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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
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
Quiduria； Rosario； Eugenia； Victoria； and San Fernandothe latter at the
mouthwith 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
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
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 t