Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-07

From the San Francisco Unisn of March "a.
The Resources of the Gadsden Purchase.
We translate, from the German Journal, the
following notice Of the resources of the Gadsden
the editor of that paper:
Il is not to be denied that the greater portion
of the Gadsden purchase is entirely unfit for cul-
tivation. Distsicts extending hundreds of miles
have a soil so poor that even if provided with
water, they could never produce anything. There
are wide stretches of coarse sand, cobbe stones,
and fragments of basalt and porphyry, dotted
here and there with lonely and stunted bushes Of
Of the Larrea -Mericana, and other desert shrubs.
A few thorny acacas, prckly cacfi, yucca bushes,
and mesquite brush complete the list Of the scanty
vegetation upon a soil which CLOVIS with heat on
every summers day. In days journey II is
often difficult to find grass enough to furnish
meal to a horse.
But in the midst Of these deserts lie beautiful
GASES, some Of which comparatively large.
The borders Of the Rio de los Mimbres, the val
leys in which lie the sources of the river Sagui,
the San Pedro bottom, the extensive mountain
basin wherein this latter stream has its rise, and
the entire Santa Cruz Valley, belong to the most
beautiful and attractive points which are seen on
the American continent. All these places are
well watered by multitude Of springs, supplied
by the surrounding mountains. Within a space
Of several hundred square miles at the head Of
the San Pedro, more water springs from the earth
than in any equal space known to on the con-
tinent.
The neighboring mountains have good sup
ply of wood for building and burning. The eli
mate is one Of the most wholesome in the world.
The summer is hot, and the rainy season falls in
the middle of the summer months. In winter
there is ice and n little snow Apples, pears,
peaches, grapes, and figs thrive as well as in any
place in the world; and in the fields Of the
merous haciendas and ranches, now deserted on
account of Indian incursons, there are yet old
orchards, the fruits Of which are sometimes gath
cred by the inhabitants living at distance, in
places Of security. The culture Of the grape and
other fruit might easily be extensively revived;
but wheat would be the chief product Of the
farms.
He who delights in the beauty of the landscape
would be entirely satisfied with many of these
places. We have observed there many scenes
which might compare in beauty and even in sub
Unity, faverably with anything which the tenn
perate zone boast But the appearance OF
nature there is peculiar. Majestic mountains of
Alpine forms, but without snow in summer are
sparscly or not at all wooded surround meadow
valleys, watered with springs or brooks Of the
clearest water, which are filed with fish, and the
banks Of which are covered with flowers. From
the grass on the hills there arises here and there
gigantic agavc, with slender blossom-crowned
branches, resembling in shape the seven-branched
Mosaic candlestick. In the Santa Cruz Valley
there are no oaks, and the banks of the ripping,
pebble-bottomed streams are fringed with poplars,
willows, ash, nut trees, and live oaks.
The two great drawbacks Of the land are--the
danger from Indians, and the distance from mar
ket. If, however, the reported mineral wealth
Of the district be confirmed, there will soon be .
large population