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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； 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 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 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
Humboldt from the actual official return