The Nevada journal., 1861-09-20
CoNGGSIC AFED.
ARIZONA AND WESTERN TEXAS.


Volunteers now being mastered into service.
has attracted moro than ordinary attention to
that region, and may render brief description
of its principal points not altogether unnterest-
ing.
What object the Texans can have in attempt
ing the conquest Of Arizona and The expulsion
of the United States troops tlerefrom at this
date, it is difficult to conjecture, inasmuch as
the Territory Is SO remote from any base Of or
erations which they can establish, is so desti
tute of resources andpopulation. and SO exposed
to the assaults Of tic terrible Apachcs, that it
would seem TO be madness on their part TO at
tempt to conquer, much less tc hold it, al this
particular jancture unless, as is probably the
case, they expect during the present contest to
so thoroughly humble the North as to wholly
destroy Its military spirit in the future. The
whole district OF territory included under the
name of Arizona, stretching FROM the Rio Gran
de to the Colorado is utterly vaueess at pres
ent for all civilized purposes. and must remain
SO until the Indians are driven ont or thorough
ly subd1ed, and railroad communication is
opened through it. That it is immensely ric!
in minerals no one will doubt who has ever even
casually explored it, but the scarcity of fuel and
water and the expense Of overland transporta
ton, render these vast deposits SO hopelesslv
Improbable as to preclple any general attcmnt
at their development But small portion Of
the territory is arabic, although in soil and eli
mate it much resembles California The noun
tains are steep, rocky and mostly impassiblc-
the broad, level valleys and the few river bot
toms only, can ever be eGltiya e. nere the
soil is very rich. and by the aid of irrigation
viii produce almost everything. The valleys of
the Rio Grande, Gila. Colorado Salinas, San
Pedro and 4 few ether streams, will eventually
become large rice, sugar and eot'pa growing dis
tricts; and Mr.. Seward is grayely mistaken in
supposing that slavery can never flourish in
that region. If the institution is ever protita-
bic in Texas, it viii become still moro SO when
ever Arizona is opened up for settlement
winch Will not be until, as bef re remarked.
railroad communication is established
Notwittstanding all these disadvantages.
however, it is very desirable that the United
States should hold ii, not only on account Of its
vast mineral wealth, but for political reasons,
rs well as from its Importance to the people of
this coast, as route OF communication with
the interior of the continent and the Gulf of
Mexico. That it caa be heidi by the United
States against all the werll in arms, or 50 long
as that Government has foothold on this coast
is almost sef-cyident. Tucson, the second, as
well as the most central, town in the Territory,
is distant from Fort Yuma, the head Of tiIowat-
er navigation on the Colorado, only 2s0miles;
while from the most Western settlements Of
Texas. (with the exception Of die scattered Mex
can population on the Rio Grandc) it is Il.
less than 500 miles, oyeI region compased Of
barren mountains and desert plains, and, during,
a portion of the year, quite impossible to large
bodies of troops. This fact, of itself is sufi-
cient to demonstrate the folly Of the Coafedcr-
ate States in attemp ing to occupy it at the pres
ent time, and while the result Of their struggle
for independence is by no means ces,aiu.
From Tucson to Mcsilla, situated in the cy-
treme southeastern corner Of the Territory on
the Rio Grande, is zoe miles-the route pass;n.
through the celebrated Apache and Doubtful
Passes, regular Thermopylms in their way,
where small force may successfully hold in check
Il well appointed army Mcsilla, although OF
luitc recent origin, is the largest town between
st. Louis and San Francisco, containing pop-
e nl,p =
leans who have emigrated from the neghboring
State Of ChhuahHa in order to enjoy the protec-
ton Of our Gorernnent, 1t IS lJca;ed in the
midst OF Iiasatfnl valley, the soil Of which
year.
fo'6 Fillmore, the scene of the latest disgrace
to the United States, is six miles bel wv Mesilla
On the eastern bank of the Rio Grande, and Just
within the limits Of New Mexico proper. Fort
Bliss, in Texas, is GO miles below, adjoining the
town of FL Paso, which is situated opposite the
old Mexic1n town of the same name and where
according to the latestreport, the California vol
unteets viii enter the rebel territory from via
Mazatlan. The American FL Paso has froui
1890 to 1000 inhabitants-al Mcxicans with
the exception Of about 200 of the worst cescrin-
ton of blacklcgs, cut throats and .-borlcr ruff
ans" Seventy miles below, is southeas:erly
direction, is Fort Qutman, and 80 miles east of
Ell Paso, situated the western outlet Of Wild
Rose Pass, is Fort Davis. This Pass opens
through the prOlongation Of the Rocky Noun
4ain rance and is the ka-- to the sn.iyp Vn1le,-
of the Rio Grandc. With this and the Guada-
loupc Pass, some 20 miles further north, in pos
session of the United States, the whole of West
ern Texas, Arizona and New Mexico might be
held at a very trifling expense against al the
forces which the Confederatcs could bring to
bear upon them.
East of Wild Rose Pass the country changes
in its appearance and is Of an entirely different
formation. The mountains dssappear and
are succeeded by broad fertile valleys, elevated
plains and rolling praries. Sixty miles from
Fort Davis, on the route to San Antonio, is FORT
Stoc kton thea comes the Pecos River. a so: !
IF terrestrial PhleEcthon. aHd very difficult
t. cross at any ,ma. Then comes the Lidno
Estacadc or q" Great Staked Plain" an elevated
plateau, utterly destitute of water and - miles
in width at its narrowest point; then Fort Chad
bourne on the headwateFs of the Texan Color-
ado and scattered about the country at inter
vals regular buwarli Of frontier posts, dc
signed to protect the advancing settlements Of
Texas troEl the fierce and powerful Comanches;
sad which. with an agraiitnde that wonld have
shamed eyen thoir savage enemy. the " chival-
~" have appropriated to their own use through
the hIseness Of the traitor Twiggs. All these