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Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona
by Sylvester Mowry
〃The NEW TERRITORY of ARIZONA； better known as the GADSDEN
PURCHASE； lies between the thirty…first and thirty…third
parallels of latitude； and is bounded on the north by the Gila
River； which separates it from the territory of New Mexico； on
the east by the Rio Bravo del Norte； （Rio Grande）； which
separates it from Texas； on the south by Chihuahua and Sonora；
Mexican provinces； and on the west by the Colorado River of the
West； which separates it from Upper and Lower California。 This
great region is six hundred miles long by about fifty miles wide；
and embraces an area of about thirty thousand square miles。 It
was acquired by purchase from Mexico； during the mission of
General Gadsden； at a cost of ten millions of dollars。 In the
original treaty； as negotiated by General Gadsden； a more
southern boundary than the one adopted by the Senate of the
United States in confirming the treaty； was conceded by Santa
Anna。 The line at present is irregular in its course； and cuts
off from our Territory the head of the Santa Cruz river and
valley； the Sonoita valley； the San Bernardino valley； the whole
course of the Colorado river from a point twenty miles below the
mouth of the Gila river； and； worse than all； the control of the
head of the Gulf of California； and the rich and extensive valley
of Lake Guzman； besides a large and extremely valuable silver
region； well known both to Mexicans and Americansthe planchas
de la Platte。 General Gadsden's line included nearly all the
territory south of the Gila river to the thirty…first parallel of
latitudeall the advantages above mentionedgave us the mouth
of the Colorado river； and probably a port near the head of the
gulf at Adair's Bay。 We have no accurate survey of the west coast
of the Gulf of California； but I am strongly of opinion that the
original line conceded by Mexico would have thrown a portion of
the gulf into American hands； by cutting off an arm of it
extending east and north from the main body of water。 A port on
the gulf is of great and immediate necessity to our Pacific
possessions。 Of this hereafter。
The proposed boundaries； of the Territory of Arizona； are the
34th parallel of latitude； with New Mexico on the north； from the
103d meridian west to the Colorado； Texas on the east； Texas； and
the Mexican provinces of New Mexico and Sonora on the south； and
California on the west。 The new Territory would thus contain
within its borders the three largest rivers on the Continent；
west of the Mississippi？the Rio Grande； Gila； and Colorado of
the west； and embrace 90；000 square miles。
The Gadsden purchase is attached by act of Congress to the
Territory of New Mexico。 At the time of its acquisition there was
scarcely any population except a few scattering Mexicans in the
Mesilla valley； and at the old town of Tucson； in the centre of
the territory。 The Apache Indian； superior in strength to the
Mexican； had gradually extirpated every trace of civilization；
and roamed uninterrupted and unmolested； sole possessor of what
was once a thriving and populous Spanish province。
Except the report of Col。 A。 B。 Gray； there is scarcely anything
in print with reference to the early history of Arizona； beyond
the scanty but valuable notes of Major Emory and Hon。 John R。
Bartlett； in their reports； and in the appendix to Wilson's late
book； 〃Mexico and its Religion。〃 To this last I beg to refer any
reader who desires accurate information respecting the Northern
Mexican provinces； presented in a straightforward common…sense
style。
In the possession of the writer of these notes is a map drawn in
1757； just one hundred years ago； presented by the Society of
Jesuits to the King of Spain。 The original of this map is now in
the archives of the Mexican Government。 It was copied； with the
notes relating to the Territory； and to Sonora； Chihuahua； and
Sinaloa； by Capt。 C。 P。 Stone； late of the United States Army。
The map bears the inscription； 〃Carte levee par la Societe des
Jesuites； dediee au Roi d'Espagne en 1757。〃
The copy of the map and the accompanying notes are certified as
accurate by the officer of the Mexican Government in charge of
the archives。
My information； therefore； upon the early history of this
comparatively unknown domain； is accurate and reliable。 As early
as 1687； a Jesuit missionary from the province of Sonora； which；
in its southern portion； bore already the impress of Spanish
civilization； descended the valley of Santa Cruz river to the
Gila。 Passing down the Gila to its mouth； after exploring the
country； he retraced his steps； penetrated the country north of
the Gila river for some distance； and ascended the Salinas or
Salt river； and other northern branches of the Gila。 The
explorations of this energetic priest did not stop here。
Proceeding east； he explored the valley of the San Pedro and its
branches； thence along the Gila to the Mimbres； and probably to
the Rio Grande and the Mesilla valley。 Filled with the enthusiasm
of his sect； he procured authority from the head of the order in
Mexico； and established missions and settlements at every
available point。 In a report to the government of the viceroy of
Spain； made during the early settlement of the province； I find
the following language： 〃A scientific exploration of Sonora； with
reference to mineralogy； along with the introduction of families；
will lead to a discovery of gold and silver so 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 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 i