varying greatly in every respect and occupy a considerable area. Subsequently, deposits yielding rich sample have been discovered near Tasco, where some development work has been done, and new occurrences have also been reported from Huetamo, Sombrerete, and Zacatecas.

Up to 1884 the most important deposits known were at Guadalcazar, in San Luis Potosi, and at Huitzuco, in Guerrero. At the former place the deposits occur in limestone and appear in the mine of San Jose, which is 1 kilometer northwest of Guadalcazar, and extend to a distance of 60 kilometers. In this zone are the mines called San Jose, San Antonio, Los Barros, El Refugio, El Escarabajo, San Vicente, San Lucia, San Bartolo, San Augustin, Las Animas, and La Trinidad, which is 10 kilometers distant. From these mines were extracted

2,000 hundredweight of mercury. In the Guadalcazar region are also the mercury deposits of Santa Maria del Quixote, La Tapona, and Coronada.

Another State in which mercury deposits abound is that of Queretaro, in which they are found at San Jose de Iturbide, Rio Blanco, Culebras, San Onofre, and El Doctor.

At San Onofre is found the sulfo-selenide of mercury known as onofrite.

In the Cerros de las Cabras, 2 leagues north of El Doctor, are some abandoned prospect holes made at different times to explore the deposits of cinnabar which exist in these mountains. In the Las Cabras opening, which is the deepest, may be seen a deposit formed of threads and nodules of cinnabar distributed irregularly through the calcareous mass which forms its matrix. This deposit has a considerable extension past the low hills of La Des Gracia to the northwest and past the Cerro del Durazno to the east. In the limestone matrix are numerous globules of mercury and some small crystals of sulphur, which come from the reduction of the cinnabar.

To the north and northwest are other deposits of similar character, except at Deconi, where there is more abundant hepatic cinnabar in a carbonaceous and manganesiferous rock similar to that which forms the matrix of the mercury deposits at Guadalupe Atargea, in Guanjuato.

In the deposits northwest in the neighborhood of Ceja de Gatos are two shafts known by the name of Esperanza and Guadalupe. Here, as at Las Cabras, the exploitation of the mercury has been undertaken several times without accomplishing a favorable result on account of the bad metallurgical system employed. Furnaces with ill-constructed clay retorts were used, through whose pores the greater part of the mercury escaped. It is believed by many that, in spite of the rather low percentage of the ore, it could be profitably reduced if perfect apparatus were employed, since its abundance and the cheapness of fuel at that point are in every way favorable.

Near Maconi, 2 leagues east of El Doctor, are other mercury deposits, one of which is known as Santa Emilia. This was operated for a time but subsequently abandoned.

In the district of Zitacuaro, Michoacan, was discovered in the Cerro de Guadalupe, 7 leagues northwest of Tuzantla, a deposit consisting of threads of cinnabar 5 centimeters thick. The ore varied in content of mercury from 3 to 12 per cent.

Cinnabar is known to occur near Batuco, in Sonora, but apparently no detailed description is on record.

When New Spain was a colony its sovereign reserved the right to operate all mercury mines for his own interest, so that enterprise was discouraged and many known deposits were left idle. In 1811 this restriction was removed, rewards were offered for the discovery of mercury deposits, and premiums were advertised to European metallurgists for the discovery of processes which would use less mercury than those in vogue, and also reduce the waste of this metal. In 1843, finding that no activity was displayed in operating mercury mines, a decree was issued relieving from all taxes mercury produced in Mexico, and a prize of $25,000 was offered to each one of the first four mine owners who would in one year produce 2,000 hundredweight of this metal. Further, persons operating such mines were relieved from all military service and demands for personal contributions.

On July 5 of the same year a decree was issued authorizing the Junta de Fomento to work mines of mercury. On July 8 was decreed a method of creating in Jalisco a fund to explore and work mercury mines.

On July 14 a decree was issued authorizing a loan in the same State with the object indicated. September 25 a decree was made naming in each State or department at least one scientific commission to examine the deposits of cinnabar. In spite of this, the production of mercury did not increase on a satisfactory scale, owing partly to the fact that the attention of the miners was chiefly directed to gold and silver and partly to the unsatisfactory result of the official exploration made in 1844. An extract from the report on this investigation was made by Señor A. DEL CASTILLO and presented in 1871 to the Mexican Society of Natural History. According to this, deposits were reported in Guerrero, at Chilapa, Ajuchitlan, Tlalchapa, and Pregones; in Morelos, at Cuernavaca; in Mexico, at Temascaltepec; in Jalisco, at Santa Rosa (20 miles north of Guadalajara); at the Mineral de Martinez, near Capula, in the district of Autlan, and at the hacienda of El Puesto in Lagos; in Guanajuato at the hacienda del Rodeo, S. Nicolas del Chapin, in the Cerro del Pinalillo at the camp of Centeno, in the Cerro del Gigante in the Montaña del Toro, in the camp of S. Juan de la Chica, in the Cerro del Fraile, at the camps of Atargea, Gato, Iturbide, and others of the district of Sierra Gorda; in the district of Santa Cruz

and in the camp of S. Pedro de los Pozos. Besides these deposits, Señor CASTILLO cites that of Casas Viejas, where iodide of mercury

occurs.

In Hidalgo deposits were known at Zimapan; in San Luis Potosi at El Durazno, El Pedernal, hacienda del Carro, and Guadalcazar; in Zacatecas, in the Mineral de Pinos, rancho de los Huajes, S. Cosme, hacienda de Banon, Sombrerete, Mazapil, and Melilla, where are the mines of Lequequite; in Oaxaca, in the district of Etla; in Chihuahua, in the cantons of Rayon and Matamoros. Gamboa mentions the deposits of Chilapa, of Cerro del Carro, Cerro del Picacho, of Pinos, and of Temascaltepec.

SULPHUR AND PYRITE MINING.

The Popocatepetl Company, promoted with the nominal intention of extracting sulphur from the volcano, but including among its activities the development of a summer resort of high altitude, the construction of an inclined railway, and other side issues, has completed its organization with a capitalization of $5,000,000, and has obtained full possession of the mountain. The latest advices state that sulphur mining has not yet begun, and it is reported on good authority that the available supply of sulphur is only a small fraction of the quantity announced by the promoters as ready for attack. A few localities in northern and central Mexico produce small quantities of sulphur.

THE ZAPOTE TREE AND CHICLE GUM.

The United States Consul at Tuxpam, Mexico, in an official report states that among the numerous natural products abounding in the fertile region of the Mexican canton of Tuxpam the zapote tree stands preeminent, its gum and wood during the many decades having formed a source of wealth to a large number of individuals and corporations, native and foreign, which have obtained from the State government proprietary rights or concessions to extract chicle gum.

The wood of the zapote tree is dark purplish red, and although exceedingly hard when first cut, it is easily worked until thoroughly seasoned, when only the finest edged tools have any effect on its flint surface. Sharp-pointed nails can be driven into the wood only about an inch. The fiber is so dense that the wood sinks rapidly in water and will remain immersed for years without being affected in the least. Zapote door frames in the ruins of Uxmal are as perfect to-day as when first placed in position. The wood is susceptible of a beautiful polish. The average zapote will square 5 to 8 inches, and occasionally 2 feet. It is claimed that the bark is employed to great advantage in tanning processes, and that leather so treated is superior to other kinds.

The magnificent trees are rapidly disappearing, as the operators are taking no precaution to protect them from the destructive methods of the "chicleros" (chicle gatherers), who, in their greed to obtain all the sap possible, cut the trees so deep that they do not recover from the effects of the incisions, but gradually decay. Before the trees reach this stage, and while still easy to work, they are cut down and shaped into building material.

The chicle industry extends from this section as far as the extreme southern portion of Yucatan, which produces the largest yield, but in quality the gum is inferior to that obtained from this section, especially in the Tuxpam district. The latter gun commands a higher price in the United States, to which it is almost exclusively shipped. Zapote trees thrive best on high rolling land, and although trees are found on the lowlands, they are inferior in both sap and wood. Continuous tapping does not appear to have a seriously detrimental effect, provided the incisions are not too deep. Trees are known to have been tapped for twenty-five years, but after that time produced only from one-half to 2 pounds of sap. If allowed to rest five or six years, they will produce from 3 to 5 pounds. The average height of the trees is about 30 feet. Zapotes are exceedingly slow in growth and require from forty to fifty years to attain full height.

The chicle season opens early in September, though the yield at this period is limited, and, owing to still copious rains, the "chicleros" are retarded in their work; but this is to a great extent a benefit, as rains are favorable to an abundant flow of the sap, provided the rainy season is not prolonged beyond October, in which case sap would contain a larger proportion of water and the loss in condensation would be heavy and the product inferior. New trees will produce from 15 to 25 pounds of sap, according to size. In order to produce 25 pounds a tree would have to square about 2 feet and from 25 to 30 feet high.

The process of extracting the sap is extremely primitive. Open V-shaped incisions are made in the tree trunks, permitting the sap to flow in a continuous stream. At the foot of each tree a palm or other appropriate leaf is fastened, which acts as a leader or gutter from which the chicle drips into the receptacle placed to receive it.

The sap as it flows into the incisions is beautifully white, has the consistency of light cream, but as it runs down it gradually becomes more viscous, until, as it drips into the receiving receptacle, it is of the density of heavy treacle. It is very adhesive, and is extensively employed for repairing broken articles and fastening leather tips to billiard cues. When the receptacle is filled it is emptied into a large iron kettle mounted on a temporary stone foundation, with a small opening for wood, the fuel used in the boiling process to evaporate the water, which amounts to about 25 per cent of the sap. As the

boiling progresses the chicle thickens, and when it has reached the proper consistency it is allowed to settle until a trifle more than lukewarm, when it is kneaded to extract more of the water content, and is then shaped by hand into rough, uneven loaves weighing 5 to 30 pounds. If carefully cooked it is of a whitish-gray shade; if carelessly handled and improperly boiled it is a dirty dark gray. When prepared with extra care it is of a light pink color. Much deception is practiced by the "chicleros," who, in order to increase the weight, insert stones, bark, sand, or wood in the boiling of chicle before it is formed into loaves. The sap freshly extracted will weigh about 7 to 8 pounds to the gallon.

Prices in this market range from $8 to $15 Mexican currency ($3.82 to $7.16) per 25 pounds; last season the average was about $14 ($6.38) per 25 pounds.

If a good worker, a "chiclero" can obtain 50 to 75 pounds of chicle a week, for which he receives 20 cents Mexican (9.54 cents) a pound. As a rule, arrangements to extract the chicle are made with contractors, who have charge of the men. They receive about 40 cents Mexican (19.08 cents) per pound, and from this price they must feed and pay their employees.

NICARAGUA.

STATISTICAL DATA FOR 1904.

From the Report of the Treasury and Public Credit Department made on June 30, 1905, it is learned that the imports of 1904 of Nicaragua exceeded those of 1903 by about $750,000, which increase in the consumption of imported goods indicates greater prosperity and purchasing power among the people of the Republic. The exports in 1904 exceeded those of 1903 by more than $700,000, thus showing greater activity and prosperity in the home industries of the nation, the balance of trade in 1904 being in favor of the Republic.

There was an increase in the maritime trade for 1904, the total entrances and clearances numbering 4,300 vessels, which, compared with 3,693, the number engaged in the maritime trade on the coasts and rivers in 1903, shows an increase of 607 vessels.

The revenues collected in 1904 were satisfactory. The average rate of exchange of national currency as compared with gold in 1904 was 650 per cent. The revenues of 1904 exceeded those of the previous year by $738,682.40.

There was a decrease of $590,148.47 in the expenses of 1904, and the deficit which the previous year was $2,665,893.34, in 1904 was only $1,337,062.46.