The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-27
ovr Missouri Cerresps.asnee.

Our Missouri Correspondence.
Hr. LouIs, Feb. Al, 1854.
n. G.d,d.r Treaty Territory Journey North
Of The Glla-hntuior of Sowovo-Ihe Build.~gs,
C,.lt,vetsd Lands, and Msnss-Ixe District from
81 Paso to Vera Crxz-Raiissay Facrl,ties-
S0xwdings iw the Colorado arbor Aecommoda-
fso~.
In consequence of the inclemency Of the season
have received NO news Of much interest from the
mountains or the plains for several weeks, and no
thing Of local character has occurred which would
attract the attention Of your readers
have had the pleasure, for several days past, OF
an intimate social intercourse with Major Stein, OF
the army, who for the last eighteen months has been
stationed in New Mexico, and for twelve months OF
thai period was in command ut Fort Webster, post
near the sources Of the ella river and in the territory
occupied by the Apaches, the fercest and most
powerful Of the border tribes, who have for two CEN
turtles subssted by periodical incursions into the
Mexican frontier provinces. In his EFFORTS TO keep
this and neighbong tribes In order he has fraversed
the country for many miles north Of the Gila along
the line Of the Colorado, and tar into Sonora. He
carried with him the best maps which could be fur
nished from the Typographical Bureau, and he has
marked upon them the errors he detected and added
the names Of many localities hitherto unknown 70
eur geographers -.
Contrary TO the popular superstition, he assures me
that this whole district Of country is interpreted
with vast spaces OF great fertility. The mountains
are not continuous ridges or chains, but irregular de-
tached masses, and between them are broad rich
valleys, admirably watered and Astounding in fruits
He describes the climate as being delightful. The
skies usually clear; the sun pours the hills
and wales flood Of brilliant light, and the sir Is
pure and invigOrating II Is never sultry, and the
nights are always so cool that blankets are ndispen-
sable. There are the ruins Of numerous ranches in
the southern valley Of the ella, in the Province o.
Sonora. They are from five to twenty, and even
thirty miles square, which were originally granted
by the Mexican government to Spanish grandees
for military services or in consideration Of money
paid.
Some Of them have very costly improve nents upon
them Of stoDe consisting Of tasteful buildings and
wallis for gardens and orchards OF late years the
Mexican authorities have been unable to afford ade-
quate protection and the occupants Ofthese prncsly
estates have been compelled by the northern hordes
Of Indians to abandon them. Even yet, however,
the buildings and walls are in good condition, the
Indians not finding their account in aboring to
destroy them, and, in spite OF their exposed and
good crops. In their fight the inhabitants abandon
ed large numbers Of their cattle and horses and
these, having wild have multiplied into hundreds
Of thousands. The Indians north OF the ella make
regular spring and fall hunts into Sonora to lay in
supplies Of meat
distance is about one hundred and eighty miles,
and from the latter place to the head Of the Califor
mia gulf the distance about three hundred and forty
miller. The Major assures me that there is absolute
ly no physical inpediment to the construction of q
railway the whole distance. There is barren space
70 of sixty mes between Ell Paso and Sam
q Cruz, where timber cannot be obtained, but with
this exception there is timber of the most durable
kind in the greatest abundance. He describes that
region as an open plain. dotted over with conical
peaks and interrupted ridges, and as being one
OF the most fertile in the world.
Gold, silver and copper are found in many l0cali-
ties but the space which is supposed to be the rich.
est in gold stretches from Santa Cruz northward
some forty miles beyond the CHA This region he
believes, from the best accounts he has been enabled
70 collect, win be found more productive than the
Last year trader from New Mexico, with seven
wagon loads Of goods undertook to make the journey
into Southern California and Western Sonora He
was fortunate enough to reach the ella some two
hundred miles above the bead Of the California Gulf
Here he constructed fatboat large enough to car
~ his goods, and foated down to the mouth Of the
Colorado. He Was convinced by repeated soundings
that . steamboat of three hundred tons burthen
might ascend to that distance without difficulty. At
Ihe mouth Of the Colorado be traded of most OF his
goods, and then followed the eastern shore Of the
Gulf about forty miles, where he discovered a1m
ble hsxbor, surrounded for many miles with fertile
land-indeed, to all appearances, that description
Of land was Ilimtable-yet, strange to say, there
poor.
Such is, in brief, the character of the country
which We shall obtain II the Gsdsden treaty is CON
summa;ed. give it only in brief, for IL would re-
me BY Major Stein, whose integrity and intelligence
are unquestionable. He Is now ordered to Texas
and from thence will, no doubt soon be transferred
70 his old pest or some other either in Western New
Mexico or Sonora. He has kindly promised to keep
me posted up IN regard TO the progress Of even {
there. x.