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！
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
6
… Page 7…
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
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
7
… Page 8…
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
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
8
… Page 9…
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
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；