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cultivation which now presents a fruitless waste； owing to Indian
depredations and the absence of means of communication and
protection。 Mexico has tried for a century past to insure safety
to her inhabitants in this region； but notwithstanding the
expense she has incurred in keeping up her garrisons； she has
failed to afford them protection。
〃The deserted appearance of the country from El Paso to the
Colorado is no criterion by which to judge of its value。 The
beautiful valley of San Xavier； or Santa Cruz； some two years ago
when I passed through it； was entirely deserted。 The once
thriving towns of Tumacacori and Tubac had not the sign of a
living soul about them except the recent moccasin track of the
Apaches。 The orchards and vineyards of the once highly cultivated
fields and gardens bore the marks of gradual decay and
destruction。 The ranchos of Calabazas； of San Bernardino； and
numerous other places on this frontier； presented the same
melancholy aspect； the result of the inability of Mexico to
protect this portion of territory from the inroads of the
savages。 There are now but a few settlements throughout this
district of country； but were it protected by a power that could
and would defend it； what is now a waste in the hands of the
savages might become a thriving country； with safety insured to
its inhabitants。〃 Senate Ex。 Doc。 No。 55； 33rd Congress； 2nd
Sess。
I quote the following language of Gray； from subsequent
explorations made by him； three years after his first expedition；
and contained in his report to the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company。 It was chiefly from the discoveries made by Gray； in
this adventurous expedition； through regions unknown for many
years past； between the Rio Grande and Gulf of 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 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 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 h