memoir of the proposed territory of arizona-第2章

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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　climegrapes；
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　extensiveby
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…゛nd　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