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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2382-h.zip b/2382-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bde612b --- /dev/null +++ b/2382-h.zip diff --git a/2382-h/2382-h.htm b/2382-h/2382-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9640467 --- /dev/null +++ b/2382-h/2382-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2267 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona, +by Sylvester Mowry +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona, by +Sylvester Mowry + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona + +Author: Sylvester Mowry + +Posting Date: November 5, 2008 [EBook #2382] +Release Date: November, 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +SYLVESTER MOWRY, U. S. A., DELEGATE ELECT. +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +WASHINGTON: HENRY POLKINHORN, PRINTER. 1857. +</H5> + +<P> +"The NEW TERRITORY of ARIZONA, better known as the GADSDEN PURCHASE, +lies between the thirty-first and thirty-third parallels of latitude, +and is bounded on the north by the Gila River, which separates it from +the territory of New Mexico; on the east by the Rio Bravo del Norte, +(Rio Grande), which separates it from Texas; on the south by Chihuahua +and Sonora, Mexican provinces; and on the west by the Colorado River of +the West, which separates it from Upper and Lower California. This +great region is six hundred miles long by about fifty miles wide, and +embraces an area of about thirty thousand square miles. It was acquired +by purchase from Mexico, during the mission of General Gadsden, at a +cost of ten millions of dollars. In the original treaty, as negotiated +by General Gadsden, a more southern boundary than the one adopted by +the Senate of the United States in confirming the treaty, was conceded +by Santa Anna. The line at present is irregular in its course, and cuts +off from our Territory the head of the Santa Cruz river and valley, the +Sonoita valley, the San Bernardino valley, the whole course of the +Colorado river from a point twenty miles below the mouth of the Gila +river, and, worse than all, the control of the head of the Gulf of +California, and the rich and extensive valley of Lake Guzman, besides a +large and extremely valuable silver region, well known both to Mexicans +and Americans—the planchas de la Platte. General Gadsden's line +included nearly all the territory south of the Gila river to the +thirty-first parallel of latitude—all the advantages above +mentioned—gave us the mouth of the Colorado river, and probably a port +near the head of the gulf at Adair's Bay. We have no accurate survey of +the west coast of the Gulf of California, but I am strongly of opinion +that the original line conceded by Mexico would have thrown a portion +of the gulf into American hands, by cutting off an arm of it extending +east and north from the main body of water. A port on the gulf is of +great and immediate necessity to our Pacific possessions. Of this +hereafter. +</P> + +<P> +The proposed boundaries, of the Territory of Arizona, are the 34th +parallel of latitude, with New Mexico on the north, from the 103d +meridian west to the Colorado; Texas on the east; Texas, and the +Mexican provinces of New Mexico and Sonora on the south; and California +on the west. The new Territory would thus contain within its borders +the three largest rivers on the Continent, west of the Mississippi—the +Rio Grande, Gila, and Colorado of the west, and embrace 90,000 square +miles. +</P> + +<P> +The Gadsden purchase is attached by act of Congress to the Territory of +New Mexico. At the time of its acquisition there was scarcely any +population except a few scattering Mexicans in the Mesilla valley, and +at the old town of Tucson, in the centre of the territory. The Apache +Indian, superior in strength to the Mexican, had gradually extirpated +every trace of civilization, and roamed uninterrupted and unmolested, +sole possessor of what was once a thriving and populous Spanish +province. +</P> + +<P> +Except the report of Col. A. B. Gray, there is scarcely anything in +print with reference to the early history of Arizona, beyond the scanty +but valuable notes of Major Emory and Hon. John R. Bartlett, in their +reports, and in the appendix to Wilson's late book, "Mexico and its +Religion." To this last I beg to refer any reader who desires accurate +information respecting the Northern Mexican provinces, presented in a +straightforward common-sense style. +</P> + +<P> +In the possession of the writer of these notes is a map drawn in 1757, +just one hundred years ago, presented by the Society of Jesuits to the +King of Spain. The original of this map is now in the archives of the +Mexican Government. It was copied, with the notes relating to the +Territory, and to Sonora, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa, by Capt. C. P. Stone, +late of the United States Army. The map bears the inscription, "Carte +levee par la Societe des Jesuites, dediee au Roi d'Espagne en 1757." +</P> + +<P> +The copy of the map and the accompanying notes are certified as +accurate by the officer of the Mexican Government in charge of the +archives. +</P> + +<P> +My information, therefore, upon the early history of this comparatively +unknown domain, is accurate and reliable. As early as 1687, a Jesuit +missionary from the province of Sonora, which, in its southern portion, +bore already the impress of Spanish civilization, descended the valley +of Santa Cruz river to the Gila. Passing down the Gila to its mouth, +after exploring the country, he retraced his steps, penetrated the +country north of the Gila river for some distance, and ascended the +Salinas or Salt river, and other northern branches of the Gila. The +explorations of this energetic priest did not stop here. Proceeding +east, he explored the valley of the San Pedro and its branches, thence +along the Gila to the Mimbres, and probably to the Rio Grande and the +Mesilla valley. Filled with the enthusiasm of his sect, he procured +authority from the head of the order in Mexico, and established +missions and settlements at every available point. In a report to the +government of the viceroy of Spain, made during the early settlement of +the province, I find the following language: "A scientific exploration +of Sonora, with reference to mineralogy, along with the introduction of +families, will lead to a discovery of gold and silver so marvellous +that the result will be such as has never yet been seen in the world." +</P> + +<P> +The reports of the immense mineral wealth of the new country, made by +the Jesuits, induced a rapid settlement. There are laid down on the map +before me more than forty towns and villages. Many of these were of +considerable size. There were a few north of the Gila, and several on +the lower Gila, near the Colorado. The Santa Cruz and its tributary +valleys teemed with an agricultural and mining population. Thousands of +enterprising Spaniards cultivated the rich valley of the San Pedro, and +scattered settlements flourished at every suitable stream and spring at +the foot of the mountains towards the Rio Grande. The notes before me +say: "All these settlements and missions were founded in fertile +valleys, and by streams and springs, which produced luxuriant crops of +wheat, corn, and beans, and in many parts grapes and other foreign +fruits were cultivated." +</P> + +<P> +In the western part of the Territory were the missions of St. Pierre, +St. Paul, St. Matthias, St. Simond, St. Francisco, Merci, the ranches +of Eau Cheri, Eau de la Lune, and others; on the Santa Cruz the +missions of San Xavier del Bac, Santiago, San Cayetano, and San +Philipe, the towns of Tueson, Tubac, Reges, San Augusta, and many +others. San Xavier del Bac is still in existence. It is a mission +church of great size and beauty, magnificently ornamented within; forty +thousand dollars in solid silver served to adorn the altar. Upon the +San Pedro river were the missions of St. Mark, San Salvadore, San +Pantaleon, Santa Cruz, and the towns of Quiduria, Rosario, Eugenia, +Victoria, and San Fernando—the latter at the mouth—with many more. To +the east some small settlements were found on the Valle del Sauz, on +the Mimbres, at the copper mines north of the Mimbres, and to the south +the immense grazing and stock-raising establishment of San Bernardino, +where since have been raised hundreds of thousands of cattle and +horses. The Indians in the vicinity of the missions were reduced first +to obedience by the Jesuits, and then to slavery by the Spaniards. +</P> + +<P> +The notes referred to above contain the names and localities of more +than a hundred silver and gold mines which were worked with great +success by the Spaniards. The survey of the Jesuit priest about 1687 +was repeated in 1710 with renewed discoveries, and consequent accession +of population. From this time up to 1757 the conquest and settlement of +the country was prosecuted with vigor, both by the Jesuits' Society and +Spanish government. +</P> + +<P> +The missions and settlements were repeatedly destroyed by the Apaches, +and the priests and settlers massacred or driven off. As often were +they re-established. The Indians at length, thoroughly aroused by the +cruelties of the Spaniards, by whom they were deprived of their +liberty, forced to labor in the silver mines with inadequate food, and +barbarously treated, finally rose, joined with tribes who had never +been subdued, and gradually drove out or massacred their oppressors. A +superior civilization disappeared before their devastating career, and +to day there is scarcely a trace of it left, except scarcely visible +ruins, evidence everywhere, of extensive and hastily-deserted mining +operations, and the tradition of the country. The mission of San Xavier +del Bac, and the old towns of Tueson and Tubac, are the most prominent +of these remains. The labors of the Jesuits to civilize the Indians are +still evident in the mission Indians, the Papagos and Pimas, who live +in villages, cultivate crops of corn and wheat, and who, in the +Christian and human elements of good faith and charity, are, to say the +least, in no way inferior to the Mexicans. After the massacre of four +of Crabbe's unfortunate party near Sonoita by the Mexicans, the Papago +Indians buried carefully the bodies to which Mexican inhumanity had +denied this last charitable office. It is a curious and suggestive fact +that the latitude of places upon Gila, Santa Cruz, and San Pedro, +determined by the Jesuits about 1750, has lately been verified by the +observations of Park Michler, and Emory. The instruments used by the +Jesuits were constructed by them, the lenses being made from pebbles. +</P> + +<P> +From 1757 down to 1820, the Spaniards and Mexicans continued to work +many valuable mines near Barbacora, and the notes in my possession +speak of many silver mines, most of which contained a percentage of +gold. "The San Pedro gold mine in 1748 was worked with extraordinary +success." Among the mines anciently worked, as laid down in the +authorities heretofore referred to, were the Dolores, San Antonio, Casa +Gordo, Cabrisa, San Juan Batista, Santa Anna, (which was worked to the +depth of one hundred and twenty yards,) Rosario, Cata de Agua, +Guadaloupe, Connilla, Prieta, Santa Catarina, Guzopa, Huratano, Arpa, +Descuhidara, Nacosare, Arguage, Churinababi, Huacal, Pinal, and a great +number of others which it would only be tedious to mention. +</P> + +<P> +The most celebrated modern localities are Arivaca, (also anciently +famous as Aribac,) Sopori, the Arizona mountains, the Santa Rita range, +the Cerro Colorado, the entire vicinity of Tubac, the Del Ajo, or +Arizona copper mine, the Gadsonia copper mine, and the Gila river +copper mines. These last are situated directly upon the Gila, only +twenty-five miles from its mouth. The writer assures the public that +there is no room for doubt as to the authenticity of these statements, +or the immense resources of the new Territory in silver, copper, and +probably gold. As late as 1820, the Mina Cobre de la Plata, (silver +copper mines,) near Fort Webster, north of the Gila, were worked to +great advantage; and so rich was the ore that it paid for +transportation on muleback more than a thousand miles to the city of +Mexico. +</P> + +<P> +Every exploration within the past few years has confirmed the +statements of the ancient records. The testimony of living Mexicans, +and the tradition of the country, all tend to the same end. Col. A. B. +Gray, Col. Emory, Lt. Michler, Lt. Parke, the Hon. John R. Bartlett, +late of the United States Boundary Commission, all agree in the +statement that the Territory has immense resources in silver and +copper. Col. Emory says in his report: +</P> + +<P> +"On account of the Gold Mania in California I kept the search for gold +and other precious metals as much out of view as possible, scarcely +allowing it to be a matter of conversation, much less of actual search. +Yet, enough was ascertained to convince us that the whole region was +teeming with the precious metals. We everywhere saw the remains of +mining operations, conducted by the Spaniards, and more recently by the +Mexicans." +</P> + +<P> +The report enumerates at considerable length the various localities +examined by Col. Emory's party, and others, of which there could be no +doubt. +</P> + +<P> +In view of these authorities, it is hoped that those who will not +believe upon any evidence, will be content in their own incredulity. +The most authentic reports of these immense mineral resources have been +used as authorities against their existence. The authors of these +denials either have never read what they pretend to quote, or think no +one else has. The Hon. T. Butler King, who was the first to reveal to +an incredulous public the wonders of the California gold mines, has had +the singular good fortune to be also among the first to publish correct +and authentic information relating to the silver treasures of Arizona. +His report upon the resources of the new Territory has all the charm to +the reader that his California report had, and its brilliant +predictions will be as fully realized. To Gray and Emory is the country +most indebted for the earliest and most important discoveries. +</P> + +<P> +The agricultural resources of Arizona, are sufficient to sustain a +large mining population, and afford abundant supplies for the great +immigration which will follow the development of its mineral resources. +The whole valley of the Gila, more than four hundred miles in length, +can be made with proper exertion to yield plentiful crops. The Pimos +Indians, who live in villages on the Gila, one hundred and seventy +miles from its mouth, raise large crops of cotton, wheat, and corn, and +have for years supplied the thousands of emigrants who traverse the +Territory en route to California. These Indians manufacture their +cotton into blankets of fine texture and beautiful pattern, which +command a high price. They also grind their corn and wheat, and make +bread. In fact, the Pimos realize in their everyday life something of +our ideas of Aztec civilization. A town will probably grow up just +above the Pimos villages, as there is a rich back country, and the +streams afford a valuable water power for running mills. +</P> + +<P> +The valley of the Santa Cruz traverses the territory from South to +North, sinking near the town of Tueson, and probably finding its way to +the Gila, as a subterranean stream. This valley, of the richest land, +is about one hundred miles long, in many places of great width, and has +on each side of it many rich valleys of limited extent, watered by +streams from the mountains, which flow into the Santa Cruz. The valleys +and Ranches of Arivaca, Sopori, Calabazas, and Tueson, are those at +present most thickly settled. These produce all the fruits known to a +Southern clime—grapes, wheat, corn, and cotton in great abundance. The +San Pedro river and valley is also one of great richness, and is +reported by Lieut. Parke as capable of sustaining a large population. +The Valle de Sauz, still farther East, more limited than the San Pedro +or Santa Cruz, can be made available for a considerable population. The +Mimbres River also can, by a small outlay, be made to irrigate a large +surface and supply a moderate settlement. The various springs laid down +by Gray, Emory, Parke, and Bartlett, will all afford water for small +settlements, and their supply can be much increased by a judicious +outlay of money. The Rio Grande valley is very rich, and in places of +great width. The Mesilla valley already contains a population of about +five thousand souls, and there is ample room for many more. +</P> + +<P> +If, as proposed, the Northern boundary of the Arizona Territory should +enclose the Northern branches of the Gila, an agricultural region will +be opened to settlement sufficient in itself to sustain the population +of an immense agricultural State. Col. Bonneville, who is now at the +head of a large force exploring this region, writes to the Secretary of +War that it is the finest country he has ever seen, "valleys capable of +sustaining a population of twenty thousand each, teeming at every step +with evidences of an immense population long ago-and an ancient and +superior civilization." The Hon. John R. Bartlett says of the +"Salinas," one of the Northern branches of the Gila, that it alone will +supply food for a great State. It must be recollected, in this +connection, that the great mineral wealth of Arizona will call for and +amply repay for the redemption and expensive cultivation of all the +available lands, and that irrigation produces immensely greater crops +than the other method of planting. Throughout the whole of Utah, +irrigation has been resorted to with the greatest success. The soil in +Utah, in no place that the writer saw it, could in any way be compared +to that of the bottom lands of Arizona. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Whipple in his valuable report of exploration for the Pacific +Railroad, published by order of Congress, crossed the upper part of the +region alluded to, and which is watered by the Rio Verde and Salinas. +He fully sustains me in my remarks on those rich valleys. +</P> + +<P> +"We are in the pleasantest region we have seen since leaving the +Choctaw country. Here are clear rivulets, with fertile valleys and +forest trees. The wide belt of country that borders the Black Forest, +and probably extends along the Rio Verde to the Salinas and Gila, bears +every indication of being able to support a large agricultural and +pastoral population. The valley of the Rio Verde is magnificently +wooded with furs and oaks, affording excellent timber. Ancient ruins +are said by trappers to be scattered over its whole length to the +confluence with the Salinas. We, therefore, seem to have skirted the +boundary of a country once populous, and worthy of becoming so again. +Besides the advantages already enumerated, the mountains in this +vicinity bear indications of mineral wealth. Vol. 3, p. 93." +</P> + +<P> +The notes before referred to, in the possession of the writer, speak of +great farming and grazing establishments scattered over the whole face +of the Territory, between 1610 and 1800, which produced abundant crops +of cereals, fruits, and grapes. These statements are confirmed by the +testimony of Major Emory and his report, where he enumerates several of +the most extensive—by Gray, Bartlett, Parke, and Col. Bonneville. Many +of the Ranches, deserted by the Mexicans on account of the Apache +Indians, have upon them large, well-built adobe houses which must have +cost the builders thousands of dollars. Many of these have been +occupied under squatter titles by emigrants within the last few years. +Of others, only the ruins remain, having been destroyed by the +depredations of the Indians, or by the heavy rains of the succeeding +years. +</P> + +<P> +The greater portion of these lands on the Santa Cruz and San Pedro are +covered by Mexican titles—and many of these again by squatter claims. +It is absolutely necessary that Congress should by some wise and speedy +legislation settle, upon some definite basis, the land titles of +Arizona. Until this is done, disorder and anarchy will reign supreme +over the country. The present condition of California is in a great +degree to be attributed to the want of any title to the most valuable +real property in the State, and the millions which have been spent in +fruitless litigation should teach a lesson of great practical value. +Let those Spanish grants and Mexican titles which have been occupied in +good faith be affirmed in the most expeditious and economical manner to +the claimants, and they will immediately pass into American hands, and +become productive. The remainder of the country should then be thrown +open to settlers. No better code of mining law exists than the Spanish, +adopted in the Senate bill introduced by the late General Rusk, and +passed at the last session of Congress. A judicious and liberal +donation law, giving to the actual settler a homestead, and to the +enterprising miner and "prospector" a fair security for the fruit of +his labors, will at once make of Arizona a popular, thriving and +wealthy State, affording new markets for the productions of our +Atlantic States, and yielding annually millions in silver and copper. +</P> + +<P> +In addition to the produce of Arizona, the immediate vicinity of the +agricultural region of Sonora affords an abundant market for all +necessary supplies, including sugar, which is manufactured by the +Mexicans in great quantities from the cane. Guyamas, which one day will +be ours, is one of the largest ports for the export of flour on the +Pacific coast north of Chili. She also exports several millions in +silver annually, which finds its way direct to the English market. +Under an intelligent system, the Sonora mines would yield a hundred +millions a year, and the supply is inexhaustible. If any reader doubts +this statement, refer him to the statistics of Humboldt, Ward, and +Wilson, most unquestioned and valuable authorities. Both Humboldt and +Ward note the fact that the silver deposites grow richer as they are +traced farther North. There can be no doubt that the most extensive and +valuable mines, both of pure silver and silver mixed with copper and +lead, are within the limits of Arizona. +</P> + +<P> +The yield of the silver mines of Mexico, as computed by Ward and +Humboldt from the actual official returns to the Government, from the +conquest to 1803, amounts to the enormous sum of $2,027,955,000, or +more than two BILLIONS Of dollars. Again, Ward says: "I am aware that +many of the statements in this and the preceding books respecting the +mineral riches of the North of New Spain, (Sonora, including the +'Gadsden Purchase,' Chihuahua, and Durango,) will be thought +exaggerated. THEY ARE NOT SO; they will be confirmed by every future +report, and in after years, the public, FAMILIARIZED WITH facts which +are only questioned because they are new, will wonder at its present +incredulity, and regret the loss of advantages which may not always be +within its reach." +</P> + +<P> +Of the present mining operations in the Territory of Arizona, the most +considerable, in point of labor performed and results, is "The Arizona +Copper Mining Co." This company is incorporated by the California +Legislature, with a capital of one million of dollars. The President is +Major Robert Allen, U. S. A. The mines are old, and very celebrated in +Mexico under the name of El-Ajo. This company, at an expense of +$100,000, have supplied their mines with an abundance of water, +extracted several hundred tons of ore, and erected buildings, smelting +furnaces, and other appliances to facilitate their operations. They +employ about one hundred men, mostly Mexican miners. Their supplies of +breadstuffs and beef are obtained by contract from Sonora. These mines +are situated one hundred and thirty miles from the mouth of the Gila +River, and about sixty miles south of it. The ore varies in richness +from thirty to sixty per cent, and the proceeds of some sales in London +were quoted as being the highest prices ever paid for ore in that +market. A portion of this mine is owned by English capitalists, and it +is without doubt one of the most valuable in the world. The profits may +be easily calculated, when it is known that the ore costs delivered in +Swansea, England, not exceeding $125 per ton, and is worth from $200 to +$375 per ton. Of course these profits will be greatly increased when +the company is in a position to smelt its ores at the mine. The Sonora +Exploring and Mining Company was organized in 1856, with a capital of +two million dollars ($2,000,000). Its principal office is in +Cincinnati, Ohio, and its seat of operations at Tubac, in the Santa +Cruz valley. This company is managed in its mining operations by Chas. +D. Poston, Esq., a gentleman of much experience on the Pacific coast, +and of great energy of character. +</P> + +<P> +The Rancho of Arivaca, containing several valuable silver mines, and +seventeen thousand acres of valuable land, has been purchased by this +company. It has also acquired the titles to a number of other valuable +mines of galena ore, and copper containing silver and gold. Hitherto, +the exertions of the company have been directed principally to +explorations and cleaning out the old mines, but they have at present +above ground, ready for smelting, several thousand dollars worth of +their ores. Prof. Booth, U. S. Assayer, as well as other distinguished +authorities, have, after thorough experiment, given to the company +certificates of the great richness of the ores already shipped to the +east. The annual report of the Sonora Mining Co. is full of interest to +the general reader. The Sopori mine is another very valuable property. +It is owned by Messrs. Douglass, Aldrich, and another. Want of capital +has prevented the extensive development of this mine. It affords its +proprietors a handsome profit, worked in the smallest and cheapest +manner. The vein is of great size, has been traced several rods in +length, and pays about one dollar to the pound of ore. The writer has +examined specimens from the "Sopori," taken at random, and so rich is +the ore that the native silver can be cut out of it with a penknife, as +out of a Mexican dollar. Undoubtedly the Sopori mine is destined to +yield hundreds of millions. It is a peculiarity of the ores in this +district that they run near the surface, making mining of comparative +small cost. The Sopori mine is surrounded by a fine country, well +watered and wooded. The "Gadsonia Copper Mining Co.," after taking out +a few tons of exceedingly rich ore—averaging over eighty per +cent.—was obliged to suspend operations on account of the cost of +transportation. When the Territory shall be organized and capital +protected by law, these mines will be worked to advantage. "The Gila +River Copper Mines" are more favorably situated than any other yet +opened, being directly on the Gila River, only twenty-five miles from +its mouth. The ores can be taken from the mine, immediately shipped +upon flat boats or a light draft steamer, and transported down the +Colorado River to the head of the Gulf of California, when they can be +transhipped to England at small cost. Upwards of twenty veins of copper +ore have been opened, and the assays give results varying from 30 to 70 +per cent. These mines are owned by Messrs. Hooper, Hinton, Halstead, +and another. Several thousand dollars have been already expended in +prospecting and opening veins, and it was anticipated by the +proprietors that the first cargo would be shipped to Swansea, England, +this year. +</P> + +<P> +Smelting works will eventually be built at the mines, or at Colorado +City, opposite Fort Yuma, and the profits of this company must be very +great. The vicinity of the Colorado, and the abundance of wood and +water, give the proprietors facilities for conducting their operations +at small cost. +</P> + +<P> +Silver mining is also carried on in the vicinity of Mesilla Valley, and +near the Rio Grande. Many other mining operations are constantly being +commenced; but the depredations of the Apache Indians have almost +entirely snatched success from the hard-working miner, who, besides +losing his all, is often massacred in some ferocious manner. +</P> + +<P> +No protection, either civil or military, is extended over the greater +portion of Arizona. This checks the development of all her +resources—not only to her own injury, but that of California and the +Atlantic States—by withholding a market for their productions, and the +bullion which she is fully able to supply to an extent corresponding to +the labor employed in obtaining it. +</P> + +<P> +A. B. Gray, Esq., late U. S. Surveyor under the treaty of Guadalupe +Hidalgo, for running the Mexican Boundary, and subsequently Exploring +Engineer and Surveyor of the Southern Pacific Railroad, has probably +seen more of the proposed Territory of Arizona than any other person, +his statements in reference to that region, embodied in a report to the +Hon., the Secretary of the Interior, from actual field reconnoissances +six years ago, will be read with much interest, particularly as since +then, repeated developments in that country have proved the correctness +of his judgment; his opinions are, therefore, of much importance, as +expressed in his able report. It will be recollected that this was then +Mexican Territory. Colonel Gray says: +</P> + +<P> +"The public, I think have been misled by misrepresentations made in +regard to the resources of the region of country lying along the Gila +and upon the line proposed for a railroad at or near the parallel of 32 +degrees north latitude. That portion of country east of the Rio Grande +I can say but little of from personal observation, having been over but +apart of the ground near the eastern division in Texas, and that in the +vicinity of El Paso. At both these points, however, a fine country +exists. Upon the Gila river grows cotton of the most superior kind. Its +nature is not unlike that of the celebrated Sea Island cotton, +possessing an equally fine texture, and, if anything, more of a silky +fibre. The samples I procured at the Indian villages, from the rudely +cultivated fields of the Pimas and Maricopas, have been spoken of as an +extraordinary quality. Wheat, corn, and tobacco, together with beans, +melons, etc., grow likewise upon the banks and in the valleys bordering +the Gila and its tributaries. The sugar cane, too, I believe, will be +found to thrive in this section of the country west of the Rio San +Pedro. A sort of candied preserve and molasses, expressed from the +fruit of the cereus giganteus and agave Americana was found by our +party in 1851, as we passed through the Pinal Llano camps and among the +Gila tribes, to be most acceptable. The candied preserve was a most +excellent substitute for sugar. It is true that there are extensive +wastes to be encountered west of the Rio Grande, yet they are not +deserts of sand, but plains covered at certain seasons of the year with +luxuriant grass, exhibiting green spots and springs not very remote +from each other at all times. There is sufficient water in the Gila and +its branches for all the purposes of irrigation when it is wanted, the +streams being high during the season most needed. The Rio Salado, a +tributary of the Gila, is a bold and far more beautiful river than the +Gila itself, and, from the old ruins now seen there, must have had +formerly a large settlement upon its banks. "To many persons merely +travelling or emigrating across the country, with but one object in +view, and that the reaching their destination on the Pacific, the +country would generally present a barren aspect. But it will be +recollected that the most productive fields in California, before +American enterprise introduced the plough, and a different mode of +cultivation from that of the natives of the country, presented somewhat +similar appearance. Many believed, at first, from the cold and sterile +look of the hills, and the parched appearance of the fields and +valleys, over which the starving coyote is often seen prowling in +search of something to subsist on, that California could never become +an agricultural district, but must depend upon her other resources for +greatness, and trust to distant regions for the necessaries of life +required for her increased population. It was natural enough, too, that +this impression should be created in those accustomed to a different +State of things, and particularly when it is considered that the very +season of blossom and bloom of our Atlantic States was the winter of +California; but these same fields and hills have a very different +appearance in January, February, and March, clothed as they are in the +brightest verdure and no one now will pretend to say that California +does not possess within herself great agricultural as well as mineral +wealth. This, I believe, will some day be the case with the country +from the Rio Grande to the Gulf of California, adjacent to the Gila. +Senate Ex. Doc. No. 55, 33rd Congress, 2nd Session." +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +In speaking of the resources of this region for a railroad, in the same +report, Gray says: +</P> + +<P> +"The valley of Mesilla, extending from about twelve miles above the +true boundary of the treaty to the parallel of 32 degrees 22 minutes +north latitude, lies wholly within the disputed district, and is, for +its extent, one of the most beautiful and fertile along the whole +course of the Rio Grande. The town of Mesilla, only a few years old, +contains several thousand people, and is a prosperous little place. It +was not settled until after the cession of this territory to us by the +treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Portions of the valley are highly +cultivated, and produce the grains and fruits of our most thriving +States. In connexion with the land on the east side of the river, the +valley of the Messilla is capable of sustaining a considerable +population. It is situated centrally with regard to a large district of +country of lesser agricultural capacity. The section of the Rio Grande +in the vicinity of El Paso and the valley of Mesilla, is proverbial for +the production of fine vegetables and fruits. Indeed, about El Paso, it +is a complete garden with flourishing vineyards, equalling in +excellence those of the most celebrated grape growing countries. +</P> + +<P> +"By a judicious disposition of military stations along this line, only +a few troops would be required to protect the great northern frontier +of Sonora and Chihuahua, and enable us to carry out the 11th article of +our late treaty with Mexico more effectually, and at the same time +prevent any depredations which the Indians might be disposed to commit +on the road. Soon after, the settlement of the country would make the +presence of the military unnecessary, either for the safety of a +railway of the security of the frontier. The strong holds of the +Apaches, and their pathway to Mexico, would be cut off. +</P> + +<P> +"A wagon road established from the Gulf of California would enable +supplies to be transported along this line at one-half of the present +cost. The saving of one-third or more distance, through a comparatively +unsettled country, in transportation is an important consideration in +the construction of a railway, more especially when men and materials, +to a great extent, must be brought from very remote points. The +navigation of the Gulf of California is said to be very good. The +trade-winds from the northwest, encountering the highlands of the +peninsula of Lower California, and forming a counter current under its +lee, enable sailing vessels to proceed advantageously along that coast. +Returning, by keeping on the eastern aide, or along the shore of +Sonora, they could avail themselves of the prevailing winds, which +regain their usual direction after sweeping across the wide expanse of +water. The trade of the Gulf, with its pearl fisheries and other +resources, would be speedily developed. +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +"The advantages of such a thoroughfare are obvious. Five years would +hardly elapse before inestimable benefits would be realized; and, +should war threaten our Pacific possessions, a few days would suffice +to send from the Mississippi valley an army that would defy any force +that the most formidable power could array against us. The fine cotton +region of the Gila, the rich copper, silver, and gold mines of New +Mexico and Sonora would be at once developed, bringing a vast district +of country into cultivation which now presents a fruitless waste, owing +to Indian depredations and the absence of means of communication and +protection. Mexico has tried for a century past to insure safety to her +inhabitants in this region, but notwithstanding the expense she has +incurred in keeping up her garrisons, she has failed to afford them +protection. +</P> + +<P> +"The deserted appearance of the country from El Paso to the Colorado is +no criterion by which to judge of its value. The beautiful valley of +San Xavier, or Santa Cruz, some two years ago when I passed through it, +was entirely deserted. The once thriving towns of Tumacacori and Tubac +had not the sign of a living soul about them except the recent moccasin +track of the Apaches. The orchards and vineyards of the once highly +cultivated fields and gardens bore the marks of gradual decay and +destruction. The ranchos of Calabazas, of San Bernardino, and numerous +other places on this frontier, presented the same melancholy aspect, +the result of the inability of Mexico to protect this portion of +territory from the inroads of the savages. There are now but a few +settlements throughout this district of country, but were it protected +by a power that could and would defend it, what is now a waste in the +hands of the savages might become a thriving country, with safety +insured to its inhabitants." Senate Ex. Doc. No. 55, 33rd Congress, 2nd +Sess. +</P> + +<P> +I quote the following language of Gray, from subsequent explorations +made by him, three years after his first expedition, and contained in +his report to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. It was chiefly +from the discoveries made by Gray, in this adventurous expedition, +through regions unknown for many years past, between the Rio Grande and +Gulf of California, together with the Gadsden Treaty, that induced +parties at great expense to emigrate there, and commence working the +vast mineral deposites, such as the Arabac silver mines, the Ajo copper +mountain, and others, but which, through lack of proper protection and +means of communication, have been greatly retarded in their development. +</P> + +<P> +After crossing the dividing ridge of the continent west of the Rio +Grande, Gray thus alludes to the country: +</P> + +<P> +"There were large haciendas and fine cattle ranches in this +neighborhood, until a war of extermination was declared by the Apaches +against the Mexicans. Remains of the old San Pedro ranch are seen at +this day; also the "Tres Alamos;" and the ruins of the hacienda of +Babacomeri, whose walls and towers are still standing. These were among +the wealthiest of Sonora in horses, cattle, sheep, etc., but it has +been many years since. It is a fine grazing region, with wild cattle +and mustangs constantly seen roaming over the plains. The district from +San Pedro to Santa Cruz valley, nearly due west from our present +crossing (latitude 31 degrees 34 minutes), will be to the Pacific slope +what the region of Fort Chadbourne, in Texas, will be to the Atlantic. +The mountains and hills are covered with splendid timber of the largest +size, and for all purposes; and the valleys are full of springs, and +the finest grass. To Tubac, a town in the valley of Santa Cruz, it is +69 miles. This is by following the San Pedro about a league, passing +over a few insignificant spurs, and ascending the Rio Babacomeri; +thence continuing westward by a gradual rise over delightful plains to +the divide between that and the Sonoita or Clover creek, and along the +latter, until it loses itself in the porous earth, a mile from the +Santa Cruz river, and by the broad valley of that stream to Tubac." +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +Of the line of Gray's exploration from the Rio San Pedro, he says: +</P> + +<P> +"It passes through the most desirable region, with the hills and +mountains for forty miles, containing inexhaustible quantities of +timber. We noticed tall cedar and oaks of every description; one kind +more interesting than the others, being a white oak from twenty to +forty feet in the body. Pine and spruce, with superior white ash and +walnut, were found, and the most gigantic cotton-woods, particularly on +the Sonoita. * * * * "The mountains in the neighborhood are filled with +minerals, and the precious metals are said to abound. The famous +Planchas de Plata and Arizona silver mines, which the Count Raouset de +Boulbon attempted to take possession of, are in this section of +country, not many miles below the present limits, and at several of the +old ranchos and deserted mining villages which we visited, were found +the argentiferous galena ore and gold. The Sierra Santa Rita runs along +to the east of the Santa Cruz valley, and forms a part of this +interesting region. It is very high and bold, filled with fertile +valleys and flowing rivulets, and covered with a dense growth of +timber. I saw much of this district, when here in 1851, on the survey +of the boundary." +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +The country bordering immediately the head of the Gulf of California, +through which Gray was probably the first to penetrate, lies adjacent +to the proposed Arizona Territory, but not a part of the same, being a +portion of the State of Sonora. He thus describes that section: +</P> + +<P> +"The Indians represent rich Placers existing throughout this region, +and large numbers of them had lately come in with considerable +quantities of the dust. They were trading it for trifles to the +Mexicans. I got some specimens of it which was the same as the +California Gold. This was not the time of year (June) for them to work +the mines, but in the fall, after the rain has commenced. The greatest +drawback to the profitable working of the Placers of this district, is +the scarcity of water. If artesian wells succeed, there is little doubt +that it will create an important change. West from Tuseon and Tubac, +towards the Gulf of California, the country presents more the +appearance of a barren waste or desert than any district I have seen. +It nevertheless has occasional oases, with fine grazing lands about +them, and the mountains, which are more broken and detached, have +distinct marks of volcanic origin. The ranges though short, have +generally the same parallel direction as those further east. It is the +country of the Papago Indians, a peaceful and friendly tribe, extending +down to the Gulf coast, where they are mixed up somewhat with the +Cocopas of the Colorado. From Sonoita I explored to the Gulf shore, +near the mouth of Adair Bay. It was 62 miles, following a dry arroya +most of the way, and the point at which I struck the Gulf was in +latitude 31 degrees 36 minutes 34 minutes. The "Bay" is about 15 miles +across, and from all I could learn, 15 miles long, and represented as +having four fathoms of water. It is completely encircled by a range of +sand hills, reaching north-west to the Colorado river and south-east as +far as the eye could discover. These "sables" are probably eighty or +ninety miles in extent, by five to ten broad. +</P> + +<P> +"Notwithstanding it appears to be the most desolate and forlorn-looking +spot for eighty miles around the head of the Gulf, the sand hills +looking like a terrible desert, nature seems even here, where no rain +had fallen for eight months, to have provided for the sustenance of +man, one of the most nutritious and palatable vegetables. +</P> + +<P> +"East of the Tinaja Alta or high tank range, lie the famous Sierras del +Ajo, now United States territory. These mountains derive their name +from the vast deposits of red oxide and green carbonate of copper found +about them, and which the Indians have made use of to paint (ajo) +themselves with. The mines are unquestionably of great value, and must +become important, more particularly from their being situated in the +neighborhood of the contemplated railway. The tall Cereus Giganteus and +Agave Americana are found in abundance. From the latter plant the +natives make the pulque, mezcal and agua-diente; and the petahaya or +cereus, produces a fruit from which is made a very pleasant preserve. +At the Pimo and Maricopa villages are found wheat, corn, tobaco, and +cotton, besides melons, pumpkins, beans, etc. The nature of the soil +for great distances in the Gila valley is of a reddish loam; some parts +coated with a beautiful crystallization of salt, a quarter to half an +inch thick. This seems to be more particularly the case below the +Maricopa villages and toward the Rio Salado. The cotton, of which I +procured specimens, though cultivated by the Indians in the most +primitive manner, exhibited a texture not unlike the celebrated Sea +Island cotton. Its fibre is exceedingly soft and silky, but not of the +longest staple. Large tracts of land on the Gila and in other portions +of this district, appear to possess the same properties of soil; and +where, I have no doubt, the finest cotton will soon be extensively +raised and brought to its highest state of perfection by proper +cultivation." +</P> + +<P> +The climate is thus referred to by Gray: +</P> + +<P> +"One of the most favorable features upon the route in the vicinity of +the 32nd degree proposed for the Pacific railway is, its accessibility +at all times, admitting of labor being performed in the open air at +each season. The nature of the climate through Texas to the Rio Grande +has already been referred to, and from thence to the Santa Cruz valley +half way to the Colorado, over the elevated plateau of the Sierra +Madra, it is equally salubrious and temperate. The rainy season falls +in the summer months, and but seldom is snow seen even upon the +mountain tops. Towards the Colorado river it is much drier and more +torrid, but by no means unhealthy; nor does it prevent out door work +the whole of the day during the heated term of summer. +</P> + +<P> +"The great riches of the country, however, are a total waste at the +present time, but which the Pacific railroad will at once develop, and +make to itself the foundation of a vast revenue. I refer to its +metallic wealth, the silver, gold, and copper mines that abound in +almost every mountain and valley, between the Rio Grande and the Gulf +of California. +</P> + +<P> +"The ores of Chihuahua and Sonora [now Arizona. S. M.] are chiefly +sulphuret (lead or iron), or native silver in porphyritic or stratified +limestone rocks passing at greater depths into igneous rocks. From +loose piles lying upon the surface and evidently picked over, I +procured specimens of silver and copper. Three samples representing +points on the line of our exploration about equi-distant from each +other, viz.: the Rio Grande, the neighborhood of Tubac, and within 90 +miles of the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers, were submitted +to Dr. I. K. Chilton, of New York, for analysis. He found in one sample +of lead ore (argentiferous galena), by fire assay 71 per cent. of lead, +and the "LEAD YIELDED SILVER EQUIVALENT to 128 ounces, 1 dwt. to the +ton" (of 2000 pounds). +</P> + +<P> +"In another, he found the lead obtained from it to yield silver in the +proportion of 72 ounces 5 dwts. to the ton or 2000 pounds. +</P> + +<P> +"The copper specimen was the red oxide, and yielded as follows: +</P> + +<PRE> + Copper,............ 71.80 + Iron,.............. 7.84 + Oxygen,............ 12.34 + Silicia, Alumina,.. 8.02 + ——— + 100 parts. +</PRE> + +<P> +"The Papagos and Pimas Indians, by proper management, might be made +very useful, in working upon the road where there is not much rock +excavation. They are unlike the Indians of Texas, or the Apaches, +living in villages and cultivating the soil, besides manufacturing +blankets, baskets, pottery, etc. Quiet and peaceable, they have no +fears except from their enemies, the Apaches, and are very industrious, +much more so than the lower order of Mexicans, and live far more +comfortably. It is astonishing with what precision they construct their +acequias—irrigating canals—some of them, the acequias madre, of very +large size, and without the use of levelling apparatus, but simply by +the eye. Their gardens and farms too are regularly ditched and fenced +off into rectangles and circles, with hedges and trees planted as if +done by more enlightened people." +</P> + +<P> +The population of the new Territory of Arizona is at present not far +from eight thousand, and is rapidly increasing. The Mesilla Valley and +the Rio Grande are probably the most thickly populated, containing +about five thousand people. A majority of the Mesilla inhabitants are +Mexicans, but they will be controlled by the American residents, whose +number and influence is constantly on the increase. The Santa Cruz +Valley, in which are situated the towns of Tueson, Tubac, Tumacacari, +and the mining settlement of Sopori and others, is, next to Mesilla, +the most thickly settled. Tueson was formerly a town of three thousand +inhabitants; but the majority have been driven off by the Apache +Indians. It is fast becoming a thriving American town, and will before +long be a place of more importance than ever before. Real estate is +already held at high rates, and the erection of buildings shows that +American energy is about to change the face of the last half century. +Tubac had been completely deserted by the Mexicans. It has been +reoccupied by the Sonora Exploring and Mining Company, and now boasts a +population of several hundred. The Calabazas valley is also fast +filling up with an American population, and another year will see the +whole centre of the Territory dotted with settlements. Many of the fine +claims on the San Pedro River have already been located by emigrants +under the general pre-emption law, but until protection is afforded to +the settlers, but little progress will be made in agricultural +pursuits. The Apache Indian regards the soil as his own, and having +expelled the Spanish and Mexican invader, he feels little inclination +to submit to the American. A small settlement of Americans is growing +up at Colorado city, opposite Fort Yuma, at the junction of the Gila +and Colorado rivers. This point is destined to be one of great +commercial and pecuniary importance. Situated at the present head of +navigation, at the point where the overland mail route crosses the +Colorado, and where the Southern Pacific Railroad must bridge the +stream, it is a necessary stopping place for all travel across the +country. Here are transhipped all the ores coming from the Territory, +which find their way to market down the Colorado to the Gulf of +California, thence by steamer or sailing vessel to their destination. +Here all supplies of merchandise for the Territory are landed, and from +this point forwarded to their various owners. A thriving commerce has +already sprung up between Arizona and San Francisco. In almost any +daily paper in San Francisco may be seen vessels advertised for the +mouth of the Colorado. Two steamers find active employment in +transporting government stores from the head of the Gulf of California +to Fort Yuma, and goods to Colorado city for the merchants of Tueson, +Tubac, Calabazas, and for the mining companies. Should the exploration +of the Upper Colorado by Lieutenant Ives, United States Army, now in +progress, prove successful, Colorado city will become still more +important, as the surplus products of the rich valleys of New Mexico, +Utah, and California to the north, will all find a market down the +Colorado. Property in this new city is held at high rates, and by the +last San Francisco News Letter is quoted at an advance. The population +of Arizona Territory has much increased within a few months by +emigration from California. The massacre of Henry A. Crabbe and his +party by the Mexicans at Cavorca created a desire for revenge +throughout all California. Companies have been formed, and large +parties are settling in Arizona, near the Mexican line, with the +ulterior object of overrunning Sonora, and revenging the tragedy in +which was shed some of the best blood of the State. The appropriation +by the last Congress of two hundred thousand dollars for the +construction of a wagon road from El Paso to Fort Yuma, and the two +mail contracts, semi-monthly and semi-weekly, which involve an +expenditure of nine hundred thousand dollars per annum, will afford +employment to a host of people, and draw at once to the neighborhood of +the route an active and energetic population. The new wagon and mail +route traverses the Territory of Arizona throughout its entire length. +Along the mail route, at intervals, military posts will be established. +These and the necessary grazing stations will create points around +which settlements will at once grow up, and the country, now bare, will +show everywhere thriving villages. The Southern Pacific Railroad, which +will be built because it is necessary to the country, will find its way +easily through Arizona. +</P> + +<P> +It is no exaggeration to say that the mining companies, in their own +interest, will be forced to subscribe enough to the stock of the +company to insure its success. The Arizona Copper Mining Company is now +paying $100 per ton for the transportation of its ores from the mines +to Colorado city. One year's freight money at this rate would build +many miles of the road. The silver mining companies will be only too +glad to get their ores to market at so cheap a rate, as their +proportion of the subscription to the railroad. Iron and coal are both +found in the Territory,—the former especially in great abundance. +Texas has guaranteed the road to El Paso, by her generous legislation; +Arizona will build it, with her mineral wealth, to Fort Yuma, the +eastern boundary of California, and California will do the rest. The +first terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad will doubt less be on +the Gulf of California, at the Island of Tiburon, or more probably +Guyamas. A steam ferry across the Gulf, a short railroad across the +peninsula of Lower California to a secure harbor on the Pacific, (where +a steamer will take passengers and freight in four days to San +Francisco,) is the most natural course of this route. In view of this +probability, all the available points for such a terminus on the Gulf +have been, or are in progress of being, secured by capitalists, either +by obtaining grants from the Mexican Government, or by purchase from +private individuals. Already Guyamas is owned in great part by English +and American capitalists. A port on the Gulf of California is necessary +to our Pacific possessions, and must be ours sooner or later. The +longer it is delayed, the worse for American progress on the Pacific. +Arizona needs it at once, as a depot for the export of her ores, and +for the import of goods for the supply of her population. +</P> + +<P> +The Mormon war has closed for years the great emigrant road to +California and Oregon, over the South Pass and Salt Lake valley, +leaving open only the route along the 32d parallel of latitude, through +Arizona. This route is by far the most practicable at all seasons of +the year, and the closing of the South Pass route by the Mormon +difficulty is an additional and urgent argument in favor of the early +organization of this Territory. Fifty thousand souls will move towards +the Pacific early in the spring, if the route is opened to a secure +passage. +</P> + +<P> +The present condition of Arizona Territory is deplorable in the +extreme. Throughout the whole country there is no redress for crimes or +civil injuries—no courts, no law, no magistrates. The Territory of New +Mexico, to which it is attached by an act of Congress, affords it +neither protection nor sustenance. The following extracts from letters +received by the writer tell the story of the necessity for early action +on the part of Congress, in urgent terms. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +TUBAC, GADSDEN PURCHASE, August 15, 1857. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Affairs in the Territory have not improved. A party of Americans (our +countrymen) had made an "excursion" into Sonora, captured a train of +mules, and killed several Mexicans. Upon their return to the Territory +with their ill-gotten booty, the citizens formed a company and took the +property away from them, and returned it to the owners in Magdalena, [a +town of Sonora—Ed.] and delivered the robbers up to Major Steen, +commanding first dragoons, to be held in custody until Courts should be +organized. They have again been turned loose upon the community. In +justice to Major Fitzgerald I must say he was in favor of retaining +them in custody, and has generally maintained favoring law and order in +the Territory, but as he is only second in command he has no absolute +authority. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +We have no remedy but to follow the example so wide spread in the +Union, and form a "Vigilance Committee"—contrary to all good morals, +law, order, and society. Can you do nothing to induce the government to +establish authority and law in this country, and avert this unhappy +alternative? +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +It is not desired by any good citizens, and tends to anarchy and +mobocracy, causing disloyalty in our own citizens and bringing the +reproach of foreigners upon our republican institutions. It is +impossible to progress in developing the resources of the country under +this state of affairs. The greatest objection the capitalists of San +Francisco have to aiding me in the development of silver mines, is the +insecurity of property, want of protection from government, and general +distrust of fair and honest legislation. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +They have no confidence that the guarantees of the GADSDEN TREATY will +be respected by the United States, in regard to land titles under the +Mexican government. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +The silver ore brought to San Francisco from our mines, has been tested +by a dozen different officers, in as many different ways, and no result +falls BELOW FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER TON OF ORE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Senator Gwin goes on to Washington soon, and will corroborate my +statements. He has a piece of the silver, the first smelted in San +Francisco, showing $8,735 20—EIGHT THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND +THIRTY-FIVE 20-100 DOLLARS PER TON OF ORE. Mr. Dunbar is getting the +petition to Congress signed—and moving in the affairs of the Territory +in connection with Mr. Ehrenberg and our friends—but the government +came near "crushing us out" by sending a Custom House Collector to +consume and destroy what little we had saved from the Apaches. Can +nothing be done to rid us of a Custom House? It is no protection. The +Territory (as yet) produces nothing but minerals—and we have to pay +duty upon every article of consumption. This is a very onerous tax upon +our first feeble efforts to develop the resources of this remote and +unprotected country. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Very truly yours,<BR> + C. D. Poston.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +To Lieut. Mowry, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"We are living without the protection of law or the ameliorations of +society. New Mexico affords us no protection. We have not even received +an order for election. Every one goes armed to the teeth, and a +difficulty is sure to prove fatal. In this state of affairs it is +impossible to hold a convention." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Tueson, Oct. 1, 1857. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +We are pleased to hear that the prospect for Arizona is so bright. If +you should succeed in getting a separate organization for Arizona, you +will lay the people under many obligations to you. You have no doubt +received many petitions for Congress, and also your certificate of +election as delegate for this purchase. You received the entire vote; +there was no difference of opinion among the voters. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Your ob't serv't,<BR> + J. A. Douglas.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Lt. Mowry, U. S. A.<BR> + Tucson, Oct. 25, 1857.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +I send you the last petition from the Territory. The work is now in +your hands, and we say, God speed it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +G. H. Oury. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Tueson, Arizona Territory, Oct. 17, 1857. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Every thing begins to look up in the Territory notwithstanding the +difficulties we labor under. The Indians the other day came within +eight hundred yards of Fort Buchanan and remained some time, and when +they left carried off with them all the horses and mules in the valley +for six or eight miles below. Try your hand in this matter of our +Territory, and see if some change cannot be wrought to some benefit—we +need it greatly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Very truly yours,<BR> + G. H. Oury.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Tueson, Oct. 2, 1857. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +We have heard from Mesilla and they fully concur with us in all we have +done, showing that you are the person chosen to act for them and to +represent their interest in this matter. The people here are very much +elated at the turn things are taking, and every one seems to be highly +pleased with the course you have pursued. An election was held on the +first Monday in September, at which you received all the votes given, +and a certificate of your election, signed by the judges and clerks, +has been forwarded to you. The country is being settled very fast, and +there is somewhat of a stir to obtain cultivated lands. The lands +already under cultivation are now fifty per cent. higher than a short +time back. The great misfortune we labor under is want of protection. +Thousands and thousands of acres of land, as rich and fertile as any on +the face of the globe, lie idle and useless because they are not +protected from the Apaches. We want only one thing besides the +Territorial organization, and that is PROTECTION. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Very truly yours,<BR> + S. Warner.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Oct. 8, 1857. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +The guerilla warfare on the Sonora frontier continues with increased +aggravation. We look for the happiest result from the exploration of +this interesting region of the Colorado, about to be explored by Lieut. +Ives, U. S. A. The ores from the Heintzelman mine took the premium at +the mechanics' fair in San Francisco, just closed, where the ores from +California and the western coast were on exhibition. So, Arizona leads +California, the great mineral State. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +All we need is good government and honest, liberal legislation to make +Arizona equal in production of precious metals, if not exceed, +California. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Yours truly,<BR> + C. D. Poston.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Lt. Mowry, U. S. A.<BR> + Fort Yuma, June 2, 1857.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +News has just come in from the Arizona which represent an awful state +of affairs. During the time Mr. Belknap was below at Sonora it was +unsafe for him to go out unless accompanied by his friend, Don +Gaudaloupe Orosco, and even then it was very dangerous. No news from +Sonora nor even an arrival for the last twenty days. God knows what is +going on; though of one thing we are certain—no American, never mind +whatsoever he may be, can go into Sonora, with or without a passport. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Very sincerely yours,<BR> + P. R. Brady.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Aug. 5, 1850. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +The condition of the purchase has been extremely bad since the +unfortunate and injudicious expedition of Crabbe into Sonora, and at +the present time is but little better than a field of guerilla warfare, +robbery and plunder. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +The exasperated state of feeling between the Mexicans and Americans +prevents intercourse and commerce, upon which the Territory is +dependent. Americans are afraid to venture into Sonora for supplies, +and Mexicans afraid to venture over the line. Americans who had nothing +to do with the fillibustering invasion have been treated badly in +Sonora and driven out of the country, and Mexicans coming into the +purchase with supplies and animals have been robbed and plundered by +the returned fillibusters. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +The Americans in the Territory are by no means harmonious on these +subjects—some in favor of filibustering and others opposed to it; some +in favor of murdering and robbing Mexicans wherever found, and others +opposed to it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +It results that we are in a state of anarchy, and there is no +government, no protection to life, property, or business; no law and no +self-respect or morality among the people. We are living in a perfect +state of nature, without the restraining influence of civil or military +law, or the amelioration of society. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +There have not been many conflicts and murders, because every man goes +armed to the teeth, and a difficulty is always fatal on one side or the +other. In the midst of all this, the Government has blessed us with a +custom house at Calabazos to collect duties upon the necessaries of +life which, by chance and "running the gauntlet," we may get from +Sonora. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +God send that we had been left alone with the Apaches. We should have +been a thousand times better off in every respect. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +In this state of affairs it is scarcely to be expected that the people +will meet together in a convention; there was no arrangement for that +purpose up to the time of my leaving, and none could be made. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +We have never had any orders of election from Santa Fe, nor heard of +any convention. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Yours truly,<BR> + C. D. Poston.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Major Fitzgerald, U. S. A., whose long experience on the Pacific coast +makes his opinion very valuable, in a letter dated Fort Buchanan, +Arizona, Sept. 17th, 1854, says: +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"The citizens of this country are very desirous of a territorial +organization, with its courts, &c. Murders are committed and stock is +stolen by white men with impunity. There is no court nearer than the +Rio Grande (300 miles) to take cognizance of crime. Some few of the +emigrants of this year have remained in the Santa Cruz valley. More +would have done so, no doubt, if they had not started from the States +originally with stock for the California market. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +The country around us is now beautiful. It has been raining almost +daily since the 1st of July, and the vegetation is most luxuriant. Many +of the Mexican citizens come over the line for purposes of trade, +bringing flour, fruit, and leather. If there was no custom house at +Calabazas, these articles could be had very cheaply. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +We have very excellent gardens, and plenty of vegetables. There is said +to be a good deal of cultivable land on the upper Gila, and if a +territory is created, it should embrace this. This would also include a +large part of the Colorado valley above the junction of the Gila. That +you may succeed in your wishes with regard to Arizona, is the sincere +desire of +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Your friend and obliged serv't,<BR> + E. H. Fitzgerald."<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Lt. Mowry, U. S. A. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +A subsequent letter from Major Fitzgerald dated Oct. 1st, says Tueson +contains rising five hundred inhabitants, the remainder of the Santa +Cruz altogether enough to make considerable over a thousand, +independent of the population towards and upon the Gila and Colorado, +of which he remarks, +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"You know more than I." "There is not a doubt but that upon the +location of the mail route, there will be a considerable emigration to +this country, and if a portion of Sonora be organized, large numbers +will come both from the East and West. The country is an excellent one +for stock of all kinds, of which there were great numbers where the +Apaches were gathered under the wing of the Catholic church. The +valleys of Santa Cruz, San Pedro, and Upper Gila, and also that of +Messilla, contain large bodies of productive lands, and all the cereals +grow luxuriantly therein. THAT THERE IS MUCH SILVER IN THE TERRITORY +THERE IS NO DOUBT, but it requires capital to develop it. As yet but +little progress has been made in mining. Evidences of old works are +seen on many of the water courses, but operations have not yet been +recommenced, except at Arizona, Sopori, and Ariaola, principally +because the country is very partially settled, and it is not safe to be +at any distance from the mass of the population, and the troops. Copper +ore is found in many localities, but little gold is yet discovered. If +the road from El Paso to Fort Yuma be located by Parke's route, as many +suppose, A FINE COUNTRY WILL BE OPENED on the Gila and Lower San Pedro, +which will produce ample supplies. The Territory presents no +difficulties of importance to the successful establishment of the road. +Frequent stations and PROPER PROTECTION ARE ONLY REQUISITE TO ENSURE +SUCCESS AS COMPLETELY AS THE MOST SANGUINE ANTICIPATE. Should Sonora, +or even a portion of it be organized, this will be one of the most +pleasant localities of our country. A delightful climate, plenty of +fine fruit, facility of supply by a port on the Pacific, semi-weekly +mails from the east and west,—are only some of the attractions which +it would possess. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Sonora is quiet. Many of the wealthy men there are in favor of +annexation, it is said, but they have to keep silent on the subject for +fear of noisy patriots, who would proclaim them traitors at once, if +they made a parade of their inclinations. The San Antonio and San Deigo +mail passes through Tueson once a fortnight, and seems to have met with +no important obstacle yet. A drove of mules accompanies it, which are +harnessed in turn. When regular stations are established its speed will +be much increased. My last letter was not written with a view of the +use being made of it you mentioned, yet if it answers a good purpose, I +have no objection. It was but a careless note, but its contents were +truths, nevertheless." (This note demonstrated the facility of supply +for the Territory from the Pacific.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"Most truly your friend,<BR> + (Signed,) E. H. Fitzgerald."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Tubac, Gadsden's Purchase, 22d Oct., 1857. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"We have of late been seriously annoyed by the Apaches. Nearly all the +animals belonging to the citizens residing around Fort Buchanan have +been driven off by the Apaches. They are very impudent, and commit +their depredations in broad day-light, talk to the people while they +are driving off the animals, and always escape without being molested. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +The other day they came within 800 yards of the Fort and looked down +upon it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +In order to bring them to terms the Government ought to enlist 1000 +Pinos and Papagos to accompany the military. Indians are the only +persons who can successfully traverse these mountains and hunt up their +hiding places. If this is not done, they will surely break up our +settlements here. Forts ought to be established in the very heart of +the Apache country, in the places fit, and used by them for +cultivation. If this is done we will soon bring them to terms. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +Until now, our mining establishments have not been molested by them, +and we are going on in high glee. This is undoubtedly the richest +silver mining country in the world. If the United States will make just +and liberal laws for us; give us protection; remove those trifling and +unprofitable custom houses on the frontier, at least for 5 or 6 years; +procure us a transit through Sonora to Guaymas, and hasten along the +rail-road to California, this will indeed be a prosperous country, and +will astonish the world with its production of silver and copper. But +with such terrible obstacles as those mentioned above and the great +length of transit to transport goods over the roads which we have to +take at present, progress only is possible for such as find mines of +the extraordinary and incredible richness of the Heintzelman vein. If +the present promises of few of these mines are realized, by working +them on a scale commensurate with their extent and richness, I have no +doubt but that they will equal in production the whole silver exports +of Mexico. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +I think an appropriation ought to be made to sink artesian wells +through the Papagos country, between San Xavier and the lower Gila. +This route cuts off about 100 miles from the best route via the Pinos +villages. It is laid down on my map, as a rail-road route, now at the +office of the Sonora Exploring and Mining Company, at Cincinnati, Ohio. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +The country consists of a succession of plains and isolated mountain +ridges, none of which need to be crossed. In fact it is a dead level to +Fort Yuma, and, in consequence, no grading is necessary. There is +scarcity of water, but the soil in general is excellent and grass +abounds all along the line, while the mountains teem with minerals of +the richest description. The oxides and the sulphurets of copper are +the most beautiful and richest in the world. Silver undoubtedly exists +of equal richness. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +All the foothills contain gold, but I hardly think it will be extracted +by the whites, as the localities are devoid of water, and they are not +probably rich enough to pay without sluicing on an extensive scale." +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,<BR> + Herman Ehrenberg.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +To Lieut. S. Mowry, U. S. A.,<BR> + Delegate elect from Arizona,<BR> + Washington, D. C.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The only comment the writer has to make upon these statements is, that +two years' residence among and acquaintance with the people of Arizona, +has convinced him of their absolute truth. At the last session of +Congress a petition was presented, praying for a separate Territorial +organization. The necessity for some legislation was admitted by both +Senate and House; and bills creating a separate judicial district and +land offices, passed both Houses, but owing to some minor differences +and the lateness of the session, the bills failed to become a law. +</P> + +<P> +With an increased population and prolonged grievances, the people of +Arizona are again about to present themselves as supplicants for that +right inherent in the American heart—the right of self-government—and +of protection under the law. Their petition sets forth in brief, plain +terms, their situation and necessities, and prays simply for a +separation from New Mexico and a Territorial organization under the +name of Arizona. As a matter of necessity for the successful carriage +of the mail across the country, this Territorial organization is +imperative. No contract for labor or supplies can be enforced in the +present condition of the country. Courts of law must be established, +with officers to enforce their mandates, or the contractors will be +utterly unable to carry out their contract. +</P> + +<P> +The great necessity of a safe and speedy overland communication with +the Pacific, has directed public attention to the organization of +Arizona as a separate Territory, and the desired legislation has +received the unanimous endorsement of the press of the whole country. +Petitions with thousands of signatures from leading citizens of the +majority of the states of the Union, will be presented to Congress +asking for the immediate organization of the new Territory as the best +means to at once open a highway to the Pacific; and so important has +this view of the question been deemed as to call from the President of +the United States a recommendation in his message to Congress. No +opposition has been made to the most just prayer of the people of +Arizona, and it is believed that none will be made, unless it comes +from New Mexico. It must be born in mind that the Gadsden Purchase was +not originally an integral part of New Mexico; that it was acquired +years after the treaty of Gaudaloupe Hidalgo, and was only attached to +the territory of New Mexico as a temporary expedient. It must also be +remembered that the Gadsden Purchase, with the portion of New Mexico +which it is proposed to include within the limits of the territory of +Arizona, is separated from New Mexico proper by natural boundaries; +that it derives no benefit from the present connection, and that any +opposition to the desired legislation arises from the Mexican +population, which fears the influence of a large American emigration. +Moreover, that New Mexico contains upwards of 200,000 square miles, and +that its organic act provides for its partition; showing clearly that +Congress anticipated, at no remote day, the settlement of the country +by an American population, and its erection into several territories +and states. The only effect of the present connection of Arizona with +New Mexico is to crush out the voice and sentiment of the American +people in the territory; and years of emigration, under present +auspices, would not serve to counterbalance or equal the influence of +the 60,000 Mexican residents of New Mexico. New Mexico has never +encouraged American population. She is thoroughly Mexican in sentiment, +and desires to remain so. +</P> + +<P> +As a matter of State policy, the organization of Arizona is of the +first importance. Situated between New Mexico and Sonora, it is +possible now to make it a thoroughly American State, which will +constantly exert its influence in both directions, to nationalize the +other two. New Mexico is at present thoroughly Mexican in its character +and vote. Sonora, if we acquire it at once, will be the same. By +separating Arizona from it, and encouraging an American emigration, it +will become "the leaven which shall leaven the whole lump." By allowing +it to remain attached to New Mexico, or by attaching it to Sonora when +acquired, the American influence will be swallowed up in the great +preponderance of the Mexican vote. The Apache Indian is preparing +Sonora for the rule of a higher civilization than the Mexican. In the +past half century, the Mexican element has disappeared from what is now +called Arizona, before the devastating career of the Apache. It is +every day retreating further South, leaving to us, when it is ripe for +our possession, the territory without the population. +</P> + +<P> +The incentives to emigration to Arizona, in addition to the charm which +the discovery of mineral wealth carries to every mind, are very great. +The writer, in an extended tour through the Southern States, found many +people, mostly young men of moderate means, ready and anxious to +emigrate. The movement is still stronger in Southwestern States, and +already many a train of wagons is on its way. It will have no end for +years, for so mild and healthy is the climate that emigration is +practicable at all seasons. Snow never lies on the soil, and frost is +almost unknown. The contracts already authorized by Congress involve +the expenditure of six millions of dollars in the next six years; the +troops in the Territory will cost as much more. Here is enough money in +hard sub-treasury coin, to draw a large population, independent of +other considerations. All ready in many places the enterprising +merchant exposes his stock of goods only two months from San Francisco, +but he does it with the prayer that the Apache may pass him by, and too +often he sees his hard-earned profits disappear before the Indian's +successful foray. +</P> + +<P> +The establishment of a firm government in Arizona will extend the +protection of the United States over American citizens resident in the +adjoining Mexican provinces. This protection is most urgently demanded. +Englishmen in Sonora enjoy not only perfect immunity in the pursuit of +business, but also encouragement. Americans are robbed openly by +Mexican officials, insulted, thrown into prison, and sometimes put to +death. No redress is ever demanded or received. This state of things +has so long existed that the name of American has become a byword and a +reproach in northern Mexico, and the people of that frontier believe +that we have neither the power nor the inclination to protect our own +citizens. The influence of a Territorial government, with the tide of +American emigration which will surely follow it, must entirely change +the tone and temper of these Mexican States. +</P> + +<P> +The population of Arizona to-day, exceeds that of Washington Territory, +and is far greater than was that of Minnesota, Kansas or Nebraska, at +the time of their organization. An election for a Delegate has been +held, at which several hundred votes were polled, and the writer +returned without opposition. The unsettled and dangerous condition of +the country prevented a convention being held, but letters have been +received from all parts of the Territory, expressing a hearty +concurrence in the election on the part of those unable to vote, and an +earnest desire for the Territorial organization. +</P> + +<P> +A number of gentlemen at present in Washington, can testify from actual +observation, to the truth of the statements here made in reference to +Arizona—among them I am permitted to name General Anderson, late U. S. +Senator from Tennessee, who almost alone, with rare perseverance and +courage, explored, in 1850, the whole length of the Territory, Major +Heintzelman, U. S. A., whose long station at Fort Yuma made him +acquainted with the resources of the country, and who has shown at once +his intelligence and foresight and his faith in the prospective wealth +of the silver region, by large investments of capital, Col. A. B. Gray, +late U. S. Surveyor of the Mexican Boundary line, I. Smith McMicken, +Esq., whose residence for many years on the Mexican frontier has +entitled his opinion to some weight, and A. H. Campbell, Esq., +Superintendent of Wagon Roads, whose information is full and reliable. +To these names it may not be improper to add that of the writer, who +has for two years past, while residing at the junction of the Gila and +Colorado Rivers, made the new Territory and its resources, an object of +constant observation and study, and whose experience on the Pacific +coast, and in the frontier Territories, and on the route across the +continent, during the past five years, has enabled him to speak +understandingly of the capabilities and necessities of a new country, +and of a frontier people. +</P> + +<P> +In five years a great State may be built upon this remote frontier, and +a population gathered, such as will, when we make further acquisition +of territory, spread at once over it, diffusing national sentiment and +extending the area of American principles. +</P> + +<P> +Aside from these considerations, justice and humanity, imperatively +demand that Congress shall bear and at once answer the prayer of the +people of Arizona for protection. If these considerations fail, then +they offer INTEREST; for the organization of the Territory is the +guarantee of a supply of silver, which will create as great a +revolution in the commercial world as has the gold of California. +Arizona will be known as the silver State, and the prediction of +Humboldt, that the balance between gold and silver, destroyed by the +California discoveries, would one day be restored, will be made good, +from the resources of the Gadsden purchase. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H4> +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED: +</H4> + +<P> +The undersigned, your humble petitioners, citizens of the United +States, and residents of the Territory known as the Gadsden Purchase, +respectfully represent: +</P> + +<P> +That since the annexation of their Territory to the United States, they +have been totally unprotected from Indian depredations and civil crimes. +</P> + +<P> +That the protection of the Mexican Government has been with drawn, and +that it has not been replaced by any visible protection from the United +States. +</P> + +<P> +That the annexation of the Purchase to New Mexico, carried with it no +protection for life or property. +</P> + +<P> +That the present force of United States troops, four companies of +dragoons, reduced by desertion and death to about one half, is entirely +inadequate to protect us against the depredations of the Apaches. +</P> + +<P> +That many of your petitioners have expended their time and means in +opening and prospecting rich mines of Copper and Silver, and have been +driven from them by the Indians—losing their all, and also many +valuable lives. +</P> + +<P> +That the Territory is immensely rich in minerals, especially Silver and +Copper; and, as your petitioners most firmly believe, the development +of these mines will make a change in the currency of the world, only +equalled by that caused by the gold mines of California. +</P> + +<P> +That a great part of the Territory, between the Rio Grande and Tueson, +is susceptible of cultivation and will support a large agricultural +population. +</P> + +<P> +That this portion of the Territory is in the hands of the Apaches, and +useless, unless redeemed from their grasp and protected to the farmer. +</P> + +<P> +That the highways of the Territory are stained with the blood of +citizens of the United States, shed by Indians and by public marauders, +who commit their crimes in open day, knowing there is no law to +restrain and no magistrate to arrest them. +</P> + +<P> +That this Territory, under a separate organization, would attract a +large population and become immediately developed: and, that its +isolation—its large Indian population—its proximity to a +semi-civilized Mexican province, and its peculiar and wonderful +resources, demand protection from the Government more emphatically than +any other territory yet recognised. +</P> + +<P> +That our soil has been stained with the blood of American citizens, +shed by Mexican hands, in an armed invasion of our Territory near +Sonoita, and that there is no civil magistrate or officer here to even +protest against such an outrage. +</P> + +<P> +That throughout their whole Territory, from the Rio Grande to the Rio +Colorado, six hundred miles, there is no Court of Record, and no +redress except that inefficiently administered in a Justice's Court, +for civil injuries or crimes. +</P> + +<P> +That the population of the Territory is much greater than was that of +Kansas or Nebraska or Washington Territory, at the time of their +organization, and that it is steadily increasing, and will, under the +influence of the Road and Mail Bills of the last Congress, be greatly +augmented. +</P> + +<P> +That there are no post routes or mail facilities throughout the +Territory, and that finally, we are cut off from all the comforts of +civilization—and that we claim, as a right, that protection which the +United States should everywhere extend to her humblest citizen. +Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that the Gadsden Purchase may be +separated from New Mexico and erected into a separate Territory under +the name of Arizona, with such boundaries as may seem proper to your +honorable bodies, and that such other legislation may be made as shall +be best calculated to place us on the same footing as our more +fortunate brethren of Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Oregon and +Washington, that we may be enabled to build up a prosperous and +thriving State, and to nourish on this extreme frontier a healthy +national sentiment. And we, as in duty bound, will ever pray. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +[Signed by more than five hundred resident voters.] +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoir of the Proposed Territory of +Arizona, by Sylvester Mowry + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA *** + +***** This file should be named 2382-h.htm or 2382-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/8/2382/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean. HTML version by Al Haines. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona + +Author: Sylvester Mowry + +Posting Date: November 5, 2008 [EBook #2382] +Release Date: November, 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + +MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA. + +BY + +SYLVESTER MOWRY, U. S. A., DELEGATE ELECT. + + +WASHINGTON: HENRY POLKINHORN, PRINTER. 1857. + +"The NEW TERRITORY of ARIZONA, better known as the GADSDEN PURCHASE, +lies between the thirty-first and thirty-third parallels of latitude, +and is bounded on the north by the Gila River, which separates it from +the territory of New Mexico; on the east by the Rio Bravo del Norte, +(Rio Grande), which separates it from Texas; on the south by Chihuahua +and Sonora, Mexican provinces; and on the west by the Colorado River of +the West, which separates it from Upper and Lower California. This +great region is six hundred miles long by about fifty miles wide, and +embraces an area of about thirty thousand square miles. It was acquired +by purchase from Mexico, during the mission of General Gadsden, at a +cost of ten millions of dollars. In the original treaty, as negotiated +by General Gadsden, a more southern boundary than the one adopted by +the Senate of the United States in confirming the treaty, was conceded +by Santa Anna. The line at present is irregular in its course, and cuts +off from our Territory the head of the Santa Cruz river and valley, the +Sonoita valley, the San Bernardino valley, the whole course of the +Colorado river from a point twenty miles below the mouth of the Gila +river, and, worse than all, the control of the head of the Gulf of +California, and the rich and extensive valley of Lake Guzman, besides a +large and extremely valuable silver region, well known both to Mexicans +and Americans--the planchas de la Platte. General Gadsden's line +included nearly all the territory south of the Gila river to the +thirty-first parallel of latitude--all the advantages above +mentioned--gave us the mouth of the Colorado river, and probably a port +near the head of the gulf at Adair's Bay. We have no accurate survey of +the west coast of the Gulf of California, but I am strongly of opinion +that the original line conceded by Mexico would have thrown a portion +of the gulf into American hands, by cutting off an arm of it extending +east and north from the main body of water. A port on the gulf is of +great and immediate necessity to our Pacific possessions. Of this +hereafter. + +The proposed boundaries, of the Territory of Arizona, are the 34th +parallel of latitude, with New Mexico on the north, from the 103d +meridian west to the Colorado; Texas on the east; Texas, and the +Mexican provinces of New Mexico and Sonora on the south; and California +on the west. The new Territory would thus contain within its borders +the three largest rivers on the Continent, west of the Mississippi--the +Rio Grande, Gila, and Colorado of the west, and embrace 90,000 square +miles. + +The Gadsden purchase is attached by act of Congress to the Territory of +New Mexico. At the time of its acquisition there was scarcely any +population except a few scattering Mexicans in the Mesilla valley, and +at the old town of Tucson, in the centre of the territory. The Apache +Indian, superior in strength to the Mexican, had gradually extirpated +every trace of civilization, and roamed uninterrupted and unmolested, +sole possessor of what was once a thriving and populous Spanish +province. + +Except the report of Col. A. B. Gray, there is scarcely anything in +print with reference to the early history of Arizona, beyond the scanty +but valuable notes of Major Emory and Hon. John R. Bartlett, in their +reports, and in the appendix to Wilson's late book, "Mexico and its +Religion." To this last I beg to refer any reader who desires accurate +information respecting the Northern Mexican provinces, presented in a +straightforward common-sense style. + +In the possession of the writer of these notes is a map drawn in 1757, +just one hundred years ago, presented by the Society of Jesuits to the +King of Spain. The original of this map is now in the archives of the +Mexican Government. It was copied, with the notes relating to the +Territory, and to Sonora, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa, by Capt. C. P. Stone, +late of the United States Army. The map bears the inscription, "Carte +levee par la Societe des Jesuites, dediee au Roi d'Espagne en 1757." + +The copy of the map and the accompanying notes are certified as +accurate by the officer of the Mexican Government in charge of the +archives. + +My information, therefore, upon the early history of this comparatively +unknown domain, is accurate and reliable. As early as 1687, a Jesuit +missionary from the province of Sonora, which, in its southern portion, +bore already the impress of Spanish civilization, descended the valley +of Santa Cruz river to the Gila. Passing down the Gila to its mouth, +after exploring the country, he retraced his steps, penetrated the +country north of the Gila river for some distance, and ascended the +Salinas or Salt river, and other northern branches of the Gila. The +explorations of this energetic priest did not stop here. Proceeding +east, he explored the valley of the San Pedro and its branches, thence +along the Gila to the Mimbres, and probably to the Rio Grande and the +Mesilla valley. Filled with the enthusiasm of his sect, he procured +authority from the head of the order in Mexico, and established +missions and settlements at every available point. In a report to the +government of the viceroy of Spain, made during the early settlement of +the province, I find the following language: "A scientific exploration +of Sonora, with reference to mineralogy, along with the introduction of +families, will lead to a discovery of gold and silver so marvellous +that the result will be such as has never yet been seen in the world." + +The reports of the immense mineral wealth of the new country, made by +the Jesuits, induced a rapid settlement. There are laid down on the map +before me more than forty towns and villages. Many of these were of +considerable size. There were a few north of the Gila, and several on +the lower Gila, near the Colorado. The Santa Cruz and its tributary +valleys teemed with an agricultural and mining population. Thousands of +enterprising Spaniards cultivated the rich valley of the San Pedro, and +scattered settlements flourished at every suitable stream and spring at +the foot of the mountains towards the Rio Grande. The notes before me +say: "All these settlements and missions were founded in fertile +valleys, and by streams and springs, which produced luxuriant crops of +wheat, corn, and beans, and in many parts grapes and other foreign +fruits were cultivated." + +In the western part of the Territory were the missions of St. Pierre, +St. Paul, St. Matthias, St. Simond, St. Francisco, Merci, the ranches +of Eau Cheri, Eau de la Lune, and others; on the Santa Cruz the +missions of San Xavier del Bac, Santiago, San Cayetano, and San +Philipe, the towns of Tueson, Tubac, Reges, San Augusta, and many +others. San Xavier del Bac is still in existence. It is a mission +church of great size and beauty, magnificently ornamented within; forty +thousand dollars in solid silver served to adorn the altar. Upon the +San Pedro river were the missions of St. Mark, San Salvadore, San +Pantaleon, Santa Cruz, and the towns of Quiduria, Rosario, Eugenia, +Victoria, and San Fernando--the latter at the mouth--with many more. To +the east some small settlements were found on the Valle del Sauz, on +the Mimbres, at the copper mines north of the Mimbres, and to the south +the immense grazing and stock-raising establishment of San Bernardino, +where since have been raised hundreds of thousands of cattle and +horses. The Indians in the vicinity of the missions were reduced first +to obedience by the Jesuits, and then to slavery by the Spaniards. + +The notes referred to above contain the names and localities of more +than a hundred silver and gold mines which were worked with great +success by the Spaniards. The survey of the Jesuit priest about 1687 +was repeated in 1710 with renewed discoveries, and consequent accession +of population. From this time up to 1757 the conquest and settlement of +the country was prosecuted with vigor, both by the Jesuits' Society and +Spanish government. + +The missions and settlements were repeatedly destroyed by the Apaches, +and the priests and settlers massacred or driven off. As often were +they re-established. The Indians at length, thoroughly aroused by the +cruelties of the Spaniards, by whom they were deprived of their +liberty, forced to labor in the silver mines with inadequate food, and +barbarously treated, finally rose, joined with tribes who had never +been subdued, and gradually drove out or massacred their oppressors. A +superior civilization disappeared before their devastating career, and +to day there is scarcely a trace of it left, except scarcely visible +ruins, evidence everywhere, of extensive and hastily-deserted mining +operations, and the tradition of the country. The mission of San Xavier +del Bac, and the old towns of Tueson and Tubac, are the most prominent +of these remains. The labors of the Jesuits to civilize the Indians are +still evident in the mission Indians, the Papagos and Pimas, who live +in villages, cultivate crops of corn and wheat, and who, in the +Christian and human elements of good faith and charity, are, to say the +least, in no way inferior to the Mexicans. After the massacre of four +of Crabbe's unfortunate party near Sonoita by the Mexicans, the Papago +Indians buried carefully the bodies to which Mexican inhumanity had +denied this last charitable office. It is a curious and suggestive fact +that the latitude of places upon Gila, Santa Cruz, and San Pedro, +determined by the Jesuits about 1750, has lately been verified by the +observations of Park Michler, and Emory. The instruments used by the +Jesuits were constructed by them, the lenses being made from pebbles. + +From 1757 down to 1820, the Spaniards and Mexicans continued to work +many valuable mines near Barbacora, and the notes in my possession +speak of many silver mines, most of which contained a percentage of +gold. "The San Pedro gold mine in 1748 was worked with extraordinary +success." Among the mines anciently worked, as laid down in the +authorities heretofore referred to, were the Dolores, San Antonio, Casa +Gordo, Cabrisa, San Juan Batista, Santa Anna, (which was worked to the +depth of one hundred and twenty yards,) Rosario, Cata de Agua, +Guadaloupe, Connilla, Prieta, Santa Catarina, Guzopa, Huratano, Arpa, +Descuhidara, Nacosare, Arguage, Churinababi, Huacal, Pinal, and a great +number of others which it would only be tedious to mention. + +The most celebrated modern localities are Arivaca, (also anciently +famous as Aribac,) Sopori, the Arizona mountains, the Santa Rita range, +the Cerro Colorado, the entire vicinity of Tubac, the Del Ajo, or +Arizona copper mine, the Gadsonia copper mine, and the Gila river +copper mines. These last are situated directly upon the Gila, only +twenty-five miles from its mouth. The writer assures the public that +there is no room for doubt as to the authenticity of these statements, +or the immense resources of the new Territory in silver, copper, and +probably gold. As late as 1820, the Mina Cobre de la Plata, (silver +copper mines,) near Fort Webster, north of the Gila, were worked to +great advantage; and so rich was the ore that it paid for +transportation on muleback more than a thousand miles to the city of +Mexico. + +Every exploration within the past few years has confirmed the +statements of the ancient records. The testimony of living Mexicans, +and the tradition of the country, all tend to the same end. Col. A. B. +Gray, Col. Emory, Lt. Michler, Lt. Parke, the Hon. John R. Bartlett, +late of the United States Boundary Commission, all agree in the +statement that the Territory has immense resources in silver and +copper. Col. Emory says in his report: + +"On account of the Gold Mania in California I kept the search for gold +and other precious metals as much out of view as possible, scarcely +allowing it to be a matter of conversation, much less of actual search. +Yet, enough was ascertained to convince us that the whole region was +teeming with the precious metals. We everywhere saw the remains of +mining operations, conducted by the Spaniards, and more recently by the +Mexicans." + +The report enumerates at considerable length the various localities +examined by Col. Emory's party, and others, of which there could be no +doubt. + +In view of these authorities, it is hoped that those who will not +believe upon any evidence, will be content in their own incredulity. +The most authentic reports of these immense mineral resources have been +used as authorities against their existence. The authors of these +denials either have never read what they pretend to quote, or think no +one else has. The Hon. T. Butler King, who was the first to reveal to +an incredulous public the wonders of the California gold mines, has had +the singular good fortune to be also among the first to publish correct +and authentic information relating to the silver treasures of Arizona. +His report upon the resources of the new Territory has all the charm to +the reader that his California report had, and its brilliant +predictions will be as fully realized. To Gray and Emory is the country +most indebted for the earliest and most important discoveries. + +The agricultural resources of Arizona, are sufficient to sustain a +large mining population, and afford abundant supplies for the great +immigration which will follow the development of its mineral resources. +The whole valley of the Gila, more than four hundred miles in length, +can be made with proper exertion to yield plentiful crops. The Pimos +Indians, who live in villages on the Gila, one hundred and seventy +miles from its mouth, raise large crops of cotton, wheat, and corn, and +have for years supplied the thousands of emigrants who traverse the +Territory en route to California. These Indians manufacture their +cotton into blankets of fine texture and beautiful pattern, which +command a high price. They also grind their corn and wheat, and make +bread. In fact, the Pimos realize in their everyday life something of +our ideas of Aztec civilization. A town will probably grow up just +above the Pimos villages, as there is a rich back country, and the +streams afford a valuable water power for running mills. + +The valley of the Santa Cruz traverses the territory from South to +North, sinking near the town of Tueson, and probably finding its way to +the Gila, as a subterranean stream. This valley, of the richest land, +is about one hundred miles long, in many places of great width, and has +on each side of it many rich valleys of limited extent, watered by +streams from the mountains, which flow into the Santa Cruz. The valleys +and Ranches of Arivaca, Sopori, Calabazas, and Tueson, are those at +present most thickly settled. These produce all the fruits known to a +Southern clime--grapes, wheat, corn, and cotton in great abundance. The +San Pedro river and valley is also one of great richness, and is +reported by Lieut. Parke as capable of sustaining a large population. +The Valle de Sauz, still farther East, more limited than the San Pedro +or Santa Cruz, can be made available for a considerable population. The +Mimbres River also can, by a small outlay, be made to irrigate a large +surface and supply a moderate settlement. The various springs laid down +by Gray, Emory, Parke, and Bartlett, will all afford water for small +settlements, and their supply can be much increased by a judicious +outlay of money. The Rio Grande valley is very rich, and in places of +great width. The Mesilla valley already contains a population of about +five thousand souls, and there is ample room for many more. + +If, as proposed, the Northern boundary of the Arizona Territory should +enclose the Northern branches of the Gila, an agricultural region will +be opened to settlement sufficient in itself to sustain the population +of an immense agricultural State. Col. Bonneville, who is now at the +head of a large force exploring this region, writes to the Secretary of +War that it is the finest country he has ever seen, "valleys capable of +sustaining a population of twenty thousand each, teeming at every step +with evidences of an immense population long ago-and an ancient and +superior civilization." The Hon. John R. Bartlett says of the +"Salinas," one of the Northern branches of the Gila, that it alone will +supply food for a great State. It must be recollected, in this +connection, that the great mineral wealth of Arizona will call for and +amply repay for the redemption and expensive cultivation of all the +available lands, and that irrigation produces immensely greater crops +than the other method of planting. Throughout the whole of Utah, +irrigation has been resorted to with the greatest success. The soil in +Utah, in no place that the writer saw it, could in any way be compared +to that of the bottom lands of Arizona. + +Captain Whipple in his valuable report of exploration for the Pacific +Railroad, published by order of Congress, crossed the upper part of the +region alluded to, and which is watered by the Rio Verde and Salinas. +He fully sustains me in my remarks on those rich valleys. + +"We are in the pleasantest region we have seen since leaving the +Choctaw country. Here are clear rivulets, with fertile valleys and +forest trees. The wide belt of country that borders the Black Forest, +and probably extends along the Rio Verde to the Salinas and Gila, bears +every indication of being able to support a large agricultural and +pastoral population. The valley of the Rio Verde is magnificently +wooded with furs and oaks, affording excellent timber. Ancient ruins +are said by trappers to be scattered over its whole length to the +confluence with the Salinas. We, therefore, seem to have skirted the +boundary of a country once populous, and worthy of becoming so again. +Besides the advantages already enumerated, the mountains in this +vicinity bear indications of mineral wealth. Vol. 3, p. 93." + +The notes before referred to, in the possession of the writer, speak of +great farming and grazing establishments scattered over the whole face +of the Territory, between 1610 and 1800, which produced abundant crops +of cereals, fruits, and grapes. These statements are confirmed by the +testimony of Major Emory and his report, where he enumerates several of +the most extensive--by Gray, Bartlett, Parke, and Col. Bonneville. Many +of the Ranches, deserted by the Mexicans on account of the Apache +Indians, have upon them large, well-built adobe houses which must have +cost the builders thousands of dollars. Many of these have been +occupied under squatter titles by emigrants within the last few years. +Of others, only the ruins remain, having been destroyed by the +depredations of the Indians, or by the heavy rains of the succeeding +years. + +The greater portion of these lands on the Santa Cruz and San Pedro are +covered by Mexican titles--and many of these again by squatter claims. +It is absolutely necessary that Congress should by some wise and speedy +legislation settle, upon some definite basis, the land titles of +Arizona. Until this is done, disorder and anarchy will reign supreme +over the country. The present condition of California is in a great +degree to be attributed to the want of any title to the most valuable +real property in the State, and the millions which have been spent in +fruitless litigation should teach a lesson of great practical value. +Let those Spanish grants and Mexican titles which have been occupied in +good faith be affirmed in the most expeditious and economical manner to +the claimants, and they will immediately pass into American hands, and +become productive. The remainder of the country should then be thrown +open to settlers. No better code of mining law exists than the Spanish, +adopted in the Senate bill introduced by the late General Rusk, and +passed at the last session of Congress. A judicious and liberal +donation law, giving to the actual settler a homestead, and to the +enterprising miner and "prospector" a fair security for the fruit of +his labors, will at once make of Arizona a popular, thriving and +wealthy State, affording new markets for the productions of our +Atlantic States, and yielding annually millions in silver and copper. + +In addition to the produce of Arizona, the immediate vicinity of the +agricultural region of Sonora affords an abundant market for all +necessary supplies, including sugar, which is manufactured by the +Mexicans in great quantities from the cane. Guyamas, which one day will +be ours, is one of the largest ports for the export of flour on the +Pacific coast north of Chili. She also exports several millions in +silver annually, which finds its way direct to the English market. +Under an intelligent system, the Sonora mines would yield a hundred +millions a year, and the supply is inexhaustible. If any reader doubts +this statement, refer him to the statistics of Humboldt, Ward, and +Wilson, most unquestioned and valuable authorities. Both Humboldt and +Ward note the fact that the silver deposites grow richer as they are +traced farther North. There can be no doubt that the most extensive and +valuable mines, both of pure silver and silver mixed with copper and +lead, are within the limits of Arizona. + +The yield of the silver mines of Mexico, as computed by Ward and +Humboldt from the actual official returns to the Government, from the +conquest to 1803, amounts to the enormous sum of $2,027,955,000, or +more than two BILLIONS Of dollars. Again, Ward says: "I am aware that +many of the statements in this and the preceding books respecting the +mineral riches of the North of New Spain, (Sonora, including the +'Gadsden Purchase,' Chihuahua, and Durango,) will be thought +exaggerated. THEY ARE NOT SO; they will be confirmed by every future +report, and in after years, the public, FAMILIARIZED WITH facts which +are only questioned because they are new, will wonder at its present +incredulity, and regret the loss of advantages which may not always be +within its reach." + +Of the present mining operations in the Territory of Arizona, the most +considerable, in point of labor performed and results, is "The Arizona +Copper Mining Co." This company is incorporated by the California +Legislature, with a capital of one million of dollars. The President is +Major Robert Allen, U. S. A. The mines are old, and very celebrated in +Mexico under the name of El-Ajo. This company, at an expense of +$100,000, have supplied their mines with an abundance of water, +extracted several hundred tons of ore, and erected buildings, smelting +furnaces, and other appliances to facilitate their operations. They +employ about one hundred men, mostly Mexican miners. Their supplies of +breadstuffs and beef are obtained by contract from Sonora. These mines +are situated one hundred and thirty miles from the mouth of the Gila +River, and about sixty miles south of it. The ore varies in richness +from thirty to sixty per cent, and the proceeds of some sales in London +were quoted as being the highest prices ever paid for ore in that +market. A portion of this mine is owned by English capitalists, and it +is without doubt one of the most valuable in the world. The profits may +be easily calculated, when it is known that the ore costs delivered in +Swansea, England, not exceeding $125 per ton, and is worth from $200 to +$375 per ton. Of course these profits will be greatly increased when +the company is in a position to smelt its ores at the mine. The Sonora +Exploring and Mining Company was organized in 1856, with a capital of +two million dollars ($2,000,000). Its principal office is in +Cincinnati, Ohio, and its seat of operations at Tubac, in the Santa +Cruz valley. This company is managed in its mining operations by Chas. +D. Poston, Esq., a gentleman of much experience on the Pacific coast, +and of great energy of character. + +The Rancho of Arivaca, containing several valuable silver mines, and +seventeen thousand acres of valuable land, has been purchased by this +company. It has also acquired the titles to a number of other valuable +mines of galena ore, and copper containing silver and gold. Hitherto, +the exertions of the company have been directed principally to +explorations and cleaning out the old mines, but they have at present +above ground, ready for smelting, several thousand dollars worth of +their ores. Prof. Booth, U. S. Assayer, as well as other distinguished +authorities, have, after thorough experiment, given to the company +certificates of the great richness of the ores already shipped to the +east. The annual report of the Sonora Mining Co. is full of interest to +the general reader. The Sopori mine is another very valuable property. +It is owned by Messrs. Douglass, Aldrich, and another. Want of capital +has prevented the extensive development of this mine. It affords its +proprietors a handsome profit, worked in the smallest and cheapest +manner. The vein is of great size, has been traced several rods in +length, and pays about one dollar to the pound of ore. The writer has +examined specimens from the "Sopori," taken at random, and so rich is +the ore that the native silver can be cut out of it with a penknife, as +out of a Mexican dollar. Undoubtedly the Sopori mine is destined to +yield hundreds of millions. It is a peculiarity of the ores in this +district that they run near the surface, making mining of comparative +small cost. The Sopori mine is surrounded by a fine country, well +watered and wooded. The "Gadsonia Copper Mining Co.," after taking out +a few tons of exceedingly rich ore--averaging over eighty per +cent.--was obliged to suspend operations on account of the cost of +transportation. When the Territory shall be organized and capital +protected by law, these mines will be worked to advantage. "The Gila +River Copper Mines" are more favorably situated than any other yet +opened, being directly on the Gila River, only twenty-five miles from +its mouth. The ores can be taken from the mine, immediately shipped +upon flat boats or a light draft steamer, and transported down the +Colorado River to the head of the Gulf of California, when they can be +transhipped to England at small cost. Upwards of twenty veins of copper +ore have been opened, and the assays give results varying from 30 to 70 +per cent. These mines are owned by Messrs. Hooper, Hinton, Halstead, +and another. Several thousand dollars have been already expended in +prospecting and opening veins, and it was anticipated by the +proprietors that the first cargo would be shipped to Swansea, England, +this year. + +Smelting works will eventually be built at the mines, or at Colorado +City, opposite Fort Yuma, and the profits of this company must be very +great. The vicinity of the Colorado, and the abundance of wood and +water, give the proprietors facilities for conducting their operations +at small cost. + +Silver mining is also carried on in the vicinity of Mesilla Valley, and +near the Rio Grande. Many other mining operations are constantly being +commenced; but the depredations of the Apache Indians have almost +entirely snatched success from the hard-working miner, who, besides +losing his all, is often massacred in some ferocious manner. + +No protection, either civil or military, is extended over the greater +portion of Arizona. This checks the development of all her +resources--not only to her own injury, but that of California and the +Atlantic States--by withholding a market for their productions, and the +bullion which she is fully able to supply to an extent corresponding to +the labor employed in obtaining it. + +A. B. Gray, Esq., late U. S. Surveyor under the treaty of Guadalupe +Hidalgo, for running the Mexican Boundary, and subsequently Exploring +Engineer and Surveyor of the Southern Pacific Railroad, has probably +seen more of the proposed Territory of Arizona than any other person, +his statements in reference to that region, embodied in a report to the +Hon., the Secretary of the Interior, from actual field reconnoissances +six years ago, will be read with much interest, particularly as since +then, repeated developments in that country have proved the correctness +of his judgment; his opinions are, therefore, of much importance, as +expressed in his able report. It will be recollected that this was then +Mexican Territory. Colonel Gray says: + +"The public, I think have been misled by misrepresentations made in +regard to the resources of the region of country lying along the Gila +and upon the line proposed for a railroad at or near the parallel of 32 +degrees north latitude. That portion of country east of the Rio Grande +I can say but little of from personal observation, having been over but +apart of the ground near the eastern division in Texas, and that in the +vicinity of El Paso. At both these points, however, a fine country +exists. Upon the Gila river grows cotton of the most superior kind. Its +nature is not unlike that of the celebrated Sea Island cotton, +possessing an equally fine texture, and, if anything, more of a silky +fibre. The samples I procured at the Indian villages, from the rudely +cultivated fields of the Pimas and Maricopas, have been spoken of as an +extraordinary quality. Wheat, corn, and tobacco, together with beans, +melons, etc., grow likewise upon the banks and in the valleys bordering +the Gila and its tributaries. The sugar cane, too, I believe, will be +found to thrive in this section of the country west of the Rio San +Pedro. A sort of candied preserve and molasses, expressed from the +fruit of the cereus giganteus and agave Americana was found by our +party in 1851, as we passed through the Pinal Llano camps and among the +Gila tribes, to be most acceptable. The candied preserve was a most +excellent substitute for sugar. It is true that there are extensive +wastes to be encountered west of the Rio Grande, yet they are not +deserts of sand, but plains covered at certain seasons of the year with +luxuriant grass, exhibiting green spots and springs not very remote +from each other at all times. There is sufficient water in the Gila and +its branches for all the purposes of irrigation when it is wanted, the +streams being high during the season most needed. The Rio Salado, a +tributary of the Gila, is a bold and far more beautiful river than the +Gila itself, and, from the old ruins now seen there, must have had +formerly a large settlement upon its banks. "To many persons merely +travelling or emigrating across the country, with but one object in +view, and that the reaching their destination on the Pacific, the +country would generally present a barren aspect. But it will be +recollected that the most productive fields in California, before +American enterprise introduced the plough, and a different mode of +cultivation from that of the natives of the country, presented somewhat +similar appearance. Many believed, at first, from the cold and sterile +look of the hills, and the parched appearance of the fields and +valleys, over which the starving coyote is often seen prowling in +search of something to subsist on, that California could never become +an agricultural district, but must depend upon her other resources for +greatness, and trust to distant regions for the necessaries of life +required for her increased population. It was natural enough, too, that +this impression should be created in those accustomed to a different +State of things, and particularly when it is considered that the very +season of blossom and bloom of our Atlantic States was the winter of +California; but these same fields and hills have a very different +appearance in January, February, and March, clothed as they are in the +brightest verdure and no one now will pretend to say that California +does not possess within herself great agricultural as well as mineral +wealth. This, I believe, will some day be the case with the country +from the Rio Grande to the Gulf of California, adjacent to the Gila. +Senate Ex. Doc. No. 55, 33rd Congress, 2nd Session." + + * * * * * * * * + +In speaking of the resources of this region for a railroad, in the same +report, Gray says: + +"The valley of Mesilla, extending from about twelve miles above the +true boundary of the treaty to the parallel of 32 degrees 22 minutes +north latitude, lies wholly within the disputed district, and is, for +its extent, one of the most beautiful and fertile along the whole +course of the Rio Grande. The town of Mesilla, only a few years old, +contains several thousand people, and is a prosperous little place. It +was not settled until after the cession of this territory to us by the +treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Portions of the valley are highly +cultivated, and produce the grains and fruits of our most thriving +States. In connexion with the land on the east side of the river, the +valley of the Messilla is capable of sustaining a considerable +population. It is situated centrally with regard to a large district of +country of lesser agricultural capacity. The section of the Rio Grande +in the vicinity of El Paso and the valley of Mesilla, is proverbial for +the production of fine vegetables and fruits. Indeed, about El Paso, it +is a complete garden with flourishing vineyards, equalling in +excellence those of the most celebrated grape growing countries. + +"By a judicious disposition of military stations along this line, only +a few troops would be required to protect the great northern frontier +of Sonora and Chihuahua, and enable us to carry out the 11th article of +our late treaty with Mexico more effectually, and at the same time +prevent any depredations which the Indians might be disposed to commit +on the road. Soon after, the settlement of the country would make the +presence of the military unnecessary, either for the safety of a +railway of the security of the frontier. The strong holds of the +Apaches, and their pathway to Mexico, would be cut off. + +"A wagon road established from the Gulf of California would enable +supplies to be transported along this line at one-half of the present +cost. The saving of one-third or more distance, through a comparatively +unsettled country, in transportation is an important consideration in +the construction of a railway, more especially when men and materials, +to a great extent, must be brought from very remote points. The +navigation of the Gulf of California is said to be very good. The +trade-winds from the northwest, encountering the highlands of the +peninsula of Lower California, and forming a counter current under its +lee, enable sailing vessels to proceed advantageously along that coast. +Returning, by keeping on the eastern aide, or along the shore of +Sonora, they could avail themselves of the prevailing winds, which +regain their usual direction after sweeping across the wide expanse of +water. The trade of the Gulf, with its pearl fisheries and other +resources, would be speedily developed. + + * * * * * * * * + +"The advantages of such a thoroughfare are obvious. Five years would +hardly elapse before inestimable benefits would be realized; and, +should war threaten our Pacific possessions, a few days would suffice +to send from the Mississippi valley an army that would defy any force +that the most formidable power could array against us. The fine cotton +region of the Gila, the rich copper, silver, and gold mines of New +Mexico and Sonora would be at once developed, bringing a vast district +of country into cultivation which now presents a fruitless waste, owing +to Indian depredations and the absence of means of communication and +protection. Mexico has tried for a century past to insure safety to her +inhabitants in this region, but notwithstanding the expense she has +incurred in keeping up her garrisons, she has failed to afford them +protection. + +"The deserted appearance of the country from El Paso to the Colorado is +no criterion by which to judge of its value. The beautiful valley of +San Xavier, or Santa Cruz, some two years ago when I passed through it, +was entirely deserted. The once thriving towns of Tumacacori and Tubac +had not the sign of a living soul about them except the recent moccasin +track of the Apaches. The orchards and vineyards of the once highly +cultivated fields and gardens bore the marks of gradual decay and +destruction. The ranchos of Calabazas, of San Bernardino, and numerous +other places on this frontier, presented the same melancholy aspect, +the result of the inability of Mexico to protect this portion of +territory from the inroads of the savages. There are now but a few +settlements throughout this district of country, but were it protected +by a power that could and would defend it, what is now a waste in the +hands of the savages might become a thriving country, with safety +insured to its inhabitants." Senate Ex. Doc. No. 55, 33rd Congress, 2nd +Sess. + +I quote the following language of Gray, from subsequent explorations +made by him, three years after his first expedition, and contained in +his report to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. It was chiefly +from the discoveries made by Gray, in this adventurous expedition, +through regions unknown for many years past, between the Rio Grande and +Gulf of California, together with the Gadsden Treaty, that induced +parties at great expense to emigrate there, and commence working the +vast mineral deposites, such as the Arabac silver mines, the Ajo copper +mountain, and others, but which, through lack of proper protection and +means of communication, have been greatly retarded in their development. + +After crossing the dividing ridge of the continent west of the Rio +Grande, Gray thus alludes to the country: + +"There were large haciendas and fine cattle ranches in this +neighborhood, until a war of extermination was declared by the Apaches +against the Mexicans. Remains of the old San Pedro ranch are seen at +this day; also the "Tres Alamos;" and the ruins of the hacienda of +Babacomeri, whose walls and towers are still standing. These were among +the wealthiest of Sonora in horses, cattle, sheep, etc., but it has +been many years since. It is a fine grazing region, with wild cattle +and mustangs constantly seen roaming over the plains. The district from +San Pedro to Santa Cruz valley, nearly due west from our present +crossing (latitude 31 degrees 34 minutes), will be to the Pacific slope +what the region of Fort Chadbourne, in Texas, will be to the Atlantic. +The mountains and hills are covered with splendid timber of the largest +size, and for all purposes; and the valleys are full of springs, and +the finest grass. To Tubac, a town in the valley of Santa Cruz, it is +69 miles. This is by following the San Pedro about a league, passing +over a few insignificant spurs, and ascending the Rio Babacomeri; +thence continuing westward by a gradual rise over delightful plains to +the divide between that and the Sonoita or Clover creek, and along the +latter, until it loses itself in the porous earth, a mile from the +Santa Cruz river, and by the broad valley of that stream to Tubac." + + * * * * * * * * + +Of the line of Gray's exploration from the Rio San Pedro, he says: + +"It passes through the most desirable region, with the hills and +mountains for forty miles, containing inexhaustible quantities of +timber. We noticed tall cedar and oaks of every description; one kind +more interesting than the others, being a white oak from twenty to +forty feet in the body. Pine and spruce, with superior white ash and +walnut, were found, and the most gigantic cotton-woods, particularly on +the Sonoita. * * * * "The mountains in the neighborhood are filled with +minerals, and the precious metals are said to abound. The famous +Planchas de Plata and Arizona silver mines, which the Count Raouset de +Boulbon attempted to take possession of, are in this section of +country, not many miles below the present limits, and at several of the +old ranchos and deserted mining villages which we visited, were found +the argentiferous galena ore and gold. The Sierra Santa Rita runs along +to the east of the Santa Cruz valley, and forms a part of this +interesting region. It is very high and bold, filled with fertile +valleys and flowing rivulets, and covered with a dense growth of +timber. I saw much of this district, when here in 1851, on the survey +of the boundary." + + * * * * * * * * + +The country bordering immediately the head of the Gulf of California, +through which Gray was probably the first to penetrate, lies adjacent +to the proposed Arizona Territory, but not a part of the same, being a +portion of the State of Sonora. He thus describes that section: + +"The Indians represent rich Placers existing throughout this region, +and large numbers of them had lately come in with considerable +quantities of the dust. They were trading it for trifles to the +Mexicans. I got some specimens of it which was the same as the +California Gold. This was not the time of year (June) for them to work +the mines, but in the fall, after the rain has commenced. The greatest +drawback to the profitable working of the Placers of this district, is +the scarcity of water. If artesian wells succeed, there is little doubt +that it will create an important change. West from Tuseon and Tubac, +towards the Gulf of California, the country presents more the +appearance of a barren waste or desert than any district I have seen. +It nevertheless has occasional oases, with fine grazing lands about +them, and the mountains, which are more broken and detached, have +distinct marks of volcanic origin. The ranges though short, have +generally the same parallel direction as those further east. It is the +country of the Papago Indians, a peaceful and friendly tribe, extending +down to the Gulf coast, where they are mixed up somewhat with the +Cocopas of the Colorado. From Sonoita I explored to the Gulf shore, +near the mouth of Adair Bay. It was 62 miles, following a dry arroya +most of the way, and the point at which I struck the Gulf was in +latitude 31 degrees 36 minutes 34 minutes. The "Bay" is about 15 miles +across, and from all I could learn, 15 miles long, and represented as +having four fathoms of water. It is completely encircled by a range of +sand hills, reaching north-west to the Colorado river and south-east as +far as the eye could discover. These "sables" are probably eighty or +ninety miles in extent, by five to ten broad. + +"Notwithstanding it appears to be the most desolate and forlorn-looking +spot for eighty miles around the head of the Gulf, the sand hills +looking like a terrible desert, nature seems even here, where no rain +had fallen for eight months, to have provided for the sustenance of +man, one of the most nutritious and palatable vegetables. + +"East of the Tinaja Alta or high tank range, lie the famous Sierras del +Ajo, now United States territory. These mountains derive their name +from the vast deposits of red oxide and green carbonate of copper found +about them, and which the Indians have made use of to paint (ajo) +themselves with. The mines are unquestionably of great value, and must +become important, more particularly from their being situated in the +neighborhood of the contemplated railway. The tall Cereus Giganteus and +Agave Americana are found in abundance. From the latter plant the +natives make the pulque, mezcal and agua-diente; and the petahaya or +cereus, produces a fruit from which is made a very pleasant preserve. +At the Pimo and Maricopa villages are found wheat, corn, tobaco, and +cotton, besides melons, pumpkins, beans, etc. The nature of the soil +for great distances in the Gila valley is of a reddish loam; some parts +coated with a beautiful crystallization of salt, a quarter to half an +inch thick. This seems to be more particularly the case below the +Maricopa villages and toward the Rio Salado. The cotton, of which I +procured specimens, though cultivated by the Indians in the most +primitive manner, exhibited a texture not unlike the celebrated Sea +Island cotton. Its fibre is exceedingly soft and silky, but not of the +longest staple. Large tracts of land on the Gila and in other portions +of this district, appear to possess the same properties of soil; and +where, I have no doubt, the finest cotton will soon be extensively +raised and brought to its highest state of perfection by proper +cultivation." + +The climate is thus referred to by Gray: + +"One of the most favorable features upon the route in the vicinity of +the 32nd degree proposed for the Pacific railway is, its accessibility +at all times, admitting of labor being performed in the open air at +each season. The nature of the climate through Texas to the Rio Grande +has already been referred to, and from thence to the Santa Cruz valley +half way to the Colorado, over the elevated plateau of the Sierra +Madra, it is equally salubrious and temperate. The rainy season falls +in the summer months, and but seldom is snow seen even upon the +mountain tops. Towards the Colorado river it is much drier and more +torrid, but by no means unhealthy; nor does it prevent out door work +the whole of the day during the heated term of summer. + +"The great riches of the country, however, are a total waste at the +present time, but which the Pacific railroad will at once develop, and +make to itself the foundation of a vast revenue. I refer to its +metallic wealth, the silver, gold, and copper mines that abound in +almost every mountain and valley, between the Rio Grande and the Gulf +of California. + +"The ores of Chihuahua and Sonora [now Arizona. S. M.] are chiefly +sulphuret (lead or iron), or native silver in porphyritic or stratified +limestone rocks passing at greater depths into igneous rocks. From +loose piles lying upon the surface and evidently picked over, I +procured specimens of silver and copper. Three samples representing +points on the line of our exploration about equi-distant from each +other, viz.: the Rio Grande, the neighborhood of Tubac, and within 90 +miles of the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers, were submitted +to Dr. I. K. Chilton, of New York, for analysis. He found in one sample +of lead ore (argentiferous galena), by fire assay 71 per cent. of lead, +and the "LEAD YIELDED SILVER EQUIVALENT to 128 ounces, 1 dwt. to the +ton" (of 2000 pounds). + +"In another, he found the lead obtained from it to yield silver in the +proportion of 72 ounces 5 dwts. to the ton or 2000 pounds. + +"The copper specimen was the red oxide, and yielded as follows: + + Copper,............ 71.80 + Iron,.............. 7.84 + Oxygen,............ 12.34 + Silicia, Alumina,.. 8.02 + ------ + 100 parts. + +"The Papagos and Pimas Indians, by proper management, might be made +very useful, in working upon the road where there is not much rock +excavation. They are unlike the Indians of Texas, or the Apaches, +living in villages and cultivating the soil, besides manufacturing +blankets, baskets, pottery, etc. Quiet and peaceable, they have no +fears except from their enemies, the Apaches, and are very industrious, +much more so than the lower order of Mexicans, and live far more +comfortably. It is astonishing with what precision they construct their +acequias--irrigating canals--some of them, the acequias madre, of very +large size, and without the use of levelling apparatus, but simply by +the eye. Their gardens and farms too are regularly ditched and fenced +off into rectangles and circles, with hedges and trees planted as if +done by more enlightened people." + +The population of the new Territory of Arizona is at present not far +from eight thousand, and is rapidly increasing. The Mesilla Valley and +the Rio Grande are probably the most thickly populated, containing +about five thousand people. A majority of the Mesilla inhabitants are +Mexicans, but they will be controlled by the American residents, whose +number and influence is constantly on the increase. The Santa Cruz +Valley, in which are situated the towns of Tueson, Tubac, Tumacacari, +and the mining settlement of Sopori and others, is, next to Mesilla, +the most thickly settled. Tueson was formerly a town of three thousand +inhabitants; but the majority have been driven off by the Apache +Indians. It is fast becoming a thriving American town, and will before +long be a place of more importance than ever before. Real estate is +already held at high rates, and the erection of buildings shows that +American energy is about to change the face of the last half century. +Tubac had been completely deserted by the Mexicans. It has been +reoccupied by the Sonora Exploring and Mining Company, and now boasts a +population of several hundred. The Calabazas valley is also fast +filling up with an American population, and another year will see the +whole centre of the Territory dotted with settlements. Many of the fine +claims on the San Pedro River have already been located by emigrants +under the general pre-emption law, but until protection is afforded to +the settlers, but little progress will be made in agricultural +pursuits. The Apache Indian regards the soil as his own, and having +expelled the Spanish and Mexican invader, he feels little inclination +to submit to the American. A small settlement of Americans is growing +up at Colorado city, opposite Fort Yuma, at the junction of the Gila +and Colorado rivers. This point is destined to be one of great +commercial and pecuniary importance. Situated at the present head of +navigation, at the point where the overland mail route crosses the +Colorado, and where the Southern Pacific Railroad must bridge the +stream, it is a necessary stopping place for all travel across the +country. Here are transhipped all the ores coming from the Territory, +which find their way to market down the Colorado to the Gulf of +California, thence by steamer or sailing vessel to their destination. +Here all supplies of merchandise for the Territory are landed, and from +this point forwarded to their various owners. A thriving commerce has +already sprung up between Arizona and San Francisco. In almost any +daily paper in San Francisco may be seen vessels advertised for the +mouth of the Colorado. Two steamers find active employment in +transporting government stores from the head of the Gulf of California +to Fort Yuma, and goods to Colorado city for the merchants of Tueson, +Tubac, Calabazas, and for the mining companies. Should the exploration +of the Upper Colorado by Lieutenant Ives, United States Army, now in +progress, prove successful, Colorado city will become still more +important, as the surplus products of the rich valleys of New Mexico, +Utah, and California to the north, will all find a market down the +Colorado. Property in this new city is held at high rates, and by the +last San Francisco News Letter is quoted at an advance. The population +of Arizona Territory has much increased within a few months by +emigration from California. The massacre of Henry A. Crabbe and his +party by the Mexicans at Cavorca created a desire for revenge +throughout all California. Companies have been formed, and large +parties are settling in Arizona, near the Mexican line, with the +ulterior object of overrunning Sonora, and revenging the tragedy in +which was shed some of the best blood of the State. The appropriation +by the last Congress of two hundred thousand dollars for the +construction of a wagon road from El Paso to Fort Yuma, and the two +mail contracts, semi-monthly and semi-weekly, which involve an +expenditure of nine hundred thousand dollars per annum, will afford +employment to a host of people, and draw at once to the neighborhood of +the route an active and energetic population. The new wagon and mail +route traverses the Territory of Arizona throughout its entire length. +Along the mail route, at intervals, military posts will be established. +These and the necessary grazing stations will create points around +which settlements will at once grow up, and the country, now bare, will +show everywhere thriving villages. The Southern Pacific Railroad, which +will be built because it is necessary to the country, will find its way +easily through Arizona. + +It is no exaggeration to say that the mining companies, in their own +interest, will be forced to subscribe enough to the stock of the +company to insure its success. The Arizona Copper Mining Company is now +paying $100 per ton for the transportation of its ores from the mines +to Colorado city. One year's freight money at this rate would build +many miles of the road. The silver mining companies will be only too +glad to get their ores to market at so cheap a rate, as their +proportion of the subscription to the railroad. Iron and coal are both +found in the Territory,--the former especially in great abundance. +Texas has guaranteed the road to El Paso, by her generous legislation; +Arizona will build it, with her mineral wealth, to Fort Yuma, the +eastern boundary of California, and California will do the rest. The +first terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad will doubt less be on +the Gulf of California, at the Island of Tiburon, or more probably +Guyamas. A steam ferry across the Gulf, a short railroad across the +peninsula of Lower California to a secure harbor on the Pacific, (where +a steamer will take passengers and freight in four days to San +Francisco,) is the most natural course of this route. In view of this +probability, all the available points for such a terminus on the Gulf +have been, or are in progress of being, secured by capitalists, either +by obtaining grants from the Mexican Government, or by purchase from +private individuals. Already Guyamas is owned in great part by English +and American capitalists. A port on the Gulf of California is necessary +to our Pacific possessions, and must be ours sooner or later. The +longer it is delayed, the worse for American progress on the Pacific. +Arizona needs it at once, as a depot for the export of her ores, and +for the import of goods for the supply of her population. + +The Mormon war has closed for years the great emigrant road to +California and Oregon, over the South Pass and Salt Lake valley, +leaving open only the route along the 32d parallel of latitude, through +Arizona. This route is by far the most practicable at all seasons of +the year, and the closing of the South Pass route by the Mormon +difficulty is an additional and urgent argument in favor of the early +organization of this Territory. Fifty thousand souls will move towards +the Pacific early in the spring, if the route is opened to a secure +passage. + +The present condition of Arizona Territory is deplorable in the +extreme. Throughout the whole country there is no redress for crimes or +civil injuries--no courts, no law, no magistrates. The Territory of New +Mexico, to which it is attached by an act of Congress, affords it +neither protection nor sustenance. The following extracts from letters +received by the writer tell the story of the necessity for early action +on the part of Congress, in urgent terms. + + +TUBAC, GADSDEN PURCHASE, August 15, 1857. + +Affairs in the Territory have not improved. A party of Americans (our +countrymen) had made an "excursion" into Sonora, captured a train of +mules, and killed several Mexicans. Upon their return to the Territory +with their ill-gotten booty, the citizens formed a company and took the +property away from them, and returned it to the owners in Magdalena, [a +town of Sonora--Ed.] and delivered the robbers up to Major Steen, +commanding first dragoons, to be held in custody until Courts should be +organized. They have again been turned loose upon the community. In +justice to Major Fitzgerald I must say he was in favor of retaining +them in custody, and has generally maintained favoring law and order in +the Territory, but as he is only second in command he has no absolute +authority. + +We have no remedy but to follow the example so wide spread in the +Union, and form a "Vigilance Committee"--contrary to all good morals, +law, order, and society. Can you do nothing to induce the government to +establish authority and law in this country, and avert this unhappy +alternative? + +It is not desired by any good citizens, and tends to anarchy and +mobocracy, causing disloyalty in our own citizens and bringing the +reproach of foreigners upon our republican institutions. It is +impossible to progress in developing the resources of the country under +this state of affairs. The greatest objection the capitalists of San +Francisco have to aiding me in the development of silver mines, is the +insecurity of property, want of protection from government, and general +distrust of fair and honest legislation. + +They have no confidence that the guarantees of the GADSDEN TREATY will +be respected by the United States, in regard to land titles under the +Mexican government. + +The silver ore brought to San Francisco from our mines, has been tested +by a dozen different officers, in as many different ways, and no result +falls BELOW FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER TON OF ORE. + +Senator Gwin goes on to Washington soon, and will corroborate my +statements. He has a piece of the silver, the first smelted in San +Francisco, showing $8,735 20--EIGHT THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND +THIRTY-FIVE 20-100 DOLLARS PER TON OF ORE. Mr. Dunbar is getting the +petition to Congress signed--and moving in the affairs of the Territory +in connection with Mr. Ehrenberg and our friends--but the government +came near "crushing us out" by sending a Custom House Collector to +consume and destroy what little we had saved from the Apaches. Can +nothing be done to rid us of a Custom House? It is no protection. The +Territory (as yet) produces nothing but minerals--and we have to pay +duty upon every article of consumption. This is a very onerous tax upon +our first feeble efforts to develop the resources of this remote and +unprotected country. + +Very truly yours, + C. D. Poston. + + +To Lieut. Mowry, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. + +"We are living without the protection of law or the ameliorations of +society. New Mexico affords us no protection. We have not even received +an order for election. Every one goes armed to the teeth, and a +difficulty is sure to prove fatal. In this state of affairs it is +impossible to hold a convention." + + +Tueson, Oct. 1, 1857. + +We are pleased to hear that the prospect for Arizona is so bright. If +you should succeed in getting a separate organization for Arizona, you +will lay the people under many obligations to you. You have no doubt +received many petitions for Congress, and also your certificate of +election as delegate for this purchase. You received the entire vote; +there was no difference of opinion among the voters. + +Your ob't serv't, + J. A. Douglas. + + +Lt. Mowry, U. S. A. + Tucson, Oct. 25, 1857. + +I send you the last petition from the Territory. The work is now in +your hands, and we say, God speed it. + +G. H. Oury. + + +Tueson, Arizona Territory, Oct. 17, 1857. + +Every thing begins to look up in the Territory notwithstanding the +difficulties we labor under. The Indians the other day came within +eight hundred yards of Fort Buchanan and remained some time, and when +they left carried off with them all the horses and mules in the valley +for six or eight miles below. Try your hand in this matter of our +Territory, and see if some change cannot be wrought to some benefit--we +need it greatly. + +Very truly yours, + G. H. Oury. + + +Tueson, Oct. 2, 1857. + +We have heard from Mesilla and they fully concur with us in all we have +done, showing that you are the person chosen to act for them and to +represent their interest in this matter. The people here are very much +elated at the turn things are taking, and every one seems to be highly +pleased with the course you have pursued. An election was held on the +first Monday in September, at which you received all the votes given, +and a certificate of your election, signed by the judges and clerks, +has been forwarded to you. The country is being settled very fast, and +there is somewhat of a stir to obtain cultivated lands. The lands +already under cultivation are now fifty per cent. higher than a short +time back. The great misfortune we labor under is want of protection. +Thousands and thousands of acres of land, as rich and fertile as any on +the face of the globe, lie idle and useless because they are not +protected from the Apaches. We want only one thing besides the +Territorial organization, and that is PROTECTION. + +Very truly yours, + S. Warner. + + +Oct. 8, 1857. + +The guerilla warfare on the Sonora frontier continues with increased +aggravation. We look for the happiest result from the exploration of +this interesting region of the Colorado, about to be explored by Lieut. +Ives, U. S. A. The ores from the Heintzelman mine took the premium at +the mechanics' fair in San Francisco, just closed, where the ores from +California and the western coast were on exhibition. So, Arizona leads +California, the great mineral State. + +All we need is good government and honest, liberal legislation to make +Arizona equal in production of precious metals, if not exceed, +California. + +Yours truly, + C. D. Poston. + + +Lt. Mowry, U. S. A. + Fort Yuma, June 2, 1857. + +News has just come in from the Arizona which represent an awful state +of affairs. During the time Mr. Belknap was below at Sonora it was +unsafe for him to go out unless accompanied by his friend, Don +Gaudaloupe Orosco, and even then it was very dangerous. No news from +Sonora nor even an arrival for the last twenty days. God knows what is +going on; though of one thing we are certain--no American, never mind +whatsoever he may be, can go into Sonora, with or without a passport. + +Very sincerely yours, + P. R. Brady. + + +Aug. 5, 1850. + +The condition of the purchase has been extremely bad since the +unfortunate and injudicious expedition of Crabbe into Sonora, and at +the present time is but little better than a field of guerilla warfare, +robbery and plunder. + +The exasperated state of feeling between the Mexicans and Americans +prevents intercourse and commerce, upon which the Territory is +dependent. Americans are afraid to venture into Sonora for supplies, +and Mexicans afraid to venture over the line. Americans who had nothing +to do with the fillibustering invasion have been treated badly in +Sonora and driven out of the country, and Mexicans coming into the +purchase with supplies and animals have been robbed and plundered by +the returned fillibusters. + +The Americans in the Territory are by no means harmonious on these +subjects--some in favor of filibustering and others opposed to it; some +in favor of murdering and robbing Mexicans wherever found, and others +opposed to it. + +It results that we are in a state of anarchy, and there is no +government, no protection to life, property, or business; no law and no +self-respect or morality among the people. We are living in a perfect +state of nature, without the restraining influence of civil or military +law, or the amelioration of society. + +There have not been many conflicts and murders, because every man goes +armed to the teeth, and a difficulty is always fatal on one side or the +other. In the midst of all this, the Government has blessed us with a +custom house at Calabazos to collect duties upon the necessaries of +life which, by chance and "running the gauntlet," we may get from +Sonora. + +God send that we had been left alone with the Apaches. We should have +been a thousand times better off in every respect. + +In this state of affairs it is scarcely to be expected that the people +will meet together in a convention; there was no arrangement for that +purpose up to the time of my leaving, and none could be made. + +We have never had any orders of election from Santa Fe, nor heard of +any convention. + +Yours truly, + C. D. Poston. + + +Major Fitzgerald, U. S. A., whose long experience on the Pacific coast +makes his opinion very valuable, in a letter dated Fort Buchanan, +Arizona, Sept. 17th, 1854, says: + +"The citizens of this country are very desirous of a territorial +organization, with its courts, &c. Murders are committed and stock is +stolen by white men with impunity. There is no court nearer than the +Rio Grande (300 miles) to take cognizance of crime. Some few of the +emigrants of this year have remained in the Santa Cruz valley. More +would have done so, no doubt, if they had not started from the States +originally with stock for the California market. + +The country around us is now beautiful. It has been raining almost +daily since the 1st of July, and the vegetation is most luxuriant. Many +of the Mexican citizens come over the line for purposes of trade, +bringing flour, fruit, and leather. If there was no custom house at +Calabazas, these articles could be had very cheaply. + +We have very excellent gardens, and plenty of vegetables. There is said +to be a good deal of cultivable land on the upper Gila, and if a +territory is created, it should embrace this. This would also include a +large part of the Colorado valley above the junction of the Gila. That +you may succeed in your wishes with regard to Arizona, is the sincere +desire of + +Your friend and obliged serv't, + E. H. Fitzgerald." + +Lt. Mowry, U. S. A. + + +A subsequent letter from Major Fitzgerald dated Oct. 1st, says Tueson +contains rising five hundred inhabitants, the remainder of the Santa +Cruz altogether enough to make considerable over a thousand, +independent of the population towards and upon the Gila and Colorado, +of which he remarks, + +"You know more than I." "There is not a doubt but that upon the +location of the mail route, there will be a considerable emigration to +this country, and if a portion of Sonora be organized, large numbers +will come both from the East and West. The country is an excellent one +for stock of all kinds, of which there were great numbers where the +Apaches were gathered under the wing of the Catholic church. The +valleys of Santa Cruz, San Pedro, and Upper Gila, and also that of +Messilla, contain large bodies of productive lands, and all the cereals +grow luxuriantly therein. THAT THERE IS MUCH SILVER IN THE TERRITORY +THERE IS NO DOUBT, but it requires capital to develop it. As yet but +little progress has been made in mining. Evidences of old works are +seen on many of the water courses, but operations have not yet been +recommenced, except at Arizona, Sopori, and Ariaola, principally +because the country is very partially settled, and it is not safe to be +at any distance from the mass of the population, and the troops. Copper +ore is found in many localities, but little gold is yet discovered. If +the road from El Paso to Fort Yuma be located by Parke's route, as many +suppose, A FINE COUNTRY WILL BE OPENED on the Gila and Lower San Pedro, +which will produce ample supplies. The Territory presents no +difficulties of importance to the successful establishment of the road. +Frequent stations and PROPER PROTECTION ARE ONLY REQUISITE TO ENSURE +SUCCESS AS COMPLETELY AS THE MOST SANGUINE ANTICIPATE. Should Sonora, +or even a portion of it be organized, this will be one of the most +pleasant localities of our country. A delightful climate, plenty of +fine fruit, facility of supply by a port on the Pacific, semi-weekly +mails from the east and west,--are only some of the attractions which +it would possess. + +Sonora is quiet. Many of the wealthy men there are in favor of +annexation, it is said, but they have to keep silent on the subject for +fear of noisy patriots, who would proclaim them traitors at once, if +they made a parade of their inclinations. The San Antonio and San Deigo +mail passes through Tueson once a fortnight, and seems to have met with +no important obstacle yet. A drove of mules accompanies it, which are +harnessed in turn. When regular stations are established its speed will +be much increased. My last letter was not written with a view of the +use being made of it you mentioned, yet if it answers a good purpose, I +have no objection. It was but a careless note, but its contents were +truths, nevertheless." (This note demonstrated the facility of supply +for the Territory from the Pacific.) + +"Most truly your friend, + (Signed,) E. H. Fitzgerald." + + +Tubac, Gadsden's Purchase, 22d Oct., 1857. + +"We have of late been seriously annoyed by the Apaches. Nearly all the +animals belonging to the citizens residing around Fort Buchanan have +been driven off by the Apaches. They are very impudent, and commit +their depredations in broad day-light, talk to the people while they +are driving off the animals, and always escape without being molested. + +The other day they came within 800 yards of the Fort and looked down +upon it. + +In order to bring them to terms the Government ought to enlist 1000 +Pinos and Papagos to accompany the military. Indians are the only +persons who can successfully traverse these mountains and hunt up their +hiding places. If this is not done, they will surely break up our +settlements here. Forts ought to be established in the very heart of +the Apache country, in the places fit, and used by them for +cultivation. If this is done we will soon bring them to terms. + +Until now, our mining establishments have not been molested by them, +and we are going on in high glee. This is undoubtedly the richest +silver mining country in the world. If the United States will make just +and liberal laws for us; give us protection; remove those trifling and +unprofitable custom houses on the frontier, at least for 5 or 6 years; +procure us a transit through Sonora to Guaymas, and hasten along the +rail-road to California, this will indeed be a prosperous country, and +will astonish the world with its production of silver and copper. But +with such terrible obstacles as those mentioned above and the great +length of transit to transport goods over the roads which we have to +take at present, progress only is possible for such as find mines of +the extraordinary and incredible richness of the Heintzelman vein. If +the present promises of few of these mines are realized, by working +them on a scale commensurate with their extent and richness, I have no +doubt but that they will equal in production the whole silver exports +of Mexico. + +I think an appropriation ought to be made to sink artesian wells +through the Papagos country, between San Xavier and the lower Gila. +This route cuts off about 100 miles from the best route via the Pinos +villages. It is laid down on my map, as a rail-road route, now at the +office of the Sonora Exploring and Mining Company, at Cincinnati, Ohio. + +The country consists of a succession of plains and isolated mountain +ridges, none of which need to be crossed. In fact it is a dead level to +Fort Yuma, and, in consequence, no grading is necessary. There is +scarcity of water, but the soil in general is excellent and grass +abounds all along the line, while the mountains teem with minerals of +the richest description. The oxides and the sulphurets of copper are +the most beautiful and richest in the world. Silver undoubtedly exists +of equal richness. + +All the foothills contain gold, but I hardly think it will be extracted +by the whites, as the localities are devoid of water, and they are not +probably rich enough to pay without sluicing on an extensive scale." + +I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, + Herman Ehrenberg. + +To Lieut. S. Mowry, U. S. A., + Delegate elect from Arizona, + Washington, D. C. + + +The only comment the writer has to make upon these statements is, that +two years' residence among and acquaintance with the people of Arizona, +has convinced him of their absolute truth. At the last session of +Congress a petition was presented, praying for a separate Territorial +organization. The necessity for some legislation was admitted by both +Senate and House; and bills creating a separate judicial district and +land offices, passed both Houses, but owing to some minor differences +and the lateness of the session, the bills failed to become a law. + +With an increased population and prolonged grievances, the people of +Arizona are again about to present themselves as supplicants for that +right inherent in the American heart--the right of self-government--and +of protection under the law. Their petition sets forth in brief, plain +terms, their situation and necessities, and prays simply for a +separation from New Mexico and a Territorial organization under the +name of Arizona. As a matter of necessity for the successful carriage +of the mail across the country, this Territorial organization is +imperative. No contract for labor or supplies can be enforced in the +present condition of the country. Courts of law must be established, +with officers to enforce their mandates, or the contractors will be +utterly unable to carry out their contract. + +The great necessity of a safe and speedy overland communication with +the Pacific, has directed public attention to the organization of +Arizona as a separate Territory, and the desired legislation has +received the unanimous endorsement of the press of the whole country. +Petitions with thousands of signatures from leading citizens of the +majority of the states of the Union, will be presented to Congress +asking for the immediate organization of the new Territory as the best +means to at once open a highway to the Pacific; and so important has +this view of the question been deemed as to call from the President of +the United States a recommendation in his message to Congress. No +opposition has been made to the most just prayer of the people of +Arizona, and it is believed that none will be made, unless it comes +from New Mexico. It must be born in mind that the Gadsden Purchase was +not originally an integral part of New Mexico; that it was acquired +years after the treaty of Gaudaloupe Hidalgo, and was only attached to +the territory of New Mexico as a temporary expedient. It must also be +remembered that the Gadsden Purchase, with the portion of New Mexico +which it is proposed to include within the limits of the territory of +Arizona, is separated from New Mexico proper by natural boundaries; +that it derives no benefit from the present connection, and that any +opposition to the desired legislation arises from the Mexican +population, which fears the influence of a large American emigration. +Moreover, that New Mexico contains upwards of 200,000 square miles, and +that its organic act provides for its partition; showing clearly that +Congress anticipated, at no remote day, the settlement of the country +by an American population, and its erection into several territories +and states. The only effect of the present connection of Arizona with +New Mexico is to crush out the voice and sentiment of the American +people in the territory; and years of emigration, under present +auspices, would not serve to counterbalance or equal the influence of +the 60,000 Mexican residents of New Mexico. New Mexico has never +encouraged American population. She is thoroughly Mexican in sentiment, +and desires to remain so. + +As a matter of State policy, the organization of Arizona is of the +first importance. Situated between New Mexico and Sonora, it is +possible now to make it a thoroughly American State, which will +constantly exert its influence in both directions, to nationalize the +other two. New Mexico is at present thoroughly Mexican in its character +and vote. Sonora, if we acquire it at once, will be the same. By +separating Arizona from it, and encouraging an American emigration, it +will become "the leaven which shall leaven the whole lump." By allowing +it to remain attached to New Mexico, or by attaching it to Sonora when +acquired, the American influence will be swallowed up in the great +preponderance of the Mexican vote. The Apache Indian is preparing +Sonora for the rule of a higher civilization than the Mexican. In the +past half century, the Mexican element has disappeared from what is now +called Arizona, before the devastating career of the Apache. It is +every day retreating further South, leaving to us, when it is ripe for +our possession, the territory without the population. + +The incentives to emigration to Arizona, in addition to the charm which +the discovery of mineral wealth carries to every mind, are very great. +The writer, in an extended tour through the Southern States, found many +people, mostly young men of moderate means, ready and anxious to +emigrate. The movement is still stronger in Southwestern States, and +already many a train of wagons is on its way. It will have no end for +years, for so mild and healthy is the climate that emigration is +practicable at all seasons. Snow never lies on the soil, and frost is +almost unknown. The contracts already authorized by Congress involve +the expenditure of six millions of dollars in the next six years; the +troops in the Territory will cost as much more. Here is enough money in +hard sub-treasury coin, to draw a large population, independent of +other considerations. All ready in many places the enterprising +merchant exposes his stock of goods only two months from San Francisco, +but he does it with the prayer that the Apache may pass him by, and too +often he sees his hard-earned profits disappear before the Indian's +successful foray. + +The establishment of a firm government in Arizona will extend the +protection of the United States over American citizens resident in the +adjoining Mexican provinces. This protection is most urgently demanded. +Englishmen in Sonora enjoy not only perfect immunity in the pursuit of +business, but also encouragement. Americans are robbed openly by +Mexican officials, insulted, thrown into prison, and sometimes put to +death. No redress is ever demanded or received. This state of things +has so long existed that the name of American has become a byword and a +reproach in northern Mexico, and the people of that frontier believe +that we have neither the power nor the inclination to protect our own +citizens. The influence of a Territorial government, with the tide of +American emigration which will surely follow it, must entirely change +the tone and temper of these Mexican States. + +The population of Arizona to-day, exceeds that of Washington Territory, +and is far greater than was that of Minnesota, Kansas or Nebraska, at +the time of their organization. An election for a Delegate has been +held, at which several hundred votes were polled, and the writer +returned without opposition. The unsettled and dangerous condition of +the country prevented a convention being held, but letters have been +received from all parts of the Territory, expressing a hearty +concurrence in the election on the part of those unable to vote, and an +earnest desire for the Territorial organization. + +A number of gentlemen at present in Washington, can testify from actual +observation, to the truth of the statements here made in reference to +Arizona--among them I am permitted to name General Anderson, late U. S. +Senator from Tennessee, who almost alone, with rare perseverance and +courage, explored, in 1850, the whole length of the Territory, Major +Heintzelman, U. S. A., whose long station at Fort Yuma made him +acquainted with the resources of the country, and who has shown at once +his intelligence and foresight and his faith in the prospective wealth +of the silver region, by large investments of capital, Col. A. B. Gray, +late U. S. Surveyor of the Mexican Boundary line, I. Smith McMicken, +Esq., whose residence for many years on the Mexican frontier has +entitled his opinion to some weight, and A. H. Campbell, Esq., +Superintendent of Wagon Roads, whose information is full and reliable. +To these names it may not be improper to add that of the writer, who +has for two years past, while residing at the junction of the Gila and +Colorado Rivers, made the new Territory and its resources, an object of +constant observation and study, and whose experience on the Pacific +coast, and in the frontier Territories, and on the route across the +continent, during the past five years, has enabled him to speak +understandingly of the capabilities and necessities of a new country, +and of a frontier people. + +In five years a great State may be built upon this remote frontier, and +a population gathered, such as will, when we make further acquisition +of territory, spread at once over it, diffusing national sentiment and +extending the area of American principles. + +Aside from these considerations, justice and humanity, imperatively +demand that Congress shall bear and at once answer the prayer of the +people of Arizona for protection. If these considerations fail, then +they offer INTEREST; for the organization of the Territory is the +guarantee of a supply of silver, which will create as great a +revolution in the commercial world as has the gold of California. +Arizona will be known as the silver State, and the prediction of +Humboldt, that the balance between gold and silver, destroyed by the +California discoveries, would one day be restored, will be made good, +from the resources of the Gadsden purchase. + + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED: + +The undersigned, your humble petitioners, citizens of the United +States, and residents of the Territory known as the Gadsden Purchase, +respectfully represent: + +That since the annexation of their Territory to the United States, they +have been totally unprotected from Indian depredations and civil crimes. + +That the protection of the Mexican Government has been with drawn, and +that it has not been replaced by any visible protection from the United +States. + +That the annexation of the Purchase to New Mexico, carried with it no +protection for life or property. + +That the present force of United States troops, four companies of +dragoons, reduced by desertion and death to about one half, is entirely +inadequate to protect us against the depredations of the Apaches. + +That many of your petitioners have expended their time and means in +opening and prospecting rich mines of Copper and Silver, and have been +driven from them by the Indians--losing their all, and also many +valuable lives. + +That the Territory is immensely rich in minerals, especially Silver and +Copper; and, as your petitioners most firmly believe, the development +of these mines will make a change in the currency of the world, only +equalled by that caused by the gold mines of California. + +That a great part of the Territory, between the Rio Grande and Tueson, +is susceptible of cultivation and will support a large agricultural +population. + +That this portion of the Territory is in the hands of the Apaches, and +useless, unless redeemed from their grasp and protected to the farmer. + +That the highways of the Territory are stained with the blood of +citizens of the United States, shed by Indians and by public marauders, +who commit their crimes in open day, knowing there is no law to +restrain and no magistrate to arrest them. + +That this Territory, under a separate organization, would attract a +large population and become immediately developed: and, that its +isolation--its large Indian population--its proximity to a +semi-civilized Mexican province, and its peculiar and wonderful +resources, demand protection from the Government more emphatically than +any other territory yet recognised. + +That our soil has been stained with the blood of American citizens, +shed by Mexican hands, in an armed invasion of our Territory near +Sonoita, and that there is no civil magistrate or officer here to even +protest against such an outrage. + +That throughout their whole Territory, from the Rio Grande to the Rio +Colorado, six hundred miles, there is no Court of Record, and no +redress except that inefficiently administered in a Justice's Court, +for civil injuries or crimes. + +That the population of the Territory is much greater than was that of +Kansas or Nebraska or Washington Territory, at the time of their +organization, and that it is steadily increasing, and will, under the +influence of the Road and Mail Bills of the last Congress, be greatly +augmented. + +That there are no post routes or mail facilities throughout the +Territory, and that finally, we are cut off from all the comforts of +civilization--and that we claim, as a right, that protection which the +United States should everywhere extend to her humblest citizen. +Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that the Gadsden Purchase may be +separated from New Mexico and erected into a separate Territory under +the name of Arizona, with such boundaries as may seem proper to your +honorable bodies, and that such other legislation may be made as shall +be best calculated to place us on the same footing as our more +fortunate brethren of Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Oregon and +Washington, that we may be enabled to build up a prosperous and +thriving State, and to nourish on this extreme frontier a healthy +national sentiment. And we, as in duty bound, will ever pray. + +[Signed by more than five hundred resident voters.] + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoir of the Proposed Territory of +Arizona, by Sylvester Mowry + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA *** + +***** This file should be named 2382.txt or 2382.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/8/2382/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean. HTML version by Al Haines. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + +MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA. + +BY + +SYLVESTER MOWRY, U. S. A., DELEGATE ELECT. + +WASHINGTON: HENRY POLKINHORN, PRINTER. 1857. + +"The NEW TERRITORY of ARIZONA, better known as the GADSDEN +PURCHASE, lies between the thirty-first and thirty-third +parallels of latitude, and is bounded on the north by the Gila +River, which separates it from the territory of New Mexico; on +the east by the Rio Bravo del Norte, (Rio Grande), which +separates it from Texas; on the south by Chihuahua and Sonora, +Mexican provinces; and on the west by the Colorado River of the +West, which separates it from Upper and Lower California. This +great region is six hundred miles long by about fifty miles wide, +and embraces an area of about thirty thousand square miles. It +was acquired by purchase from Mexico, during the mission of +General Gadsden, at a cost of ten millions of dollars. In the +original treaty, as negotiated by General Gadsden, a more +southern boundary than the one adopted by the Senate of the +United States in confirming the treaty, was conceded by Santa +Anna. The line at present is irregular in its course, and cuts +off from our Territory the head of the Santa Cruz river and +valley, the Sonoita valley, the San Bernardino valley, the whole +course of the Colorado river from a point twenty miles below the +mouth of the Gila river, and, worse than all, the control of the +head of the Gulf of California, and the rich and extensive valley +of Lake Guzman, besides a large and extremely valuable silver +region, well known both to Mexicans and Americans--the planchas +de la Platte. General Gadsden's line included nearly all the +territory south of the Gila river to the thirty-first parallel of +latitude--all the advantages above mentioned--gave us the mouth +of the Colorado river, and probably a port near the head of the +gulf at Adair's Bay. We have no accurate survey of the west coast +of the Gulf of California, but I am strongly of opinion that the +original line conceded by Mexico would have thrown a portion of +the gulf into American hands, by cutting off an arm of it +extending east and north from the main body of water. A port on +the gulf is of great and immediate necessity to our Pacific +possessions. Of this hereafter. + +The proposed boundaries, of the Territory of Arizona, are the +34th parallel of latitude, with New Mexico on the north, from the +103d meridian west to the Colorado; Texas on the east; Texas, and +the Mexican provinces of New Mexico and Sonora on the south; and +California on the west. The new Territory would thus contain +within its borders the three largest rivers on the Continent, west of the Mississippiİ-the Rio Grande, Gila, and Colorado of +the west, and embrace 90,000 square miles. + +The Gadsden purchase is attached by act of Congress to the +Territory of New Mexico. At the time of its acquisition there was +scarcely any population except a few scattering Mexicans in the +Mesilla valley, and at the old town of Tucson, in the centre of +the territory. The Apache Indian, superior in strength to the +Mexican, had gradually extirpated every trace of civilization, +and roamed uninterrupted and unmolested, sole possessor of what +was once a thriving and populous Spanish province. + +Except the report of Col. A. B. Gray, there is scarcely anything +in print with reference to the early history of Arizona, beyond +the scanty but valuable notes of Major Emory and Hon. John R. +Bartlett, in their reports, and in the appendix to Wilson's late +book, "Mexico and its Religion." To this last I beg to refer any +reader who desires accurate information respecting the Northern +Mexican provinces, presented in a straightforward common-sense +style. + +In the possession of the writer of these notes is a map drawn in +1757, just one hundred years ago, presented by the Society of +Jesuits to the King of Spain. The original of this map is now in +the archives of the Mexican Government. It was copied, with the +notes relating to the Territory, and to Sonora, Chihuahua, and +Sinaloa, by Capt. C. P. Stone, late of the United States Army. +The map bears the inscription, "Carte levee par la Societe des +Jesuites, dediee au Roi d'Espagne en 1757." + +The copy of the map and the accompanying notes are certified as +accurate by the officer of the Mexican Government in charge of +the archives. + +My information, therefore, upon the early history of this +comparatively unknown domain, is accurate and reliable. As early +as 1687, a Jesuit missionary from the province of Sonora, which, +in its southern portion, bore already the impress of Spanish +civilization, descended the valley of Santa Cruz river to the +Gila. Passing down the Gila to its mouth, after exploring the +country, he retraced his steps, penetrated the country north of +the Gila river for some distance, and ascended the Salinas or +Salt river, and other northern branches of the Gila. The +explorations of this energetic priest did not stop here. +Proceeding east, he explored the valley of the San Pedro and its +branches, thence along the Gila to the Mimbres, and probably to +the Rio Grande and the Mesilla valley. Filled with the enthusiasm +of his sect, he procured authority from the head of the order in +Mexico, and established missions and settlements at every +available point. In a report to the government of the viceroy of +Spain, made during the early settlement of the province, I find +the following language: "A scientific exploration of Sonora, with +reference to mineralogy, along with the introduction of families, +will lead to a discovery of gold and silver so marvellous that the result will be such as has never yet been seen in the +world." + +The reports of the immense mineral wealth of the new country, +made by the Jesuits, induced a rapid settlement. There are laid +down on the map before me more than forty towns and villages. +Many of these were of considerable size. There were a few north +of the Gila, and several on the lower Gila, near the Colorado. +The Santa Cruz and its tributary valleys teemed with an +agricultural and mining population. Thousands of enterprising +Spaniards cultivated the rich valley of the San Pedro, and +scattered settlements flourished at every suitable stream and +spring at the foot of the mountains towards the Rio Grande. The +notes before me say: "All these settlements and missions were +founded in fertile valleys, and by streams and springs, which +produced luxuriant crops of wheat, corn, and beans, and in many +parts grapes and other foreign fruits were cultivated." + +In the western part of the Territory were the missions of St. +Pierre, St. Paul, St. Matthias, St. Simond, St. Francisco, Merci, +the ranches of Eau Cheri, Eau de la Lune, and others; on the +Santa Cruz the missions of San Xavier del Bac, Santiago, San +Cayetano, and San Philipe, the towns of Tueson, Tubac, Reges, San +Augusta, and many others. San Xavier del Bac is still in +existence. It is a mission church of great size and beauty, +magnificently ornamented within; forty thousand dollars in solid +silver served to adorn the altar. Upon the San Pedro river were +the missions of St. Mark, San Salvadore, San Pantaleon, Santa +Cruz, and the towns of Quiduria, Rosario, Eugenia, Victoria, and +San Fernando--the latter at the mouth--with many more. To the +east some small settlements were found on the Valle del Sauz, on +the Mimbres, at the copper mines north of the Mimbres, and to the +south the immense grazing and stock-raising establishment of San +Bernardino, where since have been raised hundreds of thousands of +cattle and horses. The Indians in the vicinity of the missions +were reduced first to obedience by the Jesuits, and then to +slavery by the Spaniards. + +The notes referred to above contain the names and localities of +more than a hundred silver and gold mines which were worked with +great success by the Spaniards. The survey of the Jesuit priest +about 1687 was repeated in 1710 with renewed discoveries, and +consequent accession of population. From this time up to 1757 the +conquest and settlement of the country was prosecuted with vigor, +both by the Jesuits' Society and Spanish government. + +The missions and settlements were repeatedly destroyed by the +Apaches, and the priests and settlers massacred or driven off. As +often were they re-established. The Indians at length, thoroughly +aroused by the cruelties of the Spaniards, by whom they were +deprived of their liberty, forced to labor in the silver mines +with inadequate food, and barbarously treated, finally rose, +joined with tribes who had never been subdued, and gradually +drove out or massacred their oppressors. A superior civilization disappeared before their devastating career, and to day there is +scarcely a trace of it left, except scarcely visible ruins, +evidence everywhere, of extensive and hastily-deserted mining +operations, and the tradition of the country. The mission of San +Xavier del Bac, and the old towns of Tueson and Tubac, are the +most prominent of these remains. The labors of the Jesuits to +civilize the Indians are still evident in the mission Indians, +the Papagos and Pimas, who live in villages, cultivate crops of +corn and wheat, and who, in the Christian and human elements of +good faith and charity, are, to say the least, in no way inferior +to the Mexicans. After the massacre of four of Crabbe's +unfortunate party near Sonoita by the Mexicans, the Papago +Indians buried carefully the bodies to which Mexican inhumanity +had denied this last charitable office. It is a curious and +suggestive fact that the latitude of places upon Gila, Santa +Cruz, and San Pedro, determined by the Jesuits about 1750, has +lately been verified by the observations of Park Michler, and +Emory. The instruments used by the Jesuits were constructed by +them, the lenses being made from pebbles. + +From 1757 down to 1820, the Spaniards and Mexicans continued to +work many valuable mines near Barbacora, and the notes in my +possession speak of many silver mines, most of which contained a +percentage of gold. "The San Pedro gold mine in 1748 was worked +with extraordinary success." Among the mines anciently worked, as +laid down in the authorities heretofore referred to, were the +Dolores, San Antonio, Casa Gordo, Cabrisa, San Juan Batista, +Santa Anna, (which was worked to the depth of one hundred and +twenty yards,) Rosario, Cata de Agua, Guadaloupe, Connilla, +Prieta, Santa Catarina, Guzopa, Huratano, Arpa, Descuhidara, +Nacosare, Arguage, Churinababi, Huacal, Pinal, and a great number +of others which it would only be tedious to mention. + +The most celebrated modern localities are Arivaca, (also +anciently famous as Aribac,) Sopori, the Arizona mountains, the +Santa Rita range, the Cerro Colorado, the entire vicinity of +Tubac, the Del Ajo, or Arizona copper mine, the Gadsonia copper +mine, and the Gila river copper mines. These last are situated +directly upon the Gila, only twenty-five miles from its mouth. +The writer assures the public that there is no room for doubt as +to the authenticity of these statements, or the immense resources +of the new Territory in silver, copper, and probably gold. As +late as 1820, the Mina Cobre de la Plata, (silver copper mines,) +near Fort Webster, north of the Gila, were worked to great +advantage; and so rich was the ore that it paid for +transportation on muleback more than a thousand miles to the city +of Mexico. + +Every exploration within the past few years has confirmed the +statements of the ancient records. The testimony of living +Mexicans, and the tradition of the country, all tend to the same +end. Col. A. B. Gray, Col. Emory, Lt. Michler, Lt. Parke, the +Hon. John R. Bartlett, late of the United States Boundary +Commission, all agree in the statement that the Territory has immense resources in silver and copper. Col. Emory says in his +report: + +"On account of the Gold Mania in California I kept the search for +gold and other precious metals as much out of view as possible, +scarcely allowing it to be a matter of conversation, much less of +actual search. Yet, enough was ascertained to convince us that +the whole region was teeming with the precious metals. We +everywhere saw the remains of mining operations, conducted by the +Spaniards, and more recently by the Mexicans." + +The report enumerates at considerable length the various +localities examined by Col. Emory's party, and others, of which +there could be no doubt. + +In view of these authorities, it is hoped that those who will not +believe upon any evidence, will be content in their own +incredulity. The most authentic reports of these immense mineral +resources have been used as authorities against their existence. +The authors of these denials either have never read what they +pretend to quote, or think no one else has. The Hon. T. Butler +King, who was the first to reveal to an incredulous public the +wonders of the California gold mines, has had the singular good +fortune to be also among the first to publish correct and +authentic information relating to the silver treasures of +Arizona. His report upon the resources of the new Territory has +all the charm to the reader that his California report had, and +its brilliant predictions will be as fully realized. To Gray and +Emory is the country most indebted for the earliest and most +important discoveries. + +The agricultural resources of Arizona, are sufficient to sustain +a large mining population, and afford abundant supplies for the +great immigration which will follow the development of its +mineral resources. The whole valley of the Gila, more than four +hundred miles in length, can be made with proper exertion to +yield plentiful crops. The Pimos Indians, who live in villages on +the Gila, one hundred and seventy miles from its mouth, raise +large crops of cotton, wheat, and corn, and have for years +supplied the thousands of emigrants who traverse the Territory en +route to California. These Indians manufacture their cotton into +blankets of fine texture and beautiful pattern, which command a +high price. They also grind their corn and wheat, and make bread. +In fact, the Pimos realize in their everyday life something of +our ideas of Aztec civilization. A town will probably grow up +just above the Pimos villages, as there is a rich back country, +and the streams afford a valuable water power for running mills. + +The valley of the Santa Cruz traverses the territory from South +to North, sinking near the town of Tueson, and probably finding +its way to the Gila, as a subterranean stream. This valley, of +the richest land, is about one hundred miles long, in many places +of great width, and has on each side of it many rich valleys of +limited extent, watered by streams from the mountains, which flow into the Santa Cruz. The valleys and Ranches of Arivaca, Sopori, +Calabazas, and Tueson, are those at present most thickly settled. +These produce all the fruits known to a Southern clime--grapes, +wheat, corn, and cotton in great abundance. The San Pedro river +and valley is also one of great richness, and is reported by +Lieut. Parke as capable of sustaining a large population. The +Valle de Sauz, still farther East, more limited than the San +Pedro or Santa Cruz, can be made available for a considerable +population. The Mimbres River also can, by a small outlay, be +made to irrigate a large surface and supply a moderate +settlement. The various springs laid down by Gray, Emory, Parke, +and Bartlett, will all afford water for small settlements, and +their supply can be much increased by a judicious outlay of +money. The Rio Grande valley is very rich, and in places of great +width. The Mesilla valley already contains a population of about +five thousand souls, and there is ample room for many more. + +If, as proposed, the Northern boundary of the Arizona Territory +should enclose the Northern branches of the Gila, an agricultural +region will be opened to settlement sufficient in itself to +sustain the population of an immense agricultural State. Col. +Bonneville, who is now at the head of a large force exploring +this region, writes to the Secretary of War that it is the finest +country he has ever seen, "valleys capable of sustaining a +population of twenty thousand each, teeming at every step with +evidences of an immense population long ago-and an ancient and +superior civilization." The Hon. John R. Bartlett says of the +"Salinas," one of the Northern branches of the Gila, that it +alone will supply food for a great State. It must be recollected, +in this connection, that the great mineral wealth of Arizona will +call for and amply repay for the redemption and expensive +cultivation of all the available lands, and that irrigation +produces immensely greater crops than the other method of +planting. Throughout the whole of Utah, irrigation has been +resorted to with the greatest success. The soil in Utah, in no +place that the writer saw it, could in any way be compared to +that of the bottom lands of Arizona. + +Captain Whipple in his valuable report of exploration for the +Pacific Railroad, published by order of Congress, crossed the +upper part of the region alluded to, and which is watered by the +Rio Verde and Salinas. He fully sustains me in my remarks on +those rich valleys. + +"We are in the pleasantest region we have seen since leaving the +Choctaw country. Here are clear rivulets, with fertile valleys +and forest trees. The wide belt of country that borders the Black +Forest, and probably extends along the Rio Verde to the Salinas +and Gila, bears every indication of being able to support a large +agricultural and pastoral population. The valley of the Rio Verde +is magnificently wooded with furs and oaks, affording excellent +timber. Ancient ruins are said by trappers to be scattered over +its whole length to the confluence with the Salinas. We, +therefore, seem to have skirted the boundary of a country once populous, and worthy of becoming so again. Besides the advantages +already enumerated, the mountains in this vicinity bear +indications of mineral wealth. Vol. 3, p. 93." + +The notes before referred to, in the possession of the writer, +speak of great farming and grazing establishments scattered over +the whole face of the Territory, between 1610 and 1800, which +produced abundant crops of cereals, fruits, and grapes. These +statements are confirmed by the testimony of Major Emory and his +report, where he enumerates several of the most extensive--by +Gray, Bartlett, Parke, and Col. Bonneville. Many of the Ranches, +deserted by the Mexicans on account of the Apache Indians, have +upon them large, well-built adobe houses which must have cost the +builders thousands of dollars. Many of these have been occupied +under squatter titles by emigrants within the last few years. Of +others, only the ruins remain, having been destroyed by the +depredations of the Indians, or by the heavy rains of the +succeeding years. + +The greater portion of these lands on the Santa Cruz and San +Pedro are covered by Mexican titles-İand many of these again by +squatter claims. It is absolutely necessary that Congress should +by some wise and speedy legislation settle, upon some definite +basis, the land titles of Arizona. Until this is done, disorder +and anarchy will reign supreme over the country. The present +condition of California is in a great degree to be attributed to +the want of any title to the most valuable real property in the +State, and the millions which have been spent in fruitless +litigation should teach a lesson of great practical value. Let +those Spanish grants and Mexican titles which have been occupied +in good faith be affirmed in the most expeditious and economical +manner to the claimants, and they will immediately pass into +American hands, and become productive. The remainder of the +country should then be thrown open to settlers. No better code of +mining law exists than the Spanish, adopted in the Senate bill +introduced by the late General Rusk, and passed at the last +session of Congress. A judicious and liberal donation law, giving +to the actual settler a homestead, and to the enterprising miner +and "prospector" a fair security for the fruit of his labors, +will at once make of Arizona a popular, thriving and wealthy +State, affording new markets for the productions of our Atlantic +States, and yielding annually millions in silver and copper. + +In addition to the produce of Arizona, the immediate vicinity of +the agricultural region of Sonora affords an abundant market for +all necessary supplies, including sugar, which is manufactured by +the Mexicans in great quantities from the cane. Guyamas, which +one day will be ours, is one of the largest ports for the export +of flour on the Pacific coast north of Chili. She also exports +several millions in silver annually, which finds its way direct +to the English market. Under an intelligent system, the Sonora +mines would yield a hundred millions a year, and the supply is +inexhaustible. If any reader doubts this statement, refer him to +the statistics of Humboldt, Ward, and Wilson, most unquestioned and valuable authorities. Both Humboldt and Ward note the fact +that the silver deposites grow richer as they are traced farther +North. There can be no doubt that the most extensive and valuable +mines, both of pure silver and silver mixed with copper and lead, +are within the limits of Arizona. + +The yield of the silver mines of Mexico, as computed by Ward and +Humboldt from the actual official returns to the Government, from +the conquest to 1803, amounts to the enormous sum of +$2,027,955,000, or more than two BILLIONS Of dollars. Again, Ward +says: "I am aware that many of the statements in this and the +preceding books respecting the mineral riches of the North of New +Spain, (Sonora, including the 'Gadsden Purchase,' Chihuahua, and +Durango,) will be thought exaggerated. THEY ARE NOT SO; they will +be confirmed by every future report, and in after years, the +public, FAMILIARIZED WITH facts which are only questioned because +they are new, will wonder at its present incredulity, and regret +the loss of advantages which may not always be within its +reach." + +Of the present mining operations in the Territory of Arizona, the +most considerable, in point of labor performed and results, is +"The Arizona Copper Mining Co." This company is incorporated by +the California Legislature, with a capital of one million of +dollars. The President is Major Robert Allen, U. S. A. The mines +are old, and very celebrated in Mexico under the name of El-Ajo. +This company, at an expense of $100,000, have supplied their +mines with an abundance of water, extracted several hundred tons +of ore, and erected buildings, smelting furnaces, and other +appliances to facilitate their operations. They employ about one +hundred men, mostly Mexican miners. Their supplies of breadstuffs +and beef are obtained by contract from Sonora. These mines are +situated one hundred and thirty miles from the mouth of the Gila +River, and about sixty miles south of it. The ore varies in +richness from thirty to sixty per cent, and the proceeds of some +sales in London were quoted as being the highest prices ever paid +for ore in that market. A portion of this mine is owned by +English capitalists, and it is without doubt one of the most +valuable in the world. The profits may be easily calculated, when +it is known that the ore costs delivered in Swansea, England, not +exceeding $125 per ton, and is worth from $200 to $375 per ton. +Of course these profits will be greatly increased when the +company is in a position to smelt its ores at the mine. The +Sonora Exploring and Mining Company was organized in 1856, with a +capital of two million dollars ($2,000,000). Its principal office +is in Cincinnati, Ohio, and its seat of operations at Tubac, in +the Santa Cruz valley. This company is managed in its mining +operations by Chas. D. Poston, Esq., a gentleman of much +experience on the Pacific coast, and of great energy of +character. + +The Rancho of Arivaca, containing several valuable silver mines, +and seventeen thousand acres of valuable land, has been purchased +by this company. It has also acquired the titles to a number of other valuable mines of galena ore, and copper containing silver +and gold. Hitherto, the exertions of the company have been +directed principally to explorations and cleaning out the old +mines, but they have at present above ground, ready for smelting, +several thousand dollars worth of their ores. Prof. Booth, U. S. +Assayer, as well as other distinguished authorities, have, after +thorough experiment, given to the company certificates of the +great richness of the ores already shipped to the east. The +annual report of the Sonora Mining Co. is full of interest to the +general reader. The Sopori mine is another very valuable +property. It is owned by Messrs. Douglass, Aldrich, and another. +Want of capital has prevented the extensive development of this +mine. It affords its proprietors a handsome profit, worked in the +smallest and cheapest manner. The vein is of great size, has been +traced several rods in length, and pays about one dollar to the +pound of ore. The writer has examined specimens from the +"Sopori," taken at random, and so rich is the ore that the native +silver can be cut out of it with a penknife, as out of a Mexican +dollar. Undoubtedly the Sopori mine is destined to yield hundreds +of millions. It is a peculiarity of the ores in this district +that they run near the surface, making mining of comparative +small cost. The Sopori mine is surrounded by a fine country, well +watered and wooded. The "Gadsonia Copper Mining Co.," after +taking out a few tons of exceedingly rich ore--averaging over +eighty per cent.--was obliged to suspend operations on account of +the cost of transportation. When the Territory shall be organized +and capital protected by law, these mines will be worked to +advantage. "The Gila River Copper Mines" are more favorably +situated than any other yet opened, being directly on the Gila +River, only twenty-five miles from its mouth. The ores can be +taken from the mine, immediately shipped upon flat boats or a +light draft steamer, and transported down the Colorado River to +the head of the Gulf of California, when they can be transhipped +to England at small cost. Upwards of twenty veins of copper ore +have been opened, and the assays give results varying from 30 to +70 per cent. These mines are owned by Messrs. Hooper, Hinton, +Halstead, and another. Several thousand dollars have been already +expended in prospecting and opening veins, and it was anticipated +by the proprietors that the first cargo would be shipped to +Swansea, England, this year. + +Smelting works will eventually be built at the mines, or at +Colorado City, opposite Fort Yuma, and the profits of this +company must be very great. The vicinity of the Colorado, and the +abundance of wood and water, give the proprietors facilities for +conducting their operations at small cost. + +Silver mining is also carried on in the vicinity of Mesilla +Valley, and near the Rio Grande. Many other mining operations are +constantly being commenced; but the depredations of the Apache +Indians have almost entirely snatched success from the +hard-working miner, who, besides losing his all, is often +massacred in some ferocious manner. +No protection, either civil or military, is extended over the +greater portion of Arizona. This checks the development of all +her resources--not only to her own injury, but that of California +and the Atlantic States--by withholding a market for their +productions, and the bullion which she is fully able to supply to +an extent corresponding to the labor employed in obtaining it. + +A. B. Gray, Esq., late U. S. Surveyor under the treaty of +Guadalupe Hidalgo, for running the Mexican Boundary, and +subsequently Exploring Engineer and Surveyor of the Southern +Pacific Railroad, has probably seen more of the proposed +Territory of Arizona than any other person, his statements in +reference to that region, embodied in a report to the Hon., the +Secretary of the Interior, from actual field reconnoissances six +years ago, will be read with much interest, particularly as since +then, repeated developments in that country have proved the +correctness of his judgment; his opinions are, therefore, of much +importance, as expressed in his able report. It will be +recollected that this was then Mexican Territory. Colonel Gray +says: + +"The public, I think have been misled by misrepresentations made +in regard to the resources of the region of country lying along +the Gila and upon the line proposed for a railroad at or near the +parallel of 32 degrees north latitude. That portion of country +east of the Rio Grande I can say but little of from personal +observation, having been over but apart of the ground near the +eastern division in Texas, and that in the vicinity of El Paso. +At both these points, however, a fine country exists. Upon the +Gila river grows cotton of the most superior kind. Its nature is +not unlike that of the celebrated Sea Island cotton, possessing +an equally fine texture, and, if anything, more of a silky fibre. +The samples I procured at the Indian villages, from the rudely +cultivated fields of the Pimas and Maricopas, have been spoken of +as an extraordinary quality. Wheat, corn, and tobacco, together +with beans, melons, etc., grow likewise upon the banks and in the +valleys bordering the Gila and its tributaries. The sugar cane, +too, I believe, will be found to thrive in this section of the +country west of the Rio San Pedro. A sort of candied preserve and +molasses, expressed from the fruit of the cereus giganteus and +agave Americana was found by our party in 1851, as we passed +through the Pinal Llano camps and among the Gila tribes, to be +most acceptable. The candied preserve was a most excellent +substitute for sugar. It is true that there are extensive wastes +to be encountered west of the Rio Grande, yet they are not +deserts of sand, but plains covered at certain seasons of the +year with luxuriant grass, exhibiting green spots and springs not +very remote from each other at all times. There is sufficient +water in the Gila and its branches for all the purposes of +irrigation when it is wanted, the streams being high during the +season most needed. The Rio Salado, a tributary of the Gila, is a +bold and far more beautiful river than the Gila itself, and, from +the old ruins now seen there, must have had formerly a large +settlement upon its banks. "To many persons merely travelling or emigrating across the country, with but one object in view, and +that the reaching their destination on the Pacific, the country +would generally present a barren aspect. But it will be +recollected that the most productive fields in California, before +American enterprise introduced the plough, and a different mode +of cultivation from that of the natives of the country, presented +somewhat similar appearance. Many believed, at first, from the +cold and sterile look of the hills, and the parched appearance of +the fields and valleys, over which the starving coyote is often +seen prowling in search of something to subsist on, that +California could never become an agricultural district, but must +depend upon her other resources for greatness, and trust to +distant regions for the necessaries of life required for her +increased population. It was natural enough, too, that this +impression should be created in those accustomed to a different +State of things, and particularly when it is considered that the +very season of blossom and bloom of our Atlantic States was the +winter of California; but these same fields and hills have a very +different appearance in January, February, and March, clothed as +they are in the brightest verdure and no one now will pretend to +say that California does not possess within herself great +agricultural as well as mineral wealth. This, I believe, will +some day be the case with the country from the Rio Grande to the +Gulf of California, adjacent to the Gila. Senate Ex. Doc. No. 55, +33rd Congress, 2nd Session." + + * * * * * * * * + +In speaking of the resources of this region for a railroad, in +the same report, Gray says: + +"The valley of Mesilla, extending from about twelve miles above +the true boundary of the treaty to the parallel of 32 degrees 22 +minutes north latitude, lies wholly within the disputed district, +and is, for its extent, one of the most beautiful and fertile +along the whole course of the Rio Grande. The town of Mesilla, +only a few years old, contains several thousand people, and is a +prosperous little place. It was not settled until after the +cession of this territory to us by the treaty of Guadalupe +Hidalgo. Portions of the valley are highly cultivated, and +produce the grains and fruits of our most thriving States. In +connexion with the land on the east side of the river, the valley +of the Messilla is capable of sustaining a considerable +population. It is situated centrally with regard to a large +district of country of lesser agricultural capacity. The section +of the Rio Grande in the vicinity of El Paso and the valley of +Mesilla, is proverbial for the production of fine vegetables and +fruits. Indeed, about El Paso, it is a complete garden with +flourishing vineyards, equalling in excellence those of the most +celebrated grape growing countries. + +"By a judicious disposition of military stations along this line, +only a few troops would be required to protect the great northern +frontier of Sonora and Chihuahua, and enable us to carry out the llth article of our late treaty with Mexico more effectually, and +at the same time prevent any depredations which the Indians might +be disposed to commit on the road. Soon after, the settlement of +the country would make the presence of the military unnecessary, +either for the safety of a railway of the security of the +frontier. The strong holds of the Apaches, and their pathway to +Mexico, would be cut off. + +"A wagon road established from the Gulf of California would +enable supplies to be transported along this line at one-half of +the present cost. The saving of one-third or more distance, +through a comparatively unsettled country, in transportation is +an important consideration in the construction of a railway, more +especially when men and materials, to a great extent, must be +brought from very remote points. The navigation of the Gulf of +California is said to be very good. The trade-winds from the +northwest, encountering the highlands of the peninsula of Lower +California, and forming a counter current under its lee, enable +sailing vessels to proceed advantageously along that coast. +Returning, by keeping on the eastern aide, or along the shore of +Sonora, they could avail themselves of the prevailing winds, +which regain their usual direction after sweeping across the wide +expanse of water. The trade of the Gulf, with its pearl fisheries +and other resources, would be speedily developed. + + * * * * * * * * + +"The advantages of such a thoroughfare are obvious. Five years +would hardly elapse before inestimable benefits would be +realized; and, should war threaten our Pacific possessions, a few +days would suffice to send from the Mississippi valley an army +that would defy any force that the most formidable power could +array against us. The fine cotton region of the Gila, the rich +copper, silver, and gold mines of New Mexico and Sonora would be +at once developed, bringing a vast district of country into +cultivation which now presents a fruitless waste, owing to Indian +depredations and the absence of means of communication and +protection. Mexico has tried for a century past to insure safety +to her inhabitants in this region, but notwithstanding the +expense she has incurred in keeping up her garrisons, she has +failed to afford them protection. + +"The deserted appearance of the country from El Paso to the +Colorado is no criterion by which to judge of its value. The +beautiful valley of San Xavier, or Santa Cruz, some two years ago +when I passed through it, was entirely deserted. The once +thriving towns of Tumacacori and Tubac had not the sign of a +living soul about them except the recent moccasin track of the +Apaches. The orchards and vineyards of the once highly cultivated +fields and gardens bore the marks of gradual decay and +destruction. The ranchos of Calabazas, of San Bernardino, and +numerous other places on this frontier, presented the same +melancholy aspect, the result of the inability of Mexico to +protect this portion of territory from the inroads of the savages. There are now but a few settlements throughout this +district of country, but were it protected by a power that could +and would defend it, what is now a waste in the hands of the +savages might become a thriving country, with safety insured to +its inhabitants." Senate Ex. Doc. No. 55, 33rd Congress, 2nd +Sess. + +I quote the following language of Gray, from subsequent +explorations made by him, three years after his first expedition, +and contained in his report to the Southern Pacific Railroad +Company. It was chiefly from the discoveries made by Gray, in +this adventurous expedition, through regions unknown for many +years past, between the Rio Grande and Gulf of California, +together with the Gadsden Treaty, that induced parties at great +expense to emigrate there, and commence working the vast mineral +deposites, such as the Arabac silver mines, the Ajo copper +mountain, and others, but which, through lack of proper +protection and means of communication, have been greatly retarded +in their development. + +After crossing the dividing ridge of the continent west of the +Rio Grande, Gray thus alludes to the country: + +"There were large haciendas and fine cattle ranches in this +neighborhood, until a war of extermination was declared by the +Apaches against the Mexicans. Remains of the old San Pedro ranch +are seen at this day; also the "Tres Alamos;" and the ruins of +the hacienda of Babacomeri, whose walls and towers are still +standing. These were among the wealthiest of Sonora in horses, +cattle, sheep, etc., but it has been many years since. It is a +fine grazing region, with wild cattle and mustangs constantly +seen roaming over the plains. The district from San Pedro to +Santa Cruz valley, nearly due west from our present crossing +(latitude 31 degrees 34 minutes), will be to the Pacific slope +what the region of Fort Chadbourne, in Texas, will be to the +Atlantic. The mountains and hills are covered with splendid +timber of the largest size, and for all purposes; and the valleys +are full of springs, and the finest grass. To Tubac, a town in +the valley of Santa Cruz, it is 69 miles. This is by following +the San Pedro about a league, passing over a few insignificant +spurs, and ascending the Rio Babacomeri; thence continuing +westward by a gradual rise over delightful plains to the divide +between that and the Sonoita or Clover creek, and along the +latter, until it loses itself in the porous earth, a mile from +the Santa Cruz river, and by the broad valley of that stream to +Tubac." + + * * * * * * * * + +Of the line of Gray's exploration from the Rio San Pedro, he +says: + +"It passes through the most desirable region, with the hills and +mountains for forty miles, containing inexhaustible quantities of timber. We noticed tall cedar and oaks of every description; one +kind more interesting than the others, being a white oak from +twenty to forty feet in the body. Pine and spruce, with superior +white ash and walnut, were found, and the most gigantic +cotton-woods, particularly on the Sonoita. * * * * "The mountains +in the neighborhood are filled with minerals, and the precious +metals are said to abound. The famous Planchas de Plata and +Arizona silver mines, which the Count Raouset de Boulbon +attempted to take possession of, are in this section of country, +not many miles below the present limits, and at several of the +old ranchos and deserted mining villages which we visited, were +found the argentiferous galena ore and gold. The Sierra Santa +Rita runs along to the east of the Santa Cruz valley, and forms a +part of this interesting region. It is very high and bold, filled +with fertile valleys and flowing rivulets, and covered with a +dense growth of timber. I saw much of this district, when here in +1851, on the survey of the boundry." + + * * * * * * * * + +The country bordering immediately the head of the Gulf of +California, through which Gray was probably the first to +penetrate, lies adjacent to the proposed Arizona Territory, but +not a part of the same, being a portion of the State of Sonora.İŞHe thus describes that section: + +"The Indians represent rich Placers existing throughout this +region, and large numbers of them had lately come in with +considerable quantities of the dust. They were trading it for +trifles to the Mexicans. I got some specimens of it which was the +same as the California Gold. This was not the time of year (June) +for them to work the mines, but in the fall, after the rain has +commenced. The greatest drawback to the profitable working of the +Placers of this district, is the scarcity of water. If artesian +wells succeed, there is little doubt that it will create an +important change. West from Tuseon and Tubac, towards the Gulf of +California, the country presents more the appearance of a barren +waste or desert than any district I have seen. It nevertheless +has occasional oases, with fine grazing lands about them, and the +mountains, which are more broken and detached, have distinct +marks of volcanic origin. The ranges though short, have generally +the same parallel direction as those further east. It is the +country of the Papago Indians, a peaceful and friendly tribe, +extending down to the Gulf coast, where they are mixed up +somewhat with the Cocopas of the Colorado. From Sonoita I +explored to the Gulf shore, near the mouth of Adair Bay. It was +62 miles, following a dry arroya most of the way, and the point +at which I struck the Gulf was in latitude 31 degrees 36 minutes +34 minutes. The "Bay" is about 15 miles across, and from all I +could learn, 15 miles long, and represented as having four +fathoms of water. It is completely encircled by a range of sand +hills, reaching north-west to the Colorado river and south-east +as far as the eye could discover. These "sables" are probably +eighty or ninety miles in extent, by five to ten broad. + +"Notwithstanding it appears to be the most desolate and +forlorn-looking spot for eighty miles around the head of the +Gulf, the sand hills looking like a terrible desert, nature seems +even here, where no rain had fallen for eight months, to have +provided for the sustenance of man, one of the most nutritious +and palatable vegetables. + +"East of the Tinaja Alta or high tank range, lie the famous +Sierras del Ajo, now United States territory. These mountains +derive their name from the vast deposits of red oxide and green +carbonate of copper found about them, and which the Indians have +made use of to paint (ajo) themselves with. The mines are +unquestionably of great value, and must become important, more +particularly from their being situated in the neighborhood of the +contemplated railway. The tall Cereus Giganteus and Agave +Americana are found in abundance. From the latter plant the +natives make the pulque, mezcal and agua-diente; and the petahaya +or cereus, produces a fruit from which is made a very pleasant +preserve. At the Pimo and Maricopa villages are found wheat, +corn, tobaco, and cotton, besides melons, pumpkins, beans, etc. +The nature of the soil for great distances in the Gila valley is +of a reddish loam; some parts coated with a beautiful +crystallization of salt, a quarter to half an inch thick. This +seems to be more particularly the case below the Maricopa +villages and toward the Rio Salado. The cotton, of which I +procured specimens, though cultivated by the Indians in the most +primitive manner, exhibited a texture not unlike the celebrated +Sea Island cotton. Its fibre is exceedingly soft and silky, but +not of the longest staple. Large tracts of land on the Gila and +in other portions of this district, appear to possess the same +properties of soil; and where, I have no doubt, the finest cotton +will soon be extensively raised and brought to its highest state +of perfection by proper cultivation." + +The climate is thus referred to by Gray: + +"One of the most favorable features upon the route in the +vicinity of the 32nd degree proposed for the Pacific railway is, +its accessibility at all times, admitting of labor being +performed in the open air at each season. The nature of the +climate through Texas to the Rio Grande has already been referred +to, and from thence to the Santa Cruz valley half way to the +Colorado, over the elevated plateau of the Sierra Madra, it is +equally salubrious and temperate. The rainy season falls in the +summer months, and but seldom is snow seen even upon the mountain +tops. Towards the Colorado river it is much drier and more +torrid, but by no means unhealthy; nor does it prevent out door +work the whole of the day during the heated term of summer. + +"The great riches of the country, however, are a total waste at +the present time, but which the Pacific railroad will at once +develop, and make to itself the foundation of a vast revenue. I refer to its metallic wealth, the silver, gold, and copper mines +that abound in almost every mountain and valley, between the Rio +Grande and the Gulf of California. + +"The ores of Chihuahua and Sonora [now Arizona. S. M.] are +chiefly sulphuret (lead or iron), or native silver in porphyritic +or stratified limestone rocks passing at greater depths into +igneous rocks. From loose piles lying upon the surface and +evidently picked over, I procured specimens of silvier and +copper. Three samples representing points on the line of our +exploration about equi-distant from each other, viz.: the Rio +Grande, the neighborhood of Tubac, and within 90 miles of the +junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers, were submitted to Dr. +I. K. Chilton, of New York, for analysis. He found in one sample +of lead ore (argentiferous galena), by fire assay 71 per cent. of +lead, and the "LEAD YIELDED SILVER EQUIVALENT to 128 ounces, 1 +dwt. to the ton" (of 2000 pounds). + +"In another, he found the lead obtained from it to yield silver +in the proportion of 72 ounces 5 dwts. to the ton or 2000 pounds. + +"The copper specimen was the red oxide, and yielded as follows: + + Copper,............ 71.80 + Iron,............... 7.84 + Oxygen,.............12.34 + Silicia, Alumina,....8.02 + ------ + 100 parts. + +"The Papagos and Pimas Indians, by proper management, might be +made very useful, in working upon the road where there is not +much rock excavation. They are unlike the Indians of Texas, or +the Apaches, living in villages and cultivating the soil, besides +manufacturing blankets, baskets, pottery, etc. Quiet and +peaceable, they have no fears except from their enemies, the +Apaches, and are very industrious, much more so than the lower +order of Mexicans, and live far more comfortably. It is +astonishing with what precision they construct their +acequias--irrigating canals--some of them, the acequias madre, of +very large size, and without the use of levelling apparatus, but +simply by the eye. Their gardens and farms too are regularly +ditched and fenced off into rectangles and circles, with hedges +and trees planted as if done by more enlightened people." + +The population of the new Territory of Arizona is at present not +far from eight thousand, and is rapidly increasing. The Mesilla +Valley and the Rio Grande are probably the most thickly +populated, containing about five thousand people. A majority of +the Mesilla inhabitants are Mexicans, but they will be controlled +by the American residents, whose number and influence is +constantly on the increase. The Santa Cruz Valley, in which are +situated the towns of Tueson, Tubac, Tumacacari, and the mining +settlement of Sopori and others, is, next to Mesilla, the most thickly settled. Tueson was formerly a town of three thousand +inhabitants; but the majority have been driven off by the Apache +Indians. It is fast becoming a thriving American town, and will +before long be a place of more importance than ever before. Real +estate is already held at high rates, and the erection of +buildings shows that American energy is about to change the face +of the last half century. Tubac had been completely deserted by +the Mexicans. It has been reoccupied by the Sonora Exploring and +Mining Company, and now boasts a population of several hundred. +The Calabazas valley is also fast filling up with an American +population, and another year will see the whole centre of the +Territory dotted with settlements. Many of the fine claims on the +San Pedro River have already been located by emigrants under the +general pre-emption law, but until protection is afforded to the +settlers, but little progress will be made in agricultural +pursuits. The Apache Indian regards the soil as his own, and +having expelled the Spanish and Mexican invader, he feels little +inclination to submit to the American. A small settlement of +Americans is growing up at Colorado city, opposite Fort Yuma, at +the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers. This point is +destined to be one of great commercial and pecuniary importance. +Situated at the present head of navigation, at the point where +the overland mail route crosses the Colorado, and where the +Southern Pacific Railroad must bridge the stream, it is a +necessary stopping place for all travel across the country. Here +are transhipped all the ores coming from the Territory, which +find their way to market down the Colorado to the Gulf of +California, thence by steamer or sailing vessel to their +destination. Here all supplies of merchandise for the Territory +are landed, and from this point forwarded to their various +owners. A thriving commerce has already sprung up between Arizona +and San Francisco. In almost any daily paper in San Francisco may +be seen vessels advertised for the mouth of the Colorado. Two +steamers find active employment in transporting government stores +from the head of the Gulf of California to Fort Yuma, and goods +to Colorado city for the merchants of Tueson, Tubac, Calabazas, +and for the mining companies. Should the exploration of the Upper +Colorado by Lieutenant Ives, United States Army, now in progress, +prove successful, Colorado city will become still more important, +as the surplus products of the rich valleys of New Mexico, Utah, +and California to the north, will all find a market down the +Colorado. Property in this new city is held at high rates, and by +the last San Francisco News Letter is quoted at an advance. The +population of Arizona Territory has much increased within a few +months by emigration from California. The massacre of Henry A. +Crabbe and his party by the Mexicans at Cavorca created a desire +for revenge throughout all California. Companies have been +formed, and large parties are settling in Arizona, near the +Mexican line, with the ulterior object of overrunning Sonora, and +revenging the tragedy in which was shed some of the best blood of +the State. The appropriation by the last Congress of two hundred +thousand dollars for the construction of a wagon road from El +Paso to Fort Yuma, and the two mail contracts, semi-monthly and +semi-weekly, which involve an expenditure of nine hundred thousand dollars per annum, will afford employment to a host of +people, and draw at once to the neighborhood of the route an +active and energetic population. The new wagon and mail route +traverses the Territory of Arizona throughout its entire length. +Along the mail route, at intervals, military posts will be +established. These and the necessary grazing stations will create +points around which settlements will at once grow up, and the +country, now bare, will show everywhere thriving villages. The +Southern Pacific Railroad, which will be built because it is +necessary to the country, will find its way easily through +Arizona. + +It is no exaggeration to say that the mining companies, in their +own interest, will be forced to subscribe enough to the stock of +the company to insure its success. The Arizona Copper Mining +Company is now paying $100 per ton for the transportation of its +ores from the mines to Colorado city. One year's freight money at +this rate would build many miles of the road. The silver mining +companies will be only too glad to get their ores to market at so +cheap a rate, as their proportion of the subscription to the +railroad. Iron and coal are both found in the Territory,--the +former especially in great abundance. Texas has guaranteed the +road to El Paso, by her generous legislation; Arizona will build +it, with her mineral wealth, to Fort Yuma, the eastern boundary +of California, and California will do the rest. The first +terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad will doubt less be on +the Gulf of California, at the Island of Tiburon, or more +probably Guyamas. A steam ferry across the Gulf, a short railroad +across the peninsula of Lower California to a secure harbor on +the Pacific, (where a steamer will take passengers and freight in +four days to San Francisco,) is the most natural course of this +route. In view of this probability, all the available points for +such a terminus on the Gulf have been, or are in progress of +being, secured by capitalists, either by obtaining grants from +the Mexican Government, or by purchase from private individuals. +Already Guyamas is owned in great part by English and American +capitalists. A port on the Gulf of California is necessary to our +Pacific possessions, and must be ours sooner or later. The longer +it is delayed, the worse for American progress on the Pacific. +Arizona needs it at once, as a depot for the export of her ores, +and for the import of goods for the supply of her population. + +The Mormon war has closed for years the great emigrant road to +California and Oregon, over the South Pass and Salt Lake valley, +leaving open only the route along the 32d parallel of latitude, +through Arizona. This route is by far the most practicable at all +seasons of the year, and the closing of the South Pass route by +the Mormon difficulty is an additional and urgent argument in +favor of the early organization of this Territory. Fifty thousand +souls will move towards the Pacific early in the spring, if the +route is opened to a secure passage. + +The present condition of Arizona Territory is deplorable in the +extreme. Throughout the whole country there is no redress for crimes or civil injuries-İno courts, no law, no magistrates. The +Territory of New Mexico, to which it is attached by an act of +Congress, affords it neither protection nor sustenance. The +following extracts from letters received by the writer tell the +story of the necessity for early action on the part of Congress, +in urgent terms. + + +TUBAC, GADSDEN PURCHASE, August 15, 1857. + +Affairs in the Territory have not improved. A party of Americans +(our countrymen) had made an "excursion" into Sonora, captured a +train of mules, and killed several Mexicans. Upon their return to +the Territory with their ill-gotten booty, the citizens formed a +company and took the property away from them, and returned it to +the owners in Magdalena, [a town of SonoraİİEd.] and delivered +the robbers up to Major Steen, commanding first dragoons, to be +held in custody until Courts should be organized. They have again +been turned loose upon the community. In justice to Major +Fitzgerald I must say he was in favor of retaining them in +custody, and has generally maintained favoring law and order in +the Territory, but as he is only second in command he has no +absolute authority. + +We have no remedy but to follow the example so wide spread in the +Union, and form a "Vigilance Committee"--contrary to all good +morals, law, order, and society. Can you do nothing to induce the +government to establish authority and law in this country, and +avert this unhappy alternative? + +It is not desired by any good citizens, and tends to anarchy and +mobocracy, causing disloyalty in our own citizens and bringing +the reproach of foreigners upon our republican institutions. It +is impossible to progress in developing the resources of the +country under this state of affairs. The greatest objection the +capitalists of San Francisco have to aiding me in the development +of silver mines, is the insecurity of property, want of +protection from government, and general distrust of fair and +honest legislation. + +They have no confidence that the guarantees of the GADSDEN TREATY +will be respected by the United States, in regard to land titles +under the Mexican government. + +The silver ore brought to San Francisco from our mines, has been +tested by a dozen different officers, in as many different ways, +and no result falls BELOW FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER TON OF ORE. + +Senator Gwin goes on to Washington soon, and will corroborate my +statements. He has a piece of the silver, the first smelted in +San Francisco, showing $8,735 20--EIGHT THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED +AND THIRTY-FIVE 20-100 DOLLARS PER TON OF ORE. Mr. Dunbar is +getting the petition to Congress signed--and moving in the +affairs of the Territory in connection with Mr. Ehrenberg and our friends--but the government came near "crushing us out" by +sending a Custom House Collector to consume and destroy what +little we had saved from the Apaches. Can nothing be done to rid +us of a Custom House? It is no protection. The Territory (as yet) +produces nothing but minerals--and we have to pay duty upon every +article of consumption. This is a very onerous tax upon our first +feeble efforts to develop the resources of this remote and +unprotected country. + + Very truly yours, C. D. Poston. + + To Lieut. Mowry, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. + +"We are living without the protection of law or the ameliorations +of society. New Mexico affords us no protection. We have not even +received an order for election. Every one goes armed to the +teeth, and a difficulty is sure to prove fatal. In this state of +affairs it is impossible to hold a convention." + + +Tueson, Oct. 1, 1857. + +We are pleased to hear that the prospect for Arizona is so +bright. If you should succeed in getting a separate organization +for Arizona, you will lay the people under many obligations to +you. You have no doubt received many petitions for Congress, and +also your certificate of election as delegate for this purchase. +You received the entire vote; there was no difference of opinion +among the voters. + + Your ob't serv't, J. A. Douglas. + + Lt. Mowry, U. S. A. Tueson, Oct. 25, 1857. + + +I send you the last petition from the Territory. The work is now +in your hands, and we say, God speed it. + + G. H. Oury. + + +Tueson, Arizona Territory, Oct. 17, 1857. + +Every thing begins to look up in the Territory notwithstanding +the difficulties we labor under. The Indians the other day came +within eight hundred yards of Fort Buchanan and remained some +time, and when they left carried off with them all the horses and +mules in the valley for six or eight miles below. Try your hand +in this matter of our Territory, and see if some change cannot be +wrought to some benefit--we need it greatly. + + Very truly yours, G. H. Oury. + +Tueson, Oct. 2, 1857. + +We have heard from Mesilla and they fully concur with us in all +we have done, showing that you are the person chosen to act for +them and to represent their interest in this matter. The people +here are very much elated at the turn things are taking, and +every one seems to be highly pleased with the course you have +pursued. An election was held on the first Monday in September, +at which you received all the votes given, and a certificate of +your election, signed by the judges and clerks, has been +forwarded to you. The country is being settled very fast, and +there is somewhat of a stir to obtain cultivated lands. The lands +already under cultivation are now fifty per cent. higher than a +short time back. The great misfortune we labor under is want of +protection. Thousands and thousands of acres of land, as rich and +fertile as any on the face of the globe, lie idle and useless +because they are not protected from the Apaches. We want only one +thing besides the Territorial organization, and that is +PROTECTION. + + Very truly yours, S. Warner. + + +Oct. 8, 1857. + +The guerilla warfare on the Sonora frontier continues with +increased aggravation. We look for the happiest result from the +exploration of this interesting region of the Colorado, about to +be explored by Lieut. Ives, U. S. A. The ores from the +Heintzelman mine took the premium at the mechanics' fair in San +Francisco, just closed, where the ores from California and the +western coast were on exhibition. So, Arizona leads California, +the great mineral State. + +All we need is good government and honest, liberal legislation to +make Arizona equal in production of precious metals, if not +exceed, California. + + Yours truly, C. D. Poston. Lt. Mowry, U. S. A. + + +Fort Yuma, June 2, 1857. + +News has just come in from the Arizona which represent an awful +state of affairs. During the time Mr. Belknap was below at Sonora +it was unsafe for him to go out unless accompanied by his friend, +Don Gaudaloupe Orosco, and even then it was very dangerous. No +news from Sonora nor even an arrival for the last twenty days. +God knows what is going on; though of one thing we are +certain--no American, never mind whatsoever he may be, can go +into Sonora, with or without a passport. + + Very sincerely yours, P. R. Brady. +Aug. 5, 1850. + +The condition of the purchase has been extremely bad since the +unfortunate and injudicious expedition of Crabbe into Sonora, and +at the present time is but little better than a field of guerilla +warfare, robbery and plunder. + +The exasperated state of feeling between the Mexicans and +Americans prevents intercourse and commerce, upon which the +Territory is dependent. Americans are afraid to venture into +Sonora for supplies, and Mexicans afraid to venture over the +line. Americans who had nothing to do with the fillibustering +invasion have been treated badly in Sonora and driven out of the +country, and Mexicans coming into the purchase with supplies and +animals have been robbed and plundered by the returned +fillibusters. + +The Americans in the Territory are by no means harmonious on +these subjects--some in favor of filibustering and others opposed +to it; some in favor of murdering and robbing Mexicans wherever +found, and others opposed to it. + +It results that we are in a state of anarchy, and there is no +government, no protection to life, property, or business; no law +and no self-respect or morality among the people. We are living +in a perfect state of nature, without the restraining influence +of civil or military law, or the amelioration of society. + +There have not been many conflicts and murders, because every man +goes armed to the teeth, and a difficulty is always fatal on one +side or the other. In the midst of all this, the Government has +blessed us with a custom house at Calabazos to collect duties +upon the necessaries of life which, by chance and "running the +gauntlet," we may get from Sonora. + +God send that we had been left alone with the Apaches. We should +have been a thousand times better off in every respect. + +In this state of affairs it is scarcely to be expected that the +people will meet together in a convention; there was no +arrangement for that purpose up to the time of my leaving, and +none could be made. + +We have never had any orders of election from Santa Fe, nor heard +of any convention. + +Yours truly, C. D. Poston. + + +Major Fitzgerald, U. S. A., whose long experience on the Pacific +coast makes his opinion very valuable, in a letter dated Fort +Buchanan, Arizona, Sept. 17th, 1854, says: + +"The citizens of this country are very desirous of a territorial organization, with its courts, &c. Murders are committed and +stock is stolen by white men with impunity. There is no court +nearer than the Rio Grande (300 miles) to take cognizance of +crime. Some few of the emigrants of this year have remained in +the Santa Cruz valley. More would have done so, no doubt, if they +had not started from the States originally with stock for the +California market. + +The country around us is now beautiful. It has been raining +almost daily since the 1st of July, and the vegetation is most +luxuriant. Many of the Mexican citizens come over the line for +purposes of trade, bringing flour, fruit, and leather. If there +was no custom house at Calabazas, these articles could be had +very cheaply. + +We have very excellent gardens, and plenty of vegetables. There +is said to be a good deal of cultivable land on the upper Gila, +and if a territory is created, it should embrace this. This would +also include a large part of the Colorado valley above the +junction of the Gila. That you may succeed in your wishes with +regard to Arizona, is the sincere desire of + + Your friend and obliged serv't, E. H. Fitzgerald." + + Lt. Mowry, U. S. A. + + +A subsequent letter from Major Fitzgerald dated Oct. 1st, says +Tueson contains rising five hundred inhabitants, the remainder of +the Santa Cruz altogether enough to make considerable over a +thousand, independent of the population towards and upon the Gila +and Colorado, of which he remarks, + +"You know more than I." "There is not a doubt but that upon the +location of the mail route, there will be a considerable +emigration to this country, and if a portion of Sonora be +organized, large numbers will come both from the East and West. +The country is an excellent one for stock of all kinds, of which +there were great numbers where the Apaches were gathered under +the wing of the Catholic church. The valleys of Santa Cruz, San +Pedro, and Upper Gila, and also that of Messilla, contain large +bodies of productive lands, and all the cereals grow luxuriantly +therein. THAT THERE IS MUCH SILVER IN THE TERRITORY THERE IS NO +DOUBT, but it requires capital to develop it. As yet but little +progress has been made in mining. Evidences of old works are seen +on many of the water courses, but operations have not yet been +recommenced, except at Arizona, Sopori, and Ariaola, principally +because the country is very partially settled, and it is not safe +to be at any distance from the mass of the population, and the +troops. Copper ore is found in many localities, but little gold +is yet discovered. If the road from El Paso to Fort Yuma be +located by Parke's route, as many suppose, A FINE COUNTRY WILL BE +OPENED on the Gila and Lower San Pedro, which will produce ample +supplies. The Territory presents no difficulties of importance to the successful establishment of the road. Frequent stations and +PROPER PROTECTION ARE ONLY REQUISITE TO ENSURE SUCCESS AS +COMPLETELY AS THE MOST SANGUINE ANTICIPATE. Should Sonora, or +even a portion of it be organized, this will be one of the most +pleasant localities of our country. A delightful climate, plenty +of fine fruit, facility of supply by a port on the Pacific, +semi-weekly mails from the east and west,--are only some of the +attractions which it would possess. + +Sonora is quiet. Many of the wealthy men there are in favor of +annexation, it is said, but they have to keep silent on the +subject for fear of noisy patriots, who would proclaim them +traitors at once, if they made a parade of their inclinations. +The San Antonio and San Deigo mail passes through Tueson once a +fortnight, and seems to have met with no important obstacle yet. +A drove of mules accompanies it, which are harnessed in turn. +When regular stations are established its speed will be much +increased. My last letter was not written with a view of the use +being made of it you mentioned, yet if it answers a good purpose, +I have no objection. It was but a careless note, but its contents +were truths, nevertheless." (This note demonstrated the facility +of supply for the Territory from the Pacific.) + "Most truly your friend, + (Signed,) E. H. Fitzgerald." + + +Tubac, Gadsden's Purchase, 22d Oct., 1857. + +"We have of late been seriously annoyed by the Apaches. Nearly +all the animals belonging to the citizens residing around Fort +Buchanan have been driven off by the Apaches. They are very +impudent, and commit their depredations in broad day-light, talk +to the people while they are driving off the animals, and always +escape without being molested. + +The other day they came within 800 yards of the Fort and looked +down upon it. + +In order to bring them to terms the Government ought to enlist +1000 Pinos and Papagos to accompany the military. Indians are the +only persons who can successfully traverse these mountains and +hunt up their hiding places. If this is not done, they will +surely break up our settlements here. Forts ought to be +established in the very heart of the Apache country, in the +places fit, and used by them for cultivation. If this is done we +will soon bring them to terms. + +Until now, our mining establishments have not been molested by +them, and we are going on in high glee. This is undoubtedly the +richest silver mining country in the world. If the United States +will make just and liberal laws for us; give us protection; +remove those trifling and unprofitable custom houses on the +frontier, at least for 5 or 6 years; procure us a transit through +Sonora to Guaymas, and hasten along the rail-road to California, this will indeed be a prosperous country, and will astonish the +world with its production of silver and copper. But with such +terrible obstacles as those mentioned above and the great length +of transit to transport goods over the roads which we have to +take at present, progress only is possible for such as find mines +of the extraordinary and incredible richness of the Heintzelman +vein. If the present promises of few of these mines are realized, +by working them on a scale commensurate with their extent and +richness, I have no doubt but that they will equal in production +the whole silver exports of Mexico. + +I think an appropriation ought to be made to sink artesian wells +through the Papagos country, between San Xavier and the lower +Gila. This route cuts off about 100 miles from the best route via +the Pinos villages. It is laid down on my map, as a rail-road +route, now at the office of the Sonora Exploring and Mining +Company, at Cincinnati, Ohio. + +The country consists of a succession of plains and isolated +mountain ridges, none of which need to be crossed. In fact it is +a dead level to Fort Yuma, and, in consequence, no grading is +necessary. There is scarcity of water, but the soil in general is +excellent and grass abounds all along the line, while the +mountains teem with minerals of the richest description. The +oxides and the sulphurets of copper are the most beautiful and +richest in the world. Silver undoubtedly exists of equal +richness. + +All the foothills contain gold, but I hardly think it will be +extracted by the whites, as the localities are devoid of water, +and they are not probably rich enough to pay without sluicing on +an extensive scale." + +I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, + Herman Ehrenberg. + + To Lieut. S. Mowry, U. S. A., + Delegate elect from Arizona, + Washington, D. C. + + +The only comment the writer has to make upon these statements is, +that two years' residence among and acquaintance with the people +of Arizona, has convinced him of their absolute truth. At the +last session of Congress a petition was presented, praying for a +separate Territorial organization. The necessity for some +legislation was admitted by both Senate and House; and bills +creating a separate judicial district and land offices, passed +both Houses, but owing to some minor differences and the lateness +of the session, the bills failed to become a law. + +With an increased population and prolonged grievances, the people +of Arizona are again about to present themselves as supplicants +for that right inherent in the American heart--the right of self government--and of protection under the law. Their petition sets +forth in brief, plain terms, their situation and necessities, and +prays simply for a separation from New Mexico and a Territorial +organization under the name of Arizona. As a matter of necessity +for the successful carriage of the mail across the country, this +Territorial organization is imperative. No contract for labor or +supplies can be enforced in the present condition of the country. +Courts of law must be established, with officers to enforce their +mandates, or the contractors will be utterly unable to carry out +their contract. + +The great necessity of a safe and speedy overland communication +with the Pacific, has directed public attention to the +organization of Arizona as a separate Territory, and the desired +legislation has received the unanimous endorsement of the press +of the whole country. Petitions with thousands of signatures from +leading citizens of the majority of the states of the Union, will +be presented to Congress asking for the immediate organization of +the new Territory as the best means to at once open a highway to +the Pacific; and so important has this view of the question been +deemed as to call from the President of the United States a +recommendation in his message to Congress. No opposition has been +made to the most just prayer of the people of Arizona, and it is +believed that none will be made, unless it comes from New Mexico. +It must be born in mind that the Gadsden Purchase was not +originally an integral part of New Mexico; that it was acquired +years after the treaty of Gaudaloupe Hidalgo, and was only +attached to the territory of New Mexico as a temporary expedient. +It must also be remembered that the Gadsden Purchase, with the +portion of New Mexico which it is proposed to include within the +limits of the territory of Arizona, is separated from New Mexico +proper by natural boundries; that it derives no benefit from the +present connection, and that any opposition to the desired +legislation arises from the Mexican population, which fears the +influence of a large American emigration. Moreover, that New +Mexico contains upwards of 200,000 square miles, and that its +organic act provides for its partition; showing clearly that +Congress anticipated, at no remote day, the settlement of the +country by an American population, and its erection into several +territories and states. The only effect of the present connection +of Arizona with New Mexico is to crush out the voice and +sentiment of the American people in the territory; and years of +emigration, under present auspices, would not serve to +counterbalance or equal the influence of the 60,000 Mexican +residents of New Mexico. New Mexico has never encouraged American +population. She is thoroughly Mexican in sentiment, and desires +to remain so. + +As a matter of State policy, the organization of Arizona is of +the first importance. Situated between New Mexico and Sonora, it +is possible now to make it a thoroughly American State, which +will constantly exert its influence in both directions, to +nationalize the other two. New Mexico is at present thoroughly +Mexican in its character and vote. Sonora, if we acquire it at once, will be the same. By separating Arizona from it, and +encouraging an American emigration, it will become "the leaven +which shall leaven the whole lump." By allowing it to remain +attached to New Mexico, or by attaching it to Sonora when +acquired, the American influence will be swallowed up in the +great preponderance of the Mexican vote. The Apache Indian is +preparing Sonora for the rule of a higher civilization than the +Mexican. In the past half century, the Mexican element has +disappeared from what is now called Arizona, before the +devastating career of the Apache. It is every day retreating +further South, leaving to us, when it is ripe for our possession, +the territory without the population. + +The incentives to emigration to Arizona, in addition to the charm +which the discovery of mineral wealth carries to every mind, are +very great. The writer, in an extended tour through the Southern +States, found many people, mostly young men of moderate means, +ready and anxious to emigrate. The movement is still stronger in +Southwestern States, and already many a train of wagons is on its +way. It will have no end for years, for so mild and healthy is +the climate that emigration is practicable at all seasons. Snow +never lies on the soil, and frost is almost unknown. The +contracts already authorized by Congress involve the expenditure +of six millions of dollars in the next six years; the troops in +the Territory will cost as much more. Here is enough money in +hard sub-treasury coin, to draw a large population, independent +of other considerations. All ready in many places the +enterprising merchant exposes his stock of goods only two months +from San Francisco, but he does it with the prayer that the +Apache may pass him by, and too often he sees his hard-earned +profits disappear before the Indian's successful foray. + +The establishment of a firm government in Arizona will extend the +protection of the United States over American citizens resident +in the adjoining Mexican provinces. This protection is most +urgently demanded. Englishmen in Sonora enjoy not only perfect +immunity in the pursuit of business, but also encouragement. +Americans are robbed openly by Mexican officials, insulted, +thrown into prison, and sometimes put to death. No redress is +ever demanded or received. This state of things has so long +existed that the name of American has become a byword and a +reproach in northern Mexico, and the people of that frontier +believe that we have neither the power nor the inclination to +protect our own citizens. The influence of a Territorial +government, with the tide of American emigration which will +surely follow it, must entirely change the tone and temper of +these Mexican States. + +The population of Arizona to-day, exceeds that of Washington +Territory, and is far greater than was that of Minnesota, Kansas +or Nebraska, at the time of their organization. An election for a +Delegate has been held, at which several hundred votes were +polled, and the writer returned without opposition. The unsettled +and dangerous condition of the country prevented a convention being held, but letters have been received from all parts of the +Territory, expressing a hearty concurrence in the election on the +part of those unable to vote, and an earnest desire for the +Territorial organization. + +A number of gentlemen at present in Washington, can testify from +actual observation, to the truth of the statements here made in +reference to Arizona--among them I am permitted to name General +Anderson, late U. S. Senator from Tennessee, who almost alone, +with rare perseverance and courage, explored, in 1850, the whole +length of the Territory, Major Heintzelman, U. S. A., whose long +station at Fort Yuma made him acquainted with the resources of +the country, and who has shown at once his intelligence and +foresight and his faith in the prospective wealth of the silver +region, by large investments of capital, Col. A. B. Gray, late U. +S. Surveyor of the Mexican Boundary line, I. Smith McMicken, +Esq., whose residence for many years on the Mexican frontier has +entitled his opinion to some weight, and A. H. Campbell, Esq., +Superintendent of Wagon Roads, whose information is full and +reliable. To these names it may not be improper to add that of +the writer, who has for two years past, while residing at the +junction of the Gila and Colorado Rivers, made the new Territory +and its resources, an object of constant observation and study, +and whose experience on the Pacific coast, and in the frontier +Territories, and on the route across the continent, during the +past five years, has enabled him to speak understandingly of the +capabilities and necessities of a new country, and of a frontier +people. + +In five years a great State may be built upon this remote +frontier, and a population gathered, such as will, when we make +further acquisition of territory, spread at once over it, +diffusing national sentiment and extending the area of American +principles. + +Aside from these considerations, justice and humanity, +imperatively demand that Congress shall bear and at once answer +the prayer of the people of Arizona for protection. If these +considerations fail, then they offer INTEREST; for the +organization of the Territory is the guarantee of a supply of +silver, which will create as great a revolution in the commercial +world as has the gold of California. Arizona will be known as the +silver State, and the prediction of Humboldt, that the balance +between gold and silver, destroyed by the California discoveries, +would one day be restored, will be made good, from the resources +of the Gadsden purchase. + + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED: + +The undersigned, your humble petitioners, citizens of the United +States, and residents of the Territory known as the Gadsden +Purchase, respectfully represent: +That since the annexation of their Territory to the United +States, they have been totally unprotected from Indian +depredations and civil crimes. + +That the protection of the Mexican Government has been with +drawn, and that it has not been replaced by any visible +protection from the United States. + +That the annexation of the Purchase to New Mexico, carried with +it no protection for life or property. + +That the present force of United States troops, four companies of +dragoons, reduced by desertion and death to about one half, is +entirely inadequate to protect us against the depredations of the +Apaches. + +That many of your petitioners have expended their time and means +in opening and prospecting rich mines of Copper and Silver, and +have been driven from them by the Indians--losing their all, and +also many valuable lives. + +That the Territory is immensely rich in minerals, especially +Silver and Copper; and, as your petitioners most firmly believe, +the development of these mines will make a change in the currency +of the world, only equalled by that caused by the gold mines of +California. + +That a great part of the Territory, between the Rio Grande and +Tueson, is susceptible of cultivation and will support a large +agricultural population. + +That this portion of the Territory is in the hands of the +Apaches, and useless, unless redeemed from their grasp and +protected to the farmer. + +That the highways of the Territory are stained with the blood of +citizens of the United States, shed by Indians and by public +marauders, who commit their crimes in open day, knowing there is +no law to restrain and no magistrate to arrest them. + +That this Territory, under a separate organization, would attract +a large population and become immediately developed: and, that +its isolation--its large Indian population--its proximity to a +semi-civilized Mexican province, and its peculiar and wonderful +resources, demand protection from the Government more +emphatically than any other territory yet recognised. + +That our soil has been stained with the blood of American +citizens, shed by Mexican hands, in an armed invasion of our +Territory near Sonoita, and that there is no civil magistrate or +officer here to even protest against such an outrage. + +That throughout their whole Territory, from the Rio Grande to the +Rio Colorado, six hundred miles, there is no Court of Record, and no redress except that inefficiently administered in a Justice's +Court, for civil injuries or crimes. + +That the population of the Territory is much greater than was +that of Kansas or Nebraska or Washington Territory, at the time +of their organization, and that it is steadily increasing, and +will, under the influence of the Road and Mail Bills of the last +Congress, be greatly augmented. + +That there are no post routes or mail facilities throughout the +Territory, and that finally, we are cut off from all the comforts +of civilization--and that we claim, as a right, that protection +which the United States should everywhere extend to her humblest +citizen. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that the Gadsden +Purchase may be separated from New Mexico and erected into a +separate Territory under the name of Arizona, with such +boundaries as may seem proper to your honorable bodies, and that +such other legislation may be made as shall be best calculated to +place us on the same footing as our more fortunate brethren of +Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington, that we may +be enabled to build up a prosperous and thriving State, and to +nourish on this extreme frontier a healthy national sentiment. +And we, as in duty bound, will ever pray. + +[Signed by more than five hundred resident voters.] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg etext of Memoir of the Proposed +Territory of Arizona, by Sylvester Mowry. diff --git a/old/tariz10.zip b/old/tariz10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c70968 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tariz10.zip |