第 6 节
作者:
大刀阔斧 更新:2021-02-20 16:03 字数:9320
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
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 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…﹏o courts; no law; no magistrates。 The
Territory of New Mexi