 Before becoming an "oidor", he had served in New Spain for some time.Echávarri reported to Viceroy Pedro de Castro y Figueroa in a letter dated 1741 about the state of affairs in the mines in Zacatecas.In 1739 he had been appointed visitador by the viceroy to investigate and end abuses and violations of the Law of Mines by the mineowners and to end the numerous disputes over ownership of the mines and land.