render the rainy season more severe in the mining district than in the
plains. The greatest inconvenience was from the snakes, which in those
solitary jungles, now first invaded by man, are very numerous and many
of them venomous. Provisions are cheap and excellent. In short, there
is but one fault I find with the country, and it is a great one, I
mean the frequency of earthquakes.
"J. M. GERARD."
MEM. IN MR. GERARD'S WRITING.
"_Illustrations of the Map._
"Though the plans and sections explain themselves, a few observations
will not be misplaced. The deep adit for the Coralillo would be 600
yards, that for Quebrada-honda 400 yards, and besides serving as
drains would form admirable roads for conveying the ores into the vale
where the stamps must be erected.
"The veins would be worked upward from the adits, and thus no expense
would be incurred for ages to come in lifting either water, ore, or
rubbish to the surface. Padre Arias Mine is an exception, requiring a
powerful water-wheel, or an hydraulic pressure-engine, for which there
is a fine fall of water of 135 feet. The mines in Quebrada-honda are
those in which an interest has been procured. Captain Trevithick has
an interest in the mine of Coralillo; the great watercourse is also
his.
"It will be seen by the plan that there are 75 fathoms fall to the
point where his present mill is situated, and other 75 fathoms to
the junction of the rivers of Quebrada-honda and Machuca. The whole
length does not amount to two miles, within which it is estimated
that sufficient power may be commanded to stamp 500,000 of quintals
annually. To bring it up to that pitch, the waters of Machuca must be
brought to join those of Quebrada-honda at Trevithick's mill, and
then 40 tons of water per minute could be delivered in the dry season."
Extracts from a report by Trevithick and Gerard in 1827:--
"This map consists of several distinct parts. The middle part shows
the mining district, the present dimensions of which are small, the
length being hardly four miles, breadth from two to three, and the
superficial extent from eight to ten miles. The upper part of the plan
is a section of the north ridge, called Quebrada-honda, and shows the
line of the proposed adits. The lower part in like manner exhibits the
south ridge, called Coralillo. The map further shows the inclination
or gradual fall of the ground along the valley, and of the streams by
which the mills are driven.
"The canal is likewise shown 5000 yards in length, by which the rivers
of Machuca would be brought to join that of Quebrada-honda.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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