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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
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； it is
equally salubrious and temperate。 The rainy season falls in the
summer months； and but seldom is snow seen even upon the mountain
tops。 Towards the Colorado river it is much drier and more
torrid； but by no means unhealthy； nor does it prevent out door
work the whole of the day during the heated term of summer。
〃The great riches of the country； however； are a total waste at
the present time； but which the Pacific railroad will at once
develop； and make to itself the foundation of a vast revenue。 I
refer to its metallic wealth； the silver； gold； and copper mines
that abound in almost every mountain and valley； between the Rio
Grande and the Gulf of California。
〃The ores of Chihuahua and Sonora ＇now Arizona。 S。 M。＇ are
chiefly sulphuret （lead or iron）； or native silver in porphyritic
or stratified limestone rocks passing at greater depths into
igneous rocks。 From loose piles lying upon the surface and
evidently picked over； I procured specimens of silvier and
copper。 Three samples representing points on the line of our
exploration about equi…distant from each other； viz。： the Rio
Grande； the neighborhood of Tubac； and within 90 miles of the
junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers； were submitted to Dr。
I。 K。 Chilton； of New York； for analysis。 He found in one sample
of lead ore （argentiferous galena）； by fire assay 71 per cent。 of
lead； and the 〃LEAD YIELDED SILVER EQUIVALENT to 128 ounces； 1
dwt。 to the ton〃 （of 2000 pounds）。
〃In another； he found the lead obtained from it to yield silver
in the proportion of 72 ounces 5 dwts。 to the ton or 2000 pounds。
〃The copper specimen was the red oxide； and yielded as follows：
Copper；。。。。。。。。。。。。 71。80
Iron；。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 7。84
Oxygen；。。。。。。。。。。。。。12。34
Silicia； Alumina；。。。。8。02
100 parts。
〃The Papagos and Pimas Indians； by proper management； might be
made very useful； in working upon the road where there is not
much rock excavation。 They are unlike the Indians of Texas； or
the Apaches； living in villages and cultivating the soil； besides
manufacturing blankets； baskets； pottery； etc。 Quiet and
peaceable； they have no fears except from their enemies； the
Apaches； and are very industrious； much more so than the lower
order of Mexicans； and live far more comfortably。 It is
astonishing with what precision they construct their
acequiasirrigating canalssome of them； the acequias madre； of
very large size； and without the use of levelling apparatus； but
simply by the eye。 Their gardens and farms too are regularly
ditched and fenced off into rectangles and circles； with hedges
and trees planted as if done by more enlightened people。〃
The population of the new Territory of Arizona is at present not
far from eight thousand； and is rapidly increasing。 The Mesilla
Valley and the Rio Grande are probably the most thickly
populated； containing about five thousand people。 A majority of
the Mesilla inhabitants are Mexicans； but they will be controlled
by the American residents； whose number and influence is
constantly on the increase。 The Santa Cruz Valley； in which are
situated the towns of Tueson； Tubac； Tumacacari； and the mining
settlement of Sopori and others； is； next to Mesilla； the most
thickly settled。 Tueson was formerly a town of three thousand
inhabitants； but the majority have been driven off by the Apache
Indians。 It is fast becoming a thriving American town； and will
before long be a place of more importance than ever before。 Real
estate is already held at high rates； and the erection of
buildings shows that American energy is about to change the face
of the last half century。 Tubac had been completely deserted by
the Mexicans。 It has been reoccupied by the Sonora Exploring and
Mining Company； and now boasts a population of several hundred。
The Calabazas valley is also fast filling up with an American
population； and another year will see the whole centre of the
Territory dotted with settlements。 Many of the fine claims on the
San Pedro River have already been located by emigrants under the
general pre…emption law； but until protection is afforded to the
settlers； but little progress will be made in agricultural
pursuits。 The Apache Indian regards the soil as his own； and
having expelled the Spanish and Mexican invader； he feels little
inclination to submit to the American。 A small settlement of
Americans is growing up at Colorado city； opposite Fort Yuma； at
the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers。 This point is
destined to be one of great commercial and pecuniary importance。
Situated at the present head of navigation； at the point where
the overland mail route crosses the Colorado； and where the
Southern Pacific Railroad must bridge the stream； it is a
necessary stopping place for all travel across the country。 Here
are transhipped all the ores coming f