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California； together with the Gadsden Treaty； that induced parties at great
expense to emigrate there； and commence working the vast mineral
deposites； such as the Arabac silver mines； the Ajo copper mountain； and
others； but which； through lack of proper protection and means of
communication； have been greatly retarded in their development。
After crossing the dividing ridge of the continent west of the Rio
Grande； Gray thus alludes to the country：
〃There were large haciendas and fine cattle ranches in this
neighborhood； until a war of extermination was declared by the Apaches
against the Mexicans。 Remains of the old San Pedro ranch are seen at this
day； also the 〃Tres Alamos；〃 and the ruins of the hacienda of Babacomeri；
whose walls and towers are still standing。 These were among the
wealthiest of Sonora in horses； cattle； sheep； etc。； but it has been many
years since。 It is a fine grazing region； with wild cattle and mustangs
constantly seen roaming over the plains。 The district from San Pedro to
Santa Cruz valley； nearly due west from our present crossing （latitude 31
degrees 34 minutes）； will be to the Pacific slope what the region of Fort
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Chadbourne； in Texas； will be to the Atlantic。 The mountains and hills are
covered with splendid timber of the largest size； and for all purposes； and
the valleys are full of springs； and the finest grass。 To Tubac； a town in the
valley of Santa Cruz； it is 69 miles。 This is by following the San Pedro
about a league； passing over a few insignificant spurs； and ascending the
Rio Babacomeri； thence continuing westward by a gradual rise over
delightful plains to the divide between that and the Sonoita or Clover
creek； and along the latter； until it loses itself in the porous earth； a mile
from the Santa Cruz river； and by the broad valley of that stream to
Tubac。〃
Of the line of Gray's exploration from the Rio San Pedro； he says：
〃It passes through the most desirable region； with the hills and
mountains for forty miles； containing inexhaustible quantities of timber。
We noticed tall cedar and oaks of every description； one kind more
interesting than the others； being a white oak from twenty to forty feet in
the body。 Pine and spruce； with superior white ash and walnut； were found；
and the most gigantic cotton…woods； particularly on the Sonoita。 * * * *
〃The mountains in the neighborhood are filled with minerals； and the
precious metals are said to abound。 The famous Planchas de Plata and
Arizona silver mines； which the Count Raouset de Boulbon attempted to
take possession of； are in this section of country； not many miles below the
present limits； and at several of the old ranchos and deserted mining
villages which we visited； were found the argentiferous galena ore and
gold。 The Sierra Santa Rita runs along to the east of the Santa Cruz valley；
and forms a part of this interesting region。 It is very high and bold； filled
with fertile valleys and flowing rivulets； and covered with a dense growth
of timber。 I saw much of this district； when here in 1851； on the survey of
the boundry。〃
The country bordering immediately the head of the Gulf of California；
through which Gray was probably the first to penetrate； lies adjacent to the
proposed Arizona Territory； but not a part of the same； being a portion of
the State of Sonora。 He thus describes that section：
〃The Indians represent rich Placers existing throughout this region；
and large numbers of them had lately come in with considerable quantities
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of the dust。 They were trading it for trifles to the Mexicans。 I got some
specimens of it which was the same as the California Gold。 This was not
the time of year （June） for them to work the mines； but in the fall； after the
rain has commenced。 The greatest drawback to the profitable working of
the Placers of this district； is the scarcity of water。 If artesian wells succeed；
there is little doubt that it will create an important change。 West from
Tuseon and Tubac； towards the Gulf of California； the country presents
more the appearance of a barren waste or desert than any district I have
seen。 It nevertheless has occasional oases； with fine grazing lands about
them； and the mountains； which are more broken and detached； have
distinct marks of volcanic origin。 The ranges though short； have generally
the same parallel direction as those further east。 It is the country of the
Papago Indians； a peaceful and friendly tribe； extending down to the Gulf
coast； where they are mixed up somewhat with the Cocopas of the
Colorado。 From Sonoita I explored to the Gulf shore； near the mouth of
Adair Bay。 It was 62 miles； following a dry arroya most of the way； and
the point at which I struck the Gulf was in latitude 31 degrees 36 minutes
34 minutes。 The 〃Bay〃 is about 15 miles across； and from all I could learn；
15 miles long； and represented as having four fathoms of water。 It is
completely encircled by a range of sand hills； reaching north…west to the
Colorado river and south…east as far as the eye could discover。 These
〃sables〃 are probably eighty or ninety miles in extent； by five to ten broad。
〃Notwithstanding it appears to be the most desolate and forlorn…
looking spot for eighty miles around the head of the Gulf； the sand hills
looking like a terrible desert； nature seems even here； where no rain had
fallen for eight months； to have provided for the sustenance of man； one of
the most nutritious and palatable vegetables。
〃East of the Tinaja Alta or high tank range； lie the famous Sierras del
Ajo； now United States territory。 These mountains derive their name from
the vast deposits of red oxide and green carbonate of copper found about
them； and which the Indians have made use of to paint （ajo） themselves
with。 The mines are unquestionably of great value； and must become
important； more particularly from their being situated in the neighborhood
of the contemplated railway。 The tall Cereus Giganteus and Agave
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Americana are found in abundance。 From the latter plant the natives make
the pulque； mezcal and agua…diente； and the petahaya or cereus； produces
a fruit from which is made a very pleasant preserve。 At the Pimo and
Maricopa villages are found wheat； corn； tobaco； and cotton； besides
melons； pumpkins； beans； etc。 The nature of the soil for great distances in
the Gila valley is of a reddish loam； some parts coated with a beautiful
crystallization of salt； a quarter to half an inch thick。 This seems to be
more particularly the case below the Maricopa villages and toward the Rio
Salado。 The cotton； of which I procured specimens； though cultivated by
the Indians in the most primitive manner； exhibited a texture not unlike the
celebrated Sea Island cotton。 Its fibre is exceedingly soft and silky； but not
of the longest staple。 Large tracts of land on the Gila and in other portions
of this district； appear to possess the same properties of soil； and where； I
have no doubt； the finest cotton will soon be extensively raised and
brought to its highest state of perfection by proper cultivation。〃
The climate is thus referred to by Gray：
〃One of the most favorable features upon the route in the vicinity of
the 32nd degree proposed for the Pacific railway is； its accessibility at all
times； admitting of labor being performed in the open air at each season。
The nature of the climate through Texas to the Rio Grande has already
been referred to； and from thence to the Santa Cruz valley half way to the
Colorado； over the elevated plateau of the Sierra Madra；