Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-07
A rhouxhsfui Fro ducs,on.


ing document and very important withal.
It deserves to rank with any Of the
state papers relating to the arid regions
Of the United States. He embodies in
it his own personal and exhaustive
knowledge of Arizona and New Mexico.
Prepared last September, before the ad-
vent of the Arid Land Committee of the
United States Senate, he really antici-
body. He enters at some length into
pates the most valuable suggestions ofthat
details of the geographical features Of
the territories named, describing their
physical characteristics minutely. He
has no hesitation in saying that, in the
waters of the Rio Grande, the Pecos,
Colorado, Verde, Salt and Gils rivers,
and their numerous tributaries,
that vast territory has guaran-
tee that at some future day
its productiveness will equal that of any
other portion of the globe. He says: 'It
sis evident that by proper system of
irrigation, all products usually found in
"semi-tropical climates could be readily
"raised in abundance, ample to sustain
So dense population besides aiding to
"supply the markets of other parts of
"the world"
Col. Grierson also revives the obsolete
project of d.. Wozencraft, of iuundating
those portions of the Colorado Desert
which lie below the level of the ocean
with waters from the Gulf of California.
He thinks this would result in benef-
cial modification of the arid climate OF
Arizona and New Mexico. This project
has been often discussed, and the opin-
ion of scientists and intelligent people
generally is very much divided concern
ing it. We don't believe that as. many
people could be found to favor this notion
now as twenty-five years ago.
In his review of the general possibili-
ties of this whole section of country Col.
Grierson is luminous and even eloquent.
He ia entirely right in his view that "a
"grandly elaborate system of irrigation
"for the development of the arabic lands
"of our present territories and Western
Estates is becoming pressing necessity
"for the proper supply of the rapidly in
"ereasing population"
He refers to ga projected line of rail-
"way-the construction OF which is COR
"templated-through the center of North
america from Hudson's Bay, in the
British Possessions, to Mazatlan,
"Nexico, and thence along the Pacific
"Coast to South America" Col. Grier-
son looks upon this vast and expansive
scheme as perfectly practicable, and as
certain to be achieved by the capital and
enterprise of the age. 1t is worthy Of re-
mark that he anticipated the recent dis
cuesion of this matter which has grown
out of the assembling OF the Pan Ameri-
can Congress-.
The most interesting portions OF this
report, which is written like fascinat-
ing magazine article, are those In which
Colonel Grierson gives his views as to
the future Of the military forces stationed
in Arizona and New Mexico, and of the
disposition of their garrisons. He takes
the ground that the Indian question has
been 90 far disposed of, and the frontier
question 30 near its ultimate adjustment
that in the future it will not be necessary
to maintain the numerous scattered posts
which at present abound in Arizona and
New Mexico. He favors the concentra-
tion of these forces on the sea.coast.
He earnestly recommends the building
of great Notifications on the promontory
at San Pedro and on Point Iona,
at the mouth of the harbor
of San Diego, where ell the
scattered forces assigned to duty in this
part OF the United States could be
gathered into camps of instruction.
He thinks that San Pedro will always
remain the port for the greater portion Of
the trade of Southern California and the
great interior belt of country, reminds
the War Department that it is already
great railway center, and expresses it as
his unhesitating opinion that the harbor,
upon which already considerable pro-
yress has been made, should be i'm.
proved at the expense of the government.
On each of the camps of instruction,
whose formation he recommends, he
links that fully $1,OOO,0OO should be
spent at once. Of course this would be |
out beginning.
The commander Of the Department of |
Arizona shows himself in his report |
20 be loyal lover of the Pacific Coast.
he points out the little that has been
lone for US in the past in the way of na-
ional outlays, and he thinks this long
neglect ought to be remedied at once. So
hink we all on this side of the continent.
t our Senators and representatives in
congress will imbibe some of the enlight-
ned statesmanship embodied in this re-
'ort it will be good thing for Southern
california and for the country at large.
'he idea of demanding a few dollars for
,alifornia seems to scare most of our
to Geath. They ought to
improve on their record.
-
HIS Accidental Excellency Waterman
getting off some whoppers about his
opularity in the Southern counties.
his is the man who at Mojave-the
recinct adjoining his Calico mines