The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-12-29
A NEW EDEN.
The Prospects Of the Lower California
Expedition.


Expedition.
A San Francisco correspondent of the
Pittsburg Chronicle writes as follows:
1 believe mentioned in former let
ter that an expedition had left this city
for the purpose of colonizing Lower Cal
ifornia. The company under whose
auspices the expedition sailed purports
to be the owner of grant from the
Mexican government embracing in its
extent seven degrees of latitude, or
about $1,000 square miles of territory.
1t also claims to be the assign Of the
greater part of the Jecker contract for
the survey of the State of Sonora. In
consideration of which it is to receive
one-third of the public lands of the
State, calculated at forty thousand
square miles, additional; also claims
other large grants in Sinaloa, and vari-
Gus isolated properties in other parts of
the Mexican States. To represent these
franchises and territories the capital of
the Company has been fixed at the nom
inal sum of $4,000, the most of which
has been divided up amongst the lob
byists, politicians and editors, who gen.
orally fatten on such schemes. Few en-
terprises have had stronger list of Di-
rectors than this one, and if the names
truly represent the strength and power
OF the Company, it is indeed formidable.
Amongst the leading promoters are
Benz. Butler, August Belmont, Reverdy
johnson, Caleb Cushing, Robert NJ.
McLane, John W. Forney, Leonard
jerome, George Wilkes, and many other
equally as well-known men. But it was
not 80 much about the company itself,
or the political results that must follow
the establishment of a prosperous Amer
lean colony in that portion of Mexico,
that l intended to write, as of the re-
ports that have reached here from the
expedition about the soil, climate, and
productions of the country.
A NEW EDEN.
Lower California has hitherto been
considered peninsula of alternate rock
and desert, possessing no fertility and
few natural resources. To this SUPPOSE
ton must be ascribed the apathy that
has always existed in reference to its ac-
quisition. But if the letters received
from the adventures are to be relied on,
instead of the country being barren
wilderness, it is new Eden, an earthly
Paradise, almost equalling the first resi-
dence of our first ancestors. Verdant
plains, over which troop herds of wild
cattle, horses, deer and antelope; placid
bays from which a sweep of the seine
will draw boat-load of turtle, mullet,
perch, mackerel and sardines; corn a
foot high two weeks from planting;
climate equable and delicious, neither
too hot nor too cold wheat sown in
January, reaped in June, resown and
again reaped in January. Tomatoes
perennial, oranges, lemons, dates, figs,
bananas, olives, almonds, mulberries,
and many other varieties of trees grow
ing profusely, make up the glowing pic
ture painted by the settlers of their new
homes. A little paper published at the
settlement-Magdalena Bay, as it is cal
led-quotes the following as the price of
provisions there: Beef, dressed, . cts.
per pound; sheep, do, 81 each; goats
do, 81 each; deer and antelope do, 81
each cow, milch, with calf, 50 $40;
horses, working, $40 to $25; cheese,
cents per pound; wine, So cents per
gallon; brown sugar, 4 to cents per
pound, and tobacco 20 to % cents per
pound. Wood is said to be abundant
all goods are free from import duty, and
taxation is of course at present unknown.
Under such favorable auspices-if the
accounts are not exaggerated-has the
company entered on its practical career,
and it may be that this small beginning
is the thin end of the inevitable wedge
that must, sooner or later, be driven in
te split all the Northern States of the
Mexican Republic from the rule of apa-
thetic superstition and bring them under
the enlightening influence of our own
government.