During his presidency, mining output increased because of technological innovations, such as the steam engine, and the discovery of huge nitrate deposits in the Atacama Desert (in present-day Chile).
Under hans presidentperiod ökade gruvproduktionen tack vare teknologiska innovationer, som till exempel ångmaskinen och upptäckten av stora nitrattillgångar i Atacamaöknen (som idag ligger i Chile).