The Kanzas news., 1858-01-30
rnSAr;zsns

: Lieut. TMowgy,. Delegate from the people
living Ia the Gadsden purchase, asking for
Territorial orgaAization under the name of
Arizona, has prepared an account of the
territory to be laid before Congress. This
territory, 500 miles long by 50 wide, was
purchased from. Mexico at cost of ten
millions Of dollars It has been considered
poor bargain at that price, and would neY-
er have been purchased if the South had
not supposed she needed tito give room Tor
her extending institution. 1t may at some
future day be worth what it has cost, espe-
cially if the northern scheme of organized
emigration shall Eli it with hardy pioneers
of freedom. The territory lies between
New Mexico ON the north and Texas and
Sonora on the south, Texas on the east and
California on the west. 1t is traversed by
the three largest rivers on the continent,
west of the Mississippi--the Rio Grande,
Colorado. and Gila. s7az7~ -s.a.-s'
At the time OF Its purchase there was
scarcely any population except few scat
tered Mexicans in the MesiHa Valley and
at the old town OF Tucson in the center of
the territory. The apache Indians possess
ed the whole territory as hunting ground.
| All the recent explorations agree with the
testimony of the ancient records that the
| territory has immense mineral resources,
Especially of silver and copper. The agri-
cultural resources of Arizona are sufficient
to sustain large mining population, and
afford abundant supplies for the great immi-
grafton which will follow the development
of it's mineral resources. The whole valley
of the Gila, more than four hundred miles
in length, can be made, with proper exer-
ton, to yield plentiful crops. The Pimos
Indians, who live in villages on the Gila,
one hundred and seventy miles from its
mouth, raise large crops of cotton, wheat
and corn, and have for years supplied the
thousands of emigfants who traverse the
territory en- route to California. The val
! ieys of the Mesilla and Rio Grande are
abundantly fertile, and already have pop
ulation of about 5000, the majority of
whom are Mexieans. The whole popula-
ton of the territory IS estimated at 10000.
! A small settlement of Americans is grow
ing up at Colorado city, opposite Ft. Yuma,
| at the junction of the GiIa and Colorado
rivers. This point is destined 10 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 south
ern Pacific railroad must bridge tbe stream,
it is Unnecessary stopping place for travel
across the country. -i
The establishment of firm government
in Arizona will extend the protection of the
! United States over American citizens resi-
dent in the adjoining Mexican provinces
This protection is most urgently demanded.
Englishmen in Sonora enjoy not only per-
feet immunity n the pursuit of business,
but also encouragement. Americans are
robbed openly by Mexican officials, insulted,
thrown into prison, and sometimes put TO
death. No redress is demanded or receiv-
ed. This state of things has so long exist
ed that the name of American has become
a by-word and reproach in northern Mex
leo, and the people of that frontier believe
that we have neither the power nor the in
clination to protect our own citizens The
influence of Territorial Government, with
the tide of American emigration which will
surely follow it, murt entirely change the
tone and temper of these Mexican States.