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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
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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； crossed the upper part of the
region alluded to； and which is watered by the Rio Verde and Salinas。 He
fully sustains me in my remarks on those rich valleys。
〃We are in the pleasantest region we have seen since leaving the
Choctaw country。 Here are clear rivulets； with fertile valleys and forest
trees。 The wide belt of country that borders the Black Forest； and probably
extends along the Rio Verde to the Salinas and Gila； bears every indication
of being able to support a large agricultural and pastoral population。 The
valley of the Rio Verde is magnificently wooded with furs and oaks；
affording excellent timber。 Ancient ruins are said by trappers to be
scattered over its whole length to the confluence with the Salinas。 We；
therefore； seem to have skirted the boundary of a country once populous；
and worthy of becoming so again。 Besides the advantages already
enumerated； the mountains in this vicinity bear indications of mineral
wealth。 Vol。 3； p。 93。〃
The notes before referred to； in the possession of the writer； speak of
great farming and grazing establishments scattered over the whole face of
the Territory； between 1610 and 1800； which produced abundant crops of
cereals； fruits； and grapes。 These statements are confirmed by the
testimony of Major Emory and his report； where he enumerates several of
the most extensiveby Gray； Bartlett； Parke； and Col。 Bonneville。 Many
of the Ranches； deserted by the Mexicans on account of the Apache
Indians； have upon them large； well…built adobe houses which must have
cost the builders thousands of dollars。 Many of these have been occupied
under squatter titles by emigrants within the last few years。 Of others； only
the ruins remain； having been destroyed by the depredations of the Indians；
or by the heavy rains of the succeeding years。
The greater portion of these lands on the Santa Cruz and San Pedro are
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
covered by Mexican titles… ゛nd many of these again by squatter claims。 It
is absolutely necessary that Congress should by some wise and speedy
legislation settle； upon some definite basis； the land titles of Arizona。 Until
this is done； disorder and anarchy will reign supreme over the country。 The
present condition of California is in a great degree to be attributed to the
want of any title to the most valuable real property in the State； and the
millions which have been spent in fruitless litigation should teach a lesson
of great practical value。 Let those Spanish grants and Mexican titles which
have been occupied in good faith be affirmed in the most expeditious and
economical manner to the claimants； and they will immediately pass into
American hands； and become productive。 The remainder of the country
should then be thrown open to settlers。 No better code of mining law exists
than the Spanish； adopted in the Senate bill introduced by the late General
Rusk； and passed at the last session of Congress。 A judicious and liberal
donation law； giving to the actual settler a homestead； and to the
enterprising miner and 〃prospector〃 a fair security for the fruit of his
labors； will at once make of Arizona a popular； thriving and wealthy State；
affording new markets for the productions of our Atlantic States； and
yielding annually millions in silver and copper。
In addition to the produce of Arizona； the immediate vicinity of the
agricultural region of Sonora affords an abundant market for all necessary
supplies； including sugar； which is manufactured by the Mexicans in great
quantities from the cane。 Guyamas； which one day will be ours； is one of
the largest ports for the export of flour on the Pacific coast north of Chili。
She also exports several millions in silver annually； which finds its way
direct to the English market。 Under an intelligent system； the Sonora
mines would yield a hundred millions a year； and the supply is
inexhaustible。 If any reader doubts this statement； refer him to the
statistics of Humboldt； Ward； and Wilson； most unquestioned and valuable
authorities。 Both Humboldt and Ward note the fact that the silver deposites
grow richer as they are traced farther North。 There can be no doubt that the
most extensive and valuable mines； both of pure silver and silver mixed
with copper and lead； are within the limits of Arizona。
The yield of the silver mines of Mexico； as computed by Ward and
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
Humboldt from the actual official returns to the Government； from the
conquest to 1803； amounts to the enormous sum of 2；027；955；000； or
more than two BILLIONS Of dollars。 Again； Ward says： 〃I am aware that
many of the statements in this and the preceding books respecting the
mineral riches of the North of New Spain； （Sonora； including the 'Gadsden
Purchase；' Chihuahua； and Durango；） will be thought exaggerated。 THEY
ARE NOT SO； they will be confirmed by every future report； and in after
years； the public； FAMILIARIZED WITH facts which are only questioned
because they are new； will wonder at its present incredulity； and regret the
loss of advantages whi