The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-08-01
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Pushing Towards the Pacific Ocean.
Intcrr>ting observations About an In.
isresiing CountrJ-A} wide Awake
respondent. r's l}ys & 2 II
Special Correspondence Of the lntelllsencer. !. !, :
TrcsoS, ARIZONA, July "a.
Your correspondent Is again In the
metropolis OF the Territory. As stated in
his letter from Tombstone, he had been in
the Santa Rita mountains, and had taken
In the rich mining portions OF Arizona,
which are now creating SO much excite.
ment In the East Ills observations In
those sections warrant the statement here,
that 1t would be difficult matter to over
estimate the mineral wealth OF that portion
OF this wonderfully rich territory. The
mountains arc full OF silver and gold, but
10 get at the particular specific spot where
1t can be dug out Is the question that con.
Germs inc prospectors, who can be found In
their little shantes In Utmost every hollow.
This country is bound to be the great
silver producing portion OF the Union, and
Il Is only matter oil time to demonstrate
the fact. g. 81 800
Since my return 10 this ancient city, l
have gathered Il number OF facts in relation
10 II, which ! believe will interest your
readers.
rr TUCSON
is the second Oldest city in the United
States; Santa Fe being the oldest, and st.
Augustine, Florida, the third. Tucson
was first settled by Spaniards in 1860, by
the construction Of fertilization, rs d
strong outpost to protect the industrial op.
eIations oil the colony OF SAN Navier, which
is on the Santa Cruz river, nine miles dis.
tant. This old church, rs stated in a
previous letter, is in good state OF preser.
walton. and il used every Sunday. It was
nsed by Jesuists US mission, with the oh.
ject in view Of Chris,ianizing the papaaa
Indians, whose reservation Is hard by.
The Government purchased Arizona,
under what WAS called the "Gadsden Pur.
chase" in 1851. The first provisional gov.
eminent was established in 1860. In 1868
the Territory was first organized and Johu
n. Goodwin was appointed Governor.
The population OF Tucson is full 10000,
over one.halt OF whom are Mexicaus, most.
ly Greasers. A "Grcaser" is n mixture OF
Indian, Spanish. Mexican and Anglo-Sax.
on. While the majority Of the population
arr rough and uncultured, there are great
many refined people in Tucson, who con.
stjtute well defined stratum OF good 90
ciety. This is the only city OF importance
between Los Angeles, California, and San
Antonia, Texas, and in the opinion OF your
correspondent, it is destined 10 be one OF
the big cities OF the southwest. Property
has almost doubled in value since the
Southern Pacific railroad passed through
the town, and it is steadily on the increase.
The city is under good government, md
has gas, and water works are now construct.
ing The hills all around are underlaid
with the precious metals, and another rail.
road ere long will run from this point into
the State Of Sonora, Mexico, and thus ai.
ford an outlet TO the South.
THE CLIMATE rs SUMNER
is rather warm, though not Extensively so.
The highest point reached in the last FIVE
years is ITO, and the lowest, in winter,
was 10 above zero. It doesn't generally
get cold enough to require much fire in
the winter seasons. Tue air is perfectly
dry, and the housesare all built flat on the
ground. There is no such thing rs dews
At night, nor does it rain much, except in
July apd August, and then it only comes
in showers. have been in and about
Tucson for eight days, it has not dis
tnrbed us in the least. You can see rain
coming in the distance for an hour or
more, and you prepare to receive it. When
it does come it falls straight down, and in
twenty or thirty minutes it is gone, aud,
that is the last Of it until the next 5dav.
This is the so-called "rainy season" OF
Arizona. In West Virginia We would paw
no attention 10 these rain falls. Indeed,
the great need OF this country is the want
OF more rain. lit would rain oitener and
longer, this would be one OF the richest
portions OF the globe. THE little streams
here, which they call rivers, we, in West
Virginia, would name them branches and
creeks. Nine-ienths OF the time there is
no water in them, except in an occasional
pool The rainfall Mt Tucson, in 1876 was
II inches; 10 inches in 1877; 10 inches in
1875; IL inches in 1879; 6 inches in 1850.
and in 1881, S inches. In the years named,
rain fell, TO amount to anything only in
March, July, August, September and De-
ccmber.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES,