ers of mines in New Spain.[1] Similar plans having already been entertained by the government, the request was granted by royal cédula of July 1, 1776, In the following year, the 4th of May,[2] the formal installation took place under the above given name, and steps were taken for the establishment of the tribunal de minería simultaneously created, which had also legal jurisdiction in mining cases.[3]To defray expenses one real was levied for every mark of silver coined, an impost formerly collected under the name of derecho de señoreage, and now donated by the king. It served to defray the salaries of the officials,"[4] and the expenses of the mining college, any surplus being employed to pay the interest of capital taken up by the tribunals for subventions, or avíos,[5] to needy miners. The labors of the tribunal in the latter respect proved of great benefit, and gave a new impulse to
- ↑ The petition was made on the 25th of February by Juan Lúcas de Lassága and Joaquin Velasquez de Leon, as attorneys for the miners. The full text is given in Lassíga, Representacion, Mexico, 1774. 1-98, with notes by the two representatives, and an appendix containing the letter to the king, and one to Viceroy Bucareli, requesting his protection for the petition. The latter gives a brief account of the mining history of New Spain since the conquest, attributing as reasons why development had not been greater, a lack of knowledge and insufficient financial encouragement. Hence the necessity of organizing a corporation with a tribunal, competent to control the mining interests and protect them if necessary. In order to obtain the necessary funds for supporting the tribunal and a college, and to pay the interest of money, loaned to foster the development of mines, a remission of taxes was suggested.
- ↑ Beleña, Recop., ii. 213; Zamora, Bib. Leg. Ult., iv. 314. Alainan says erroneously. May 4, 1774. Hist. Méj., i. 60-1.
- ↑ It consisted of an administrator general, who was president of the board, a director general, and two or three general deputies elected by miners. Ordenanzas de Mineria, 7. Changes took place by the time of Humboldt's visit, and he speaks of a staff of one director, two deputies, one assessor, two consultores, and one judge, the chief of the juzgado de alzadas de minería. Essai Pol., ii. 596. The first administrator and director-general were appointed for life, but their successors were to be elected every three years by deputies from the various reales de minas. Of the latter only those forming a regular settlement with church and a curate had a vote, but to prominent districts more were given. Thus Guanajuato had six votes, Zacatecas four, San Luis Potosi, Pachuca, and Real del Monte three each; in general, reales with the title of city had three, and villas two votes. For more details about organization of the tribunal see the Ordenanzas.
- ↑ Revilla Gigedo says the salaries of the tribunal were about $39,000, Instruc., 119, while they really amounted to $25,000.
- ↑ The system had been introduced years before; it was a contract between the owner of a mine and one or several wealthy persons, who furnished the avíos, or funds necessary for exploitation, and received in compensation a
