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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 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 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 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 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。