New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-15
SONORA


NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. UPON REVOLUTIONARY
SUBJECTS.
tFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
! GUAYMAs, Mexico, Oct. 21.-Here is a sleepy
| little Mexican seaport town which Is manifest
/ Ing various spasmodic twitchings preliminary to
its galvanizaton into life by two very Po-
| tent eectrodes-the rails which are 10 form
a new highway from the Pacific to the Atlantic sen
board. The limestone and adobe houses straggle along
narrow strip Of level ground with pge Of mountains
behind and tho blue OF the harb6r in front II the
town possesses any especially notable characteristics
have been unable discover them. There the plaza
the ancient church and the barracks OF oil Mexican
towns; there picturesque notifications Of Moorish
architecture and there the usual great trading
houses their heaped with gorgeous srdpe ana
shelves loaded with gded sombrerOs punches OF cigars
wrapped In gold foil and tinse. which hang six
81 o0ers while the IN the are crowded
with mining supplies and goods OF curlously miscel-
laneous character Then near the town are planning
mill, match-facory and ice-making esiabishment-in In
novations introduced by American firm. As to the
people, the 5000 5000 easy-going residents OF
Guaymas arc distinguished by marked character
istc. but taking the 1885, 900 inhabitants Of Sonora as
whole there rre some peculiar traits which 1 shall
emphasize later.
The interesting point here however, ia the harbOr,
which I think jushcs its reputation second only to
that OF san Frascsco the Pacific coast. Guaymas is
the inner side of long cape peninsula which pro
jects nearly south ward from the mainland OF Sonora
and thus guards the bay the lower part OF which the
Yaqui River cmpties The vessel coming mp the Gulf Of
California rounds Cape Haro The southery extremity OF
this peninsula and sails into the harbor. Here on
the west Bao Point which jus out the eastern side
OF this peninsula north Of Cape Haro and the east
the island OF PajarO beyond which further 10 the east
the mainland Thus the outer baibor is completely
sheltered from the wind. It's depth is six
fathOms, and soft mud at the bottom affords
cellent anchorage. From this the vessel sails north
westerly rounding BaiO Point, and having long spit
the Playa dc los Dolores, on the north, passing the
islands OF Almage and Almagito and coming 70 anchor
either in the inner harbor of Lastre Point just above
this town or ut the island OF Ardia little further
moved where her IS TO be unoaded The average
depth of the inner harbor is three fathoms. and of
Ardla three fathOms and half This island is 10 be
surrounded with wharvcs and covered with warehouses
to fit for its destination the general DISSEMINATING
place for the shipping. II is hardly stones throw
from Punta Arena point inst the present depot
and n track has already been laid piles across the
narrow strip Of water between SO It will be that
this harbor possesses singular advantages 1t affords
perfect security TO shipping there is plenty Of room
the channel Is straight and free from rocks sandbars
and vessels can be unloaded directly from deep water
TOWN on PAPER.
so much for Guaymas and its harbor. Now let me
tell You Of the country through which this railroad
runs At present you leave the Southern Pacific road at
Benson. Arizona for Sonora But road is 10 be
built from Deming y. NJ. southwest, which will give
the Sonora Railroad northern outlet independent of the
Southern Pacific. After leaving Benson the road
the mining camp OF Contention and soon the country
presents a change The dreary plains productive only
of the tall saguaro give place 10 hills dotted with
live oaks and waered valleys Here excellent cattle
ranges which looked askance. however, from the
| insecurity of property so near the Sonora line.
Calabasas twelve miles from the line brings up the
melancholy experience Of Martin Chuzzlewt in his in
yestment in an American swamp Here is a sink be-
tween the hills which in the wet is little better
than a bog Masmatc vapors arise from the ground at
nighall, and the maar.a disorders rife which to
my surprise have found more9r less prevalent
the higher land In Southern Arizona. Nevertheless hs
sink has been selected by the Calabasas Land and
Mining Company of Boston the site Of a town.
Efforts made previous TO the organization Of this
company entce settlers hither The results. TO say
unsatisfactory Soldiers stationed at this
point sickened until a majority Of the command
unfit for duty The residents only prolonged their
lives ny spending the greater part OF their time in the
hills Then this Boston company took the matter up.
They issued Autographs showing steamboats, coming up
the santa Cruz River which il not the size Of New
England tr0u-hrook and can easily be foIded almost
dry shod They represented the existence Of flourish
ing town with thriving mining and agricultural inter
ess and they have lately completed an elegant $4,000
hotel TO help the boom.
Wei. this town consi-t-of about dozen tents, the
population at the last numbered 30 and four OF
acer Of the new hotel died within two weeks OF bis
rival and several OF the employees have been dangerously
nick OF the servants TO learning that
was from the East and told most piteous tale. They
had been given understand that they coming 70
heathful and thriving town. and that their passage
would be furnished Since their arrival they had not
been paid % cent of wages the preteXt that they st
work out the money paid for their passage. They were
penniess sick fearing death they remained, yet IN
able to get away and they imploed to tell their sad
tale to their friends in the East.
Now setting aside the fever que and peslcnce Of
this spot there is why Calabasas should be
prosperous The mines OF this company amount
L nothing the country around Il unlikely ever 10 be |
thicky settled aud will be used only for cate-raisns
and the only hope OF Caabasass future rests IN the
probability Of its being railroad junction-a hope Offset
by the that most OF the railroad buildings are to be
at Line City. cannot believe that the Boston gentle
men who have lent their names to this scheme aware
its cruel basecssness. There is certain man here
widely and unfavOraby known Limpy Sykes, who |
is the manager, and his representations the founda
ton upon which this fraud rests.
THROUGH SONORA
Line City 10 which have alluded il Just on the line
where the track ended the north when down.
A dozen tents used groggcres, many wliakey- |
logged wrecks mining and railroad life replete with
thrilling experiences in fbusterinS and with Apachcs
and a few sleepy Moxcans made up the population.
Then passed the Custom House and drove southwark
to end OF the track, which You remember has been
built from the south nOrhwari, and which then at
Aqua Zarca Just the line is the Summit
Of hills sprnkled with live oaks, among which the
Apaches have recently urled, and then comes the |
lovely Magdalena Valley. For some forty miles this
valley less under cultivation, OF with
irrigation. Near its head the railroad piorces precipi
tous canon. Then come Imurs witlits mineral spring |
and Magdalena where stand the ruins OF church de
stroyed by the Apaches From this point to Hcrm0sillo
nearly hundred miles, the country is much like that
between the sandhls and Chihuahua, a dry plain |
dotted thcky in places with mesquite cacti and chap