Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1917 — OLD GOLD AND SILVER MINE [ARTICLE]

OLD GOLD AND SILVER MINE

Was Worked by Aztecs Before Cortez Came to Mexico, and Is Still in Operation. >J «. ■ ■ .1 i «■ , The oldest silver and gold minc-ln Americajs the Rayas mine in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. . Thefeis conclusive evidence that the mine was worked by the Indians before the time of Cortez and the defeat of ‘Montezuma and’ the Around 1550 Rayas discovered the mine which bears his name. Fire and water blasting was used ny the Indians. They mined only gold. The Spaniards, coming later, used black powder. Under improved mining methods the mine has been greatly developed and much of the discarded materia! worked over. The main shaft is. 1.400 feet deep; with 35 miles of underground operations, and 1,500 men are employed.