the proposed territory of arizona(亚桑 那的预定疆界)-第6章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
20
… Page 21…
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
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 acequiasirrigating canalssome
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
21
… Page 22…
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
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
22
… Page 23…
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
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；
23
… Page 24…
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
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…﹏o courts； no law； no mag
