The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-11
OUR LATE ACQUISITION FROM MEXICO.

OUR LATE ACQUISITION FROM MEXICO.
Personal Narraes Of Explorations and Incde,s ia Texas
NeW Mexieo California Sonora and chihuahua connected
nth the Ulk States AID Mexican Boundary Commission
during he ySa<laoo 1851 1852, ondis5a BY John Rus
sell Bartlett United States commissioner during that pc
riod. Q vols, svo with map and 10 illustrations d.
Appleton & Co, New York.
We have already referred in general terms to Mr. Bart
let's work and the subject now not for the
purpose of speaking of his book but to avail ourself Of
of the materials furnished by it in regard to the
value of the country embraced in the late treaty with
Mexico.
From the extracts which make it will be that
although the country embraced by the late treaty with
Mexico is of the general character all northern
Mexico well the district for several hundred miles
north of old line there are nevertheless within il
highly cultivated valleys, with very considerable
proportion of excellent grazing land
Our purchase the whole of the valleys of
the Santa Cruz and San Pedro rivers well the grazing
country between
"On leaving the San Pedro" says Mr.. Bartlett, 'the
whole face the country changed From that river had
assembled to plateau of an undulatng character similar to
the western praes II covered with short and
the depressons found pools Of water uxuriant
grass, and groves of small oaks.
'The country continued the the following day,
(Sept 1851 the grass rich and abundant, the valleys
studded with oaks, etc. Here small stream, of the
tributaries of the Santa Cruz met with, which be-
rapid and closely hemmed in by willows.
The valley for the last miles march resembled
old and highly cultivated place. from which the people and
their habitaons had suddenly disappeared Large cotton
wood and willow bushes lined the stream, while here
and there in little groves, beautiful oaks and large
mezqu for the latter although adapted to every SOIL
large tree in rich soil like this. II seemed that
grove approached it, conceal dwelling
place and cultivated grounds but in reality all solitude
there evidence that urrow had turned the
virgin soil, seed been sown there"
The valley of the Babocomori a small stream which
emptes into the San Pedro another place of interest
Here was ruined hacienda which had been of the
largest cattle establishments in the State of Sonora This
valley was from "quarter to half mile in width, and
covered with luxuriant growth of grass" aThe cattle
roamed along the entire length of the valley and the
time it was abandoned there were than forty
thousand head of them besides large number of mules
and horses"
One of the finest districts visited by the commission was
that which leads Santa Cruz and which, like those
described falls within our limits We give the extract en-
tire
September 23--Resumed our march through wood
quite difficult for the wagons few miles brought the
puerta gate in the mountain passing which, emerged
into very broad and open plain Of remarkable beauty From
the elevation where first this valley the prospect
exceedingly picturesque Around grew the maguey, the
yucca and various kinds of cac together with small oaks
while beneath the valley spread from to eight miles
in width, and twelve fifteen in length Unlike the
desoate and barren plains between the mountain ridges
which had crossed between the Rio Gande and the San
Pedro, this valley covered with the uxuriant
herbage and thickly studded with live oak like
forest, but rather resembling cultivated park (Vo l.,
p. 4OI.)
Among the illustrations giving view of this beau
tful valley.
AS far gather from the map the town of Santa
Cruz will fall within boundary OF this place and the
adjacent country, Mr.. Bartlett thus speaks
Santa Cruz of the nine presidios, military posts
the frontier of Sonora 1t formerly place of consd
cradle Importance, with about 800 inhabitants, but at
present its population does not exceed 300 1t possesses
fine valley and bottom land of the richest SOIL and is irrigated
by small stream bearing its which has its rise
lin springs about miles the north in the beautiful val
ley through which entered the place 1t is admirably
adapted for the raising of cattle and horses well for all
kinds of grain Wheat in particular does remarkably well
here" (yol. l, p. 4Os)
few miles to the south Of Santa Cruz the San Mi
gue river has its rise the old mission of Cocospea
This will be familiar to those who recolect the emf
grafton of party Of Frenchmen from California, who Sc
ected this spot and established themselves here,
of its being of the richest districts in Sonora 1t
abandoned six years before the visit of Mr. Bartlett in
consequence Of the inroads of the Apaches fine chu-ch
in good condition, with two towers and dome, remains.
The gded and painted upon the walls and cell
ing still remained and many wooden statues stood about
the altar
Bats were already in full possession Of the odce, and
hung from its projecting walls and like many black
ornaments while the swallows which fitting about
had taken up their abode here and added their mud
built the interior decorations In the valley stood
the orchard well stocked with apples pomegranates peaches
ounces These last found in the greatest prousion
the still bending with their loads of fruit Proceeding
down the valley noticed many ruined ranchos and other
remains Vt civilized community overgrown with tall
grass and shrubbery Cottonwoods and sycamores of
large ze grew along the margin Of the stream The
so beautiful region reverting to the condition of wilder
ness" (vol. |, page 49,
The Santa Cruz river has of about hundred
miles, flowing first to the south, then west and finally
northward when loses itself in the desert south of the
Gia. 1t is now wholly I'VE think, within domnions
1t first met by Mr. Bartlett in returning from the sur
vey of the CHA Tucson who thus describes the place
| its adjacent valley, and productions:
Tucson is the norhery in Mexico and very
old place. 1t found the oldest maps and is referred to
by early missionaries 1t has always BEEN and is to
this day garrison In its best days it bsased popula
ton of 1000 souls now diminished about onethrd that
number The lands Tucson very rich, and were
once extensively cultivated but the entertainments of the
Apaces compelled the people to abandon their ranchos and
seek safety within the town. More than the town has
been invested by from TO two thousand Indians and at
tempts made to take it without
Wheat maize peas beans, and enls raised at Tue