按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
MEMOIR OF THE
PROPOSED
TERRITORY OF
ARIZONA。
BY SYLVESTER MOWRY； U。 S。 A。； DELEGATE
ELECT。
WASHINGTON： HENRY POLKINHORN；
PRINTER。 1857。
1
… Page 2…
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
〃The NEW TERRITORY of ARIZONA； better known as the
GADSDEN PURCHASE； lies between the thirty…first and thirty…third
parallels of latitude； and is bounded on the north by the Gila River； which
separates it from the territory of New Mexico； on the east by the Rio
Bravo del Norte； （Rio Grande）； which separates it from Texas； on the
south by Chihuahua and Sonora； Mexican provinces； and on the west by
the Colorado River of the West； which separates it from Upper and Lower
California。 This great region is six hundred miles long by about fifty miles
wide； and embraces an area of about thirty thousand square miles。 It was
acquired by purchase from Mexico； during the mission of General
Gadsden； at a cost of ten millions of dollars。 In the original treaty； as
negotiated by General Gadsden； a more southern boundary than the one
adopted by the Senate of the United States in confirming the treaty； was
conceded by Santa Anna。 The line at present is irregular in its course； and
cuts off from our Territory the head of the Santa Cruz river and valley； the
Sonoita valley； the San Bernardino valley； the whole course of the
Colorado river from a point twenty miles below the mouth of the Gila
river； and； worse than all； the control of the head of the Gulf of California；
and the rich and extensive valley of Lake Guzman； besides a large and
extremely valuable silver region； well known both to Mexicans and
Americansthe planchas de la Platte。 General Gadsden's line included
nearly all the territory south of the Gila river to the thirty…first parallel of
latitudeall the advantages above mentionedgave us the mouth of the
Colorado river； and probably a port near the head of the gulf at Adair's Bay。
We have no accurate survey of the west coast of the Gulf of California； but
I am strongly of opinion that the original line conceded by Mexico would
have thrown a portion of the gulf into American hands； by cutting off an
arm of it extending east and north from the main body of water。 A port on
the gulf is of great and immediate necessity to our Pacific possessions。 Of
this hereafter。
The proposed boundaries； of the Territory of Arizona； are the 34th
parallel of latitude； with New Mexico on the north； from the 103d
meridian west to the Colorado； Texas on the east； Texas； and the Mexican
2
… Page 3…
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
provinces of New Mexico and Sonora on the south； and California on the
west。 The new Territory would thus contain within its borders the three
largest rivers on the Continent； west of the Mississippi*…the Rio Grande；
Gila； and Colorado of the west； and embrace 90；000 square miles。
The Gadsden purchase is attached by act of Congress to the Territory
of New Mexico。 At the time of its acquisition there was scarcely any
population except a few scattering Mexicans in the Mesilla valley； and at
the old town of Tucson； in the centre of the territory。 The Apache Indian；
superior in strength to the Mexican； had gradually extirpated every trace of
civilization； and roamed uninterrupted and unmolested； sole possessor of
what was once a thriving and populous Spanish province。
Except the report of Col。 A。 B。 Gray； there is scarcely anything in print
with reference to the early history of Arizona； beyond the scanty but
valuable notes of Major Emory and Hon。 John R。 Bartlett； in their reports；
and in the appendix to Wilson's late book； 〃Mexico and its Religion。〃 To
this last I beg to refer any reader who desires accurate information
respecting the Northern Mexican provinces； presented in a straightforward
common…sense style。
In the possession of the writer of these notes is a map drawn in 1757；
just one hundred years ago； presented by the Society of Jesuits to the King
of Spain。 The original of this map is now in the archives of the Mexican
Government。 It was copied； with the notes relating to the Territory； and to
Sonora； Chihuahua； and Sinaloa； by Capt。 C。 P。 Stone； late of the United
States Army。 The map bears the inscription； 〃Carte levee par la Societe des
Jesuites； dediee au Roi d'Espagne en 1757。〃
The copy of the map and the accompanying notes are certified as
accurate by the officer of the Mexican Government in charge of the
archives。
My information； therefore； upon the early history of this comparatively
unknown domain； is accurate and reliable。 As early as 1687； a Jesuit
missionary from the province of Sonora； which； in its southern portion；
bore already the impress of Spanish civilization； descended the valley of
Santa Cruz river to the Gila。 Passing down the Gila to its mouth； after
exploring the country； he retraced his steps； penetrated the country north
3
… Page 4…
MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
of the Gila river for some distance； and ascended the Salinas or Salt river；
and other northern branches of the Gila。 The explorations of this energetic
priest did not stop here。 Proceeding east； he explored the valley of the San
Pedro and its branches； thence along the Gila to the Mimbres； and
probably to the Rio Grande and the Mesilla valley。 Filled with the
enthusiasm of his sect； he procured authority from the head of the order in
Mexico； and established missions and settlements at every available point。
In a report to the government of the viceroy of Spain； made during the
early settlement of the province； I find the following language： 〃A
scientific exploration of Sonora； with reference to mineralogy； along with
the introduction of families； will lead to a discovery of gold and silver so
marvellous that the result will be such as has never yet been se