[XXXII-23] The U. S. govt evinced in 1863 a disposition to promote its cultiv. See correspond. of agric. dept. with U. S. consul in Pan. Bidwell's Isth. Pan., 268-70.
[XXXII-24] Exempting from taxation, and by other privileges. Pan. Ley., 1876-7, 7; Id., Gaceta, Jan. 7, 1877; Bidwell's Isth. Pan., 264-72; U. S. Gov. Doc., H. Ex. Doc. 113, vol. vi. 1-2, 35-7, Cong. 41, Sess. 2.
[XXXII-25] Tobacco, 2,770 quintals; grain, 197,320 qls; cacao, 261 qls; sugar, 155 qls; panela, 29,445 qls; molasses, 4,694 jugs; coffee, 2,853 qls; rubber, 80 qls; sundries, 354,285 qls; medicinal roots, 390 qls. Total value, $518,662. Pan., Mem. Sec. Fomento, 1882, annex L.
[XXXII-26] No sheep are raised, and the goats, sometimes killed, are a poor substitute. The pork is excellent. Live-stock said to exist on the Isthmus in 1882: neat cattle, 114,157; mules and asses, 470; horses, 9,942; goats, 24,732; hogs, 203,209. Total value, $1,270,945. Id.
[XXXII-27] It would take too much space to enumerate them; but a list may be found in the report on the physical and polit. geog. of the state of Pan., drawn up by a commission despatched thither for that purpose, by the govt of New Granada, in 1859. See also report of Martin, New Granada minister in London, May 1858, in Bidwell's Isth. Pan., 322-40.
[XXXII-28] Silver ores are the most abundant, and chiefly located on the Pac. group of mountains, whereas the gold washings, if not the gold mines proper, are most numerous on the Atlantic side. The mineral districts in the departments of Tegucigalpa, Choluteca, and Gracias are very rich in silver in various combinations. The upper or old mine of Coloal yielded 58 per ct. of copper, and 78 to 84 ounces of silver to the ton; the ores of the new mines of Coloal, a combination of chloride of silver, a little sulphuret of silver, oxide of iron, and antimony, mixed with earthy matter, yielded 8,470 ounces per ton of 2,000 lbs. Gold mines abound in Hond., but only a few have been worked. The chief supplies have been drawn from the washings of Olancho. The rivers of Guayape and Jalan, as well as the streams running into them, are decidedly the richest in auriferous sands. The finest gold is from the Guayape, Jalan, and Mangualil, and from the Sulaco, Caimito, and Pacaya, in the dept of Yoro. The southern districts bordering on Nic. have rich placers. Hond. has also mines of copper, iron, platina, cinnabar, zinc, and coal. Very productive opal mines are worked to some extent in Gracias. Amethysts are said to be found in Campuca. Squier's Cent. Am., 145-51, 178-89; Id., Hond. R. R., 85-94; Montgomery's Narr., 1134; Baily's Cent. Am., 100-2; Hond. Gac. Ofic., Feb. 20, March 10, 1853; Wells' Hond., 233-539, passim.
[XXXII-29] Foreigners are allowed to work and own mines, under the federal law of June 27, 1825. The ordenanzas of New Spain regarding mines were declared to be in force June 17, 1825. Rocha, Cód. Nic., i. 209; Guat., Recop. Leyes, i. 238.
[XXXII-30] The absence of roads and difficulty of travel make mining unprofitable as yet. Presid. Soto, Mensaje, Feb. 19, 1883; Pan. Star and Herald, March 23, 1883; Feb. 23, 1886; H. S. Davys' Gold Fields along the Guayape, etc., in Cincinnati Enquirer.
[XXXII-31] Combined with lead and copper, and also as a sulphide of silver. Materials convenient for working them were at hand. The Central Am. Mining Co. operating on the locality sold between 1858 and 1865 ore and bar silver to the amount of 621,000 ounces, worth over $700,000. U. S. Gov. Doc., H. Ex. Doc., Cong. 40, Sess. 2, pt 1, 212-14; Squier's Cent. Am., 526; U. S. Land Off. Rep., 1867, 116-17, 131-2, 188-90; Nic., Gaceta, Apr. 28, 1866.
[XXXII-32] Early in the present century nuggets of 22 carats were found near Chol. In some mines the ore treated with quicksilver yielded one ounce of gold to the 100 ℔s., or $320 to the ton of 2,000 ℔s. Blazquez, Opinion, in Doc. Orig. Chiapas, 5.