(Translated extract from Guía de Huelva y Su Provincia para el Año 1892 – Don José Merelo y Casademunt)
Alosno
Population: 12,045
Judicial District: Valverde del Camino
A town with a station on the Tharsis–Odiel River railway line. Its commerce is of some significance. The municipal capital comprises 982 buildings arranged along fairly regular streets. In the main square are located the parish church, the municipal offices, and the courthouse.
Its territory includes the rich mines of Tharsis and Lagunazo, the former situated approximately four kilometres away. We aim to highlight its importance:
From the pier located on the right bank of the Odiel River (or Huelva estuary), the company operates a narrow-gauge railway, perfectly built and maintained. This railway passes through workers’ barracks, mineral storage depots, and the Corrales station, as well as the towns of San Bartolomé de la Torre and Alosno, eventually reaching the Tharsis mining complex, covering a distance of 45.980 kilometres.
The traveller is pleasantly surprised and impressed by the picturesque view presented there. What the scorched terrain lacks in vegetation is compensated by human effort: elegant buildings, a symmetrical and carefully planned layout, and above all, an admirable level of order and cleanliness throughout all the facilities.
This mining hamlet consists of a single street lined with elegant residences surrounded by small gardens. Any plants withered by the sulphurous fumes are immediately replaced by healthy, lush specimens brought from the greenhouses and nurseries in Corrales.
The total wages paid annually to workers in all departments of the mines amount to approximately 3,303,450 pesetas.
Although the nature of this publication prevents us from going into further detail, it must be noted that the lifestyle and customs—models of morality and integrity—instilled in all employees and workers are praiseworthy and commendable, thanks to the leadership of the mine’s director, Mr Guillermo Rutherford.
The Lagunazo mine, located seven kilometres away, is far less important than the Tharsis mine.
Alosno is located 33.432 kilometres from Huelva.
