Armand and Mary continue their drive back to the U.S. from Mexico, hoping to stay ahead of the gas strikes during the summer of 1946:
Wednesday, September 4. Jacala. Left Mexico City 9 A.M. or so, would have been here after five picturesque days' drive by 3 or so, but decided to detour 5 or 6 miles to the mining center of Pachuca and go down a silver mine.
After much running around, got to "Dos Carlos" mine. Were shown around the interesting mill where ore crushed and silver extracted - got chance to see how a Mexican laborer lives and works (our guide, one of miners and well spoken, gets 7 pesos a day for 6 day week - he showed us his work card - and since the mine is a cooperative one, probably he gets more than most of his kind). But, because of work being done on shafts, didn't get a chance to go down in. However, a hole is a hole: we can go down a coal mine in West Virginia anytime.
The detour set us back several hours. Got here by 7 P.M. Ate dinner and got a (12 p.) room at Tom Simpson's as before - an even nicer room and fine indeed. Played bridge and lost (for a wonder, couldn't be helped) to two nice young fellows from Detroit. ...They said they had trouble getting gas - allowed but 5 liters one place, 10 another. We have had no trouble so far except that the 70 octane Mexolina we've only found once (in M.C. 2 days ago) and the 60 octane ordinary stuff is pretty weak kneed. Tank and 20 liters ran full now = 300 miles.
