ that you think you are following simply do not exist. There was no Kingâs Code, ala Kenworthy, in use in the American Southwest. The âKingâs Codeâ explanation of the relatively few genuine signs that are being discovered is a fantasy used to boost egos at the expense of the unwary. Have you seen Kenworthyâs proof? I thought not. Have those who claim to have the proof provided anything but talk?
If you are interested in who created the signs youâre finding and what they mean, then you need to move on. Yes, there are genuine signs to be found. If you want the truth, youâre going to have to work. You can get ideas on forums such as this one, but not the answers you seek. These are secrets, after all. If you want a fantasy game, then continue on with the balderdash being fed you free of charge by the âexpertsâ.
For those of you who care to know the truth about New World âSpanish miningâ, particularly in Colonial Mexico and environs before the end of the Mexican War, I suggest you review some of the links provided above. For the period mid-1500âs to mid-1800âs, you will discover where the mining and exploration occurred, who was doing the mining, what extractive methods were used, the expenses and financing that were required to extract the metals (primarily silver), what skills and experience were required by the primary and highly paid miners, the availability of unskilled labor, and the Crownâs true involvement and its demands from the mining industry. Concerning the Kingâs demands, Iâll provide the following to consider:
.... More systematic was the state's contribution to the long-lasting expansion of silver production by establishing a sound legal and institutional framework that had little in common with the one assumed by various popular generalizations about colonial Hispanic America. By a series of measures enacted in the 1720s, the state mining policy in New Spain promoted growth indirectly. Especially important were the low and decreasing fiscal pressuresâincluding total exemptions in some casesâon silver and mining inputs, the maintenance of law and order, the institution of a specific body (the Cuerpo de MinerĂa and its Tribunal General) to defend and promote mining interests and prestige in 1776, the partial liberalization of foreign trade in 1778, and the promulgation of the relatively liberalâby international standardsâmining code of 1783. There was no predatory colonial state confiscating the results obtained by individuals from their productive efforts in New Spain's mining industry. This was openly acknowledged by Ward (1828):
"The King (individually) was not proprietor of a single mine, nor is there one instance, since the Conquest, of an attempt having been made by the Government to interfere with the mode of working adopted by individuals, or to diminish the profits of the successful adventurer, under any plea, or pretence, from the more fortunate, a higher rate of duties than that which was payable by the poorest miner to the Royal Treasury. By this judicious liberality and good faith, the fullest scope was given for private exertion; and this, in a country where mineral treasures are so abundant, was soon found to be all that was requisite in order to ensure their production to a great extent."
Humboldt (1822) agrees with this judgment:
"All the metallic wealth is in the hands of individuals. The government possesses no other mine ⌠The individuals receive from the king a grant of a certain number of measures on the direction of a vein or a bed; and they are only held to pay very moderate duties on the ores extracted from the mines." ....
Mining-Led Growth in Bourbon Mexico,the Role of the State, and the Economic Cost of Independence, By Rafael Dobado and Gustavo A. Marrero
No. 06/07-1 of The David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Working Papers on Latin America
Prior to the 18th century, you will find very, very little evidence of mining having taken place north of the Durango/Zacatecas/San Luis Potosi regions in Mexico. Yes, there was limited exploration and settlement above the Northern Frontier â in todayâs New Mexico, Arizona and California - nearly all of which was well-documented by the state-sponsored parties, several private journals and letters, in the archaeological evidence and in the oral traditions of the natives encountered. In my opinion, there may well have been additional undocumented and well-funded expeditions of âfree agentâ adventurers/prospectors that slipped under the radar, including possibly some of the religios. There is no doubt that there were also a significant number of small âwildcatâ Mexican forays to certain areas of the current American Southwest later in the 18th and 19th centuries. If 'Spanish' mining was widespread in today's USA, one would think the easy placer gold fields in California would have been an easy target. These placers remained untouched until the 1850's and later. Interesting, no?
Be that as it may, the point is this: the large number of âSpanish cachesâ marked by the âKingâs Codeâ that you think you are following simply do not exist. There was no Kingâs Code, ala Kenworthy, in use in the American Southwest. The âKingâs Codeâ explanation of the relatively few genuine signs that are being discovered is a fantasy used to boost egos at the expense of the unwary. Have you seen Kenworthyâs proof? I thought not. Have those who claim to have the proof provided anything but talk?
If you are interested in who created the signs youâre finding and what they mean, then you need to move on. Yes, there are genuine signs to be found. If you want the truth, youâre going to have to work. You can get ideas on forums such as this one, but not the answers you seek. These are secrets, after all. If you want a fantasy game, then continue on with the balderdash being fed you free of charge by the âexpertsâ.
How'ya doin BIT?
