CompuServe Messages

No humming, Guy,… the 10 INCH walking sticks were just that; this is how it goes: Baron Alexander von Humboldt, probalby the most objective and technically qualified commentator on mining during his time (late 1700's to early 1800's) visited the Valenciana in August 1803. His comments are recorded in his "Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain". On the Valenciana: The tenateros (porters) work 6 hours, carrying loads of 225 to 350 pounds (Whatever type of pound it was, this explains their average lifespan of 29 years). It is common to see files 50 to 60 of them, aged from 10 to 12 years upwards, climbing thousands of stairs at 45 degrees, bending their bodies forwards and walking in "esses". This is because experience has taught that they can breathe more easily if they cut the air currents at an angle. Also, the cleaner and cooler air would have been the lowest. The Valenciana drilled 600 blast holes per day in 1803. Fireset had been replaced by blasting powder, but it was still smokey stuff and there were 16 forges underground adding to the smog, without mentioning that lighting was by (tar) flares. Good air was at a premium… The tunnels were high: 3.3 meters was the norm, even for exploration drifts (no diamond drilling) with a width of 3 meters. This practice was criticised by Von Humboldt as costly, but the owner justified it as essential for ventilation. I have been in some of the workings dating from this period, at 265 meters down and can canfirm the size. Also the stairs are (for my 51 years) almost as tiring as what the Cooperative passes off as rope ladders. (The latter were excused as being in an area where the accountants never venture) Hmm…We have got ourselves a long way from Boca Cave in Oregon… "Cava" is Spanish for an excavation, quarry or even a wine cellar (did you get to the bottom to check this?) I'll try downloading you Gif, Mex.telefone system permitting. I have taken lots of photos of the mine workings, but have not yet achieved a scannable level – and my scanner is b/w; one day I shall upload a shot of an 1700's tunnel, to show you what inspires all this verbage. Cheers Chris