The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-11

TO settle the complicated Mexican question,
Lower California and the Gulf of Califor-
MIA, In addition TO other northern Mexican
States, are to be oeded to tho United States
government in consideration Of the pro-
lection extended to the republic Of Mexico,
- part Of tho arrangement entered into BY
the Emperor Napoleon and President John
SON. In accepting Lower California and the
Gulf We gain most valuable possession, equal
only to California itself 1t Is questionable
whether, in many respects the Gulf and the
Peninsula may not prove quite IS advantageous
to our interests as the territory acquired by tho
Mexican war. Heretofore Lower Calif9Tuis has
been In measure terra ixoognita. Now that
1t Is about to become part Of the United
States territory, its physical, geographical and
political advantages become of some moment
The possession of the peninsula Of Lower Cali
fornia will give US an additional territory on
the Pacific seven hundred and fifty miles long,
extending from the mouth Of tho Colorado river
southwark to Cape st. Lucas, and from thirty
to one hundred and twenty miles wide. The
entire area may be measured at nearly two
hundred thousand square miles, Under the
misrule Of the Mexican government Lower
California has, of necessity, been comparatively
unproductive; but it is capable Of vast improve
mem when subjected to the enterprise Of our
people, which can make every acre yield ten
fold its former results, both in mineral and
agricultural wealth. The principal products
heretofore developed are gold, wine, pearls,
hides and tropical fruits of all kinds In tho
mense wealth, as yet but poorly worked. The
temperature is varied. but not unfayorable to
agricultural and other labor. In the extreme
south and in the northern districts bordering
on California the climate is most agreeable.
In the central portion or district Of Loreto
tropical heats sometimes prevail.
The population, which is composed of mixed
breed Indians, negroes and whites, amounted
in 1850 to about twelve thousand, and has
probably increased TO fifteen or eighteen thou.
sand at the present time. There are two prin-
cipal cities, Loreto, the capital, and La Paz.
On the Pacific coast there are numerous bays
which might be converted into good harbors;
for instance, the bay of Sebastian, San Marina,
Magdalena and Ballenas.
But perhaps the Gulf may be regarded as
more valuable even than the Peninsula, as with
the possession of the States of Sinaloa and
Sonora it would give us some splendid seaports
on the west coast of the mainland, affording i'm
mediate communication between the Pacific
and our territories, especially the golden valley
Of the Colorado. The port Of Guaymas Is the
principal one and IS reported to excel that of
San Francisco. We need not expatiate upon
the value of the Colorado region. It is perhaps
the richest in mineral productions in the world
1t Is, in fact, vein of gold and silver, besides
possessing the finest pasture land on the Pacific
slopes 1t is comparatively isolated from our
great centres now and altogether unapproach-
able from the Pacific; but when we can com.
mand Lower California, with its three coast
lines, and the Gulf with It's fine barbon and
seaports which we can connect with Texas by
railroad through this fruitful Colorado region,
who can put limit to the wealth to be drawn
from this whele district Of country
Under Mexican rule Lower California, with
all its advantages, IS little better than waste,
OF no value to Mexico-a dead member of
the body and barrier between us and a
large extent Of the Pacific coast. Az a
part of the United States the waste will soon
be made to bloom as garden, and every re.
source II contains will be amply developed.
The Gulf Of California abounds in pearls and
corals, but the fisheries for these articles arc
neglected and yield but . small moiety of
their actual productiveness. Fish Of all kinds,
some Of the rarest and most delicate
species, are obtained in these waters. We can
readily imagine how American enterprise
would convert oil these resources into valua-
BILE equivalents.
Such is portion of the advantages which tho
treaty for the disentanglement Of the Mexican
skein, suggested by President johnson and
about to be confirmed as acceptable by Ma
poleon and tho republican government OF
Mexico, will confer upon this country. II is
to the interest OF all parties concerned-the
United States, Mexico and France, that these
negotiations should be speedily consummated.
The STREET CoMMrssIoNER's OrFlCE--MR.
CoRSELL's SuccRssoR-Tbe term of Office of
the present Street Commissioner will expire
in December, and il will become the duty OF
the Mayor to nominate to the Board Of Alder
men successor to Mr.. Cornell. During the
recent campaign the friends OF Mr.. Hoffman
not only denied that be had any atiliation with
the Tweed and Cornell "ring," but claimed
that he had protected the taxpayers from
many of their schemes of plumber The Mayor
will now have an opportunity of proving his in
dependence Of the "ring," and the people will
be able to Judge Of the sincerity Of his profess
sons by the character of his nominee for this
important Office.
There are various rumors aaoa, in reference