The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-03-03
Lecture by Lieutenant rIOwry.
THE GEOGRAPHY AND RESOURCES OF ARIZONA

evening Of the 80 Inst., before the Geogr8ph |
icOl and Statistical Society, on "The Geog. |
raPhy and Resources OF Arizona"
Alter the transaction OF the usual routine
of bu. mess, DR.. Hawks introduced Leuten.
ant Mowry, who said that the word Arizona
is derived from the Aztec, and is supposed
to mean silver-bearing. In size, the terri.
tory is more than twice as large as New
York, aud contains within its boundaries
three of the largest rivers west of the Mis-
sissiPpi; the Giln, the COLORADO o the West,
and the Rio Grsnde. The outlet for its pro-
ductions is the Gulf of California, and its
possession necesste.es the acquisition ot
Sonora. Lieut. n. said he had in his pos
session authentic documents detailing curly
explorations of the territory, and read
lengthy extracts from q memoir published
by himself on this point. He then proceed.
ed to describe its geographical features
West of the RiU Grande is q series OF table
lands, which are broken by two ranges OF
mountains. For three hundred m lies there
are superior graziOg lands, and the farmer
finds his cattle in January in better condi-
ton than the corn-fed cattle in this part OF
the country. The stream of the Santa Cruz
is intermittent, but its valley is exceedingly
fertile, as is that of the San Pedro. Tucan
is the only town of consequence in the ter
ritory, and has some two hundred nhabit-
ants. North of the Santa Cruz there are
very rich silver mines. West of the Santa
Cruz, the land is in many Parts an irreclaim-
able desert. The Arizona mines were spo-
ken Of as particularly rich. Lieut.. NJ. re-
lerred to L. E. Dunbar'S communications,
published in the TINES as particularly veIu-
able, though he differed from him in some Of
his conclusions. On the streams in the
northern part of the territory, the Indians
raise corn. The tribes may be classed as
hostile and friendly. Notwithstanding the
lsct that We owe the protection OF the over
land mails, and, in fact, the safety OF every
American inhabitant in Central and West
ern Arizona TO these friendly Indians, no
pains whatever has been taken to preserve
these relations. The Apaches are particu-
! larI9 troublesome. Arizona can have no
| peace until a strong force is sent there BY
i the Government to hold them in check -
Velszqncz has sketched their character well,
in describing them as thievish and quarrel
some. From Juno to Septe mbcr is the
rCiny season. Prof. Henry has demonstrn-
ted that no rain falls in Arizona. The
speaker said he had not seen his paper, bu
he understood that his theory was beautifU
enc. Fortunately; facts contradict him.
The American population, which numbers
1000, is concentrated in the centre of the
territory. The speaker then described in
profound belief that The mines of Arizont
and Sonora would prove to be the riches: OF
tEc continent. Senator Gwn says that hi
heard of the gold on the GIa as long ago a
l849. At point On this river, gold wal
first discovered by tho emgrants in 1888
Lieut.. M. said he visited the locality himself
and saw 20 dollars washed out of a shovel.
full of dirt, and found that it would pay to en-
gage men to work for their board and $s3 pei
day. But gold-washing in the richest mine
is, at the best, uncertain work, and nc on.
should undertake it who is making comfort
able living at home. A letter was cited
which was written about the middle of tn
seventeenth century by travelling priest
in which it was said that gold existed i
California, which would undoubtedly I'D
greatly TO the Spanish revenue, and Sonor
was then fully described. Gold is found i
abundance in numerous localities not tift
miles from the southern boundary of Arizo
ma. The rainy season there extends frol
June to September, and the climate is We!
e similar to that OF California, though its hea
d are by no means so oppressive. Its cntil
population does not exceed 1875, coo. Lieu
NJ. predicted that the southern route for II
r Pacific Railroad would be the one finally Sc
- lected. The country along the S2d parall
is far more favorable than any other. Guy
amas must be the first terminus of the roa
Il By this route it can Dc built for $4,000 p
mile most, il not all, the way. The lectur
It stated that he had Travelled over a large pa
n of the route, and he knew from personal ol
- servation that all that would be necessa
IS in many places would be the construction
y the road bed, there being in many places f
miles no side excavations to be made. I'll
e develoeement OF the mineral resources wou
= go far, eventually, towards paying the &C
of construction. Lieut.. NJ. closed by refe
= ring to the curious fact that in the report
I'd the Viceroy of Spain during the early settl
ct nent OF the province of Arizona and sono'
ID isfound the following words "a scienti
exploration of Sonora with reference
mineralogy, alone with the introduction
families, will lead to discovery of gold a
o. silver so marvellous thst the result will
h. such as has never yet been seen in t
ed world" IT remains for the American pc
pie to make good the prediction. With
10 organization of Arizona and the ucqusiti
of Sonora, new impetus will be given
10 the Pacific. The Mexican population W
o. recede before the energy of American care
I'M At Guyamas city will 60 up which sh