HARDBOUND
GOOD
DAMAGE SPINE
IT INCLUDES "REGLAMENTO INTERIOR PARA LA MEJOR ADMINISTRACION" [INTERNAL REGULATIONS FOR BETTER ADMINISTRATION]

(MANILA, 1862)
TWO BOOKS IN ONE VOLUME

ABOUT THE WORK

José María Santos (1816-1864) was an expert mining engineer. The book reports that the mining operations begun on March 26, 1856, after a certain Venancio Balbas was allowed, through an agreement between him and the Igorot chiefs of the area, to explore the Santa Barbara mine in Magamban, Mancayan. This led to the founding of the Cantabro-Filipina Mining Company the same year. Balbas’ efforts to exploit the mines were, however, fruitless and a special commission, led by Jose Maria Santos, was sent to Lepanto in October 1859. This report is the product of his research in the area. Santos found out that these mines had been exploited even before the arrival of the Spaniards; and it contained important recommendations for salvaging their future. One of these was to create a well-structured administration to preside over every aspect of mining operations, from generating funds to employing labor and selling the ore yielded. Also, recommended was to introduce machinery and Chinese workers, as a way to improve and make more efficient the extraction of minerals. Very rare.