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！
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
5
… Page 6…
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 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；