Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-26
LOWER CALIFORNIA.
[Signed.l

The reported recently discovered rich
gold mines in Lower California has at
tracted considerable attention to that
quarter and has given rise to desultory
discussion of the acquisition of that ter
ritory by the United States. This has
brought the statement that our sister re-
public would dispose of that territory for
a comparatively small consideration, in
view of her pressing need for money.
The same thing has been said in refer
ence to this and other portions of Next
can territory heretofore more than once,
the last tried only few years ago.
Without reference to the past or the
probable present condition of Mexican
government, we quite agree with the
World that if it is true that the Mexican
government has offered TO sell to this
government the peninsula for the paltry
sum of twenty millions of dollars, the
proposition should have very prompt and
earnest attention.
A glance at the map shows that by
geographical conformation it belongs to
the country as naturally as that other
peninsula, Florida, does to the nation, or
Cape Cod, including Barnstable, does to
Massachusetts-or in fact as a mans arm
does to his body. For not only does its
northern boundary join the southern
boundary of California, but it is almost
as absolutely detached from Mexico Rby
the Gulf of California as Ireland is from
England by the Irish sea.
Situated between the twenty-third and
thirty-third parallels of north latitude;
or, in other words, between the ATTITUDES
Of Charleston, South Carolina, and
Havana, Cuba, which latter is fully two
degrees. or one hundred and twenty
miles, south of our most southern
boundary, namely, Cape Sable, Florida;
if we get it we have for the first time in
our history foothold in the tOrrid zone,
with its wealth of tropical vegetation.
1t is about 80 miles long and 30 TO $50
miles broad, containing some 10000
square miles, or about 10000, 900 acres
of land, which is more than the area of
England, Ireland, and Wales added to-
gether.
The land is largely hilly, though
hardly mountainous, which, in a
tropical climate, ensures not only
comfort but diversified vegeta
ton. Its low or bottom lands are re-
ported as of unsurpassed fertility. Its
products, in consequence partly OF the
varied elevations, are reported TO consist
of wheat, maize, beans. pears, tapioca,
grapes, oranges, lemons, citrons, prunes,
dates, plantains and pineapples.
The river Colorado, after flowing over
a thousand miles and thus draining and
watering two thousand miles, shore
measure, of our country, emptles into
the Gulf of California at its northern
boundary III Lower California, and thus
the annexation of this country would
place the outlet of this mighty river
within our own limits as the cession of
Louisiana did that of the Mississippi and
its tributary waters.
Some of the tributary streams which
flow into the Colorado are the Green
river, the Big Sandy creek, the junction
of which is ,4S9 feet above the sea level;
the Grand, San Juan. White, Little
Colorado, Nirgen Williams and Gila
rivers, whose aggregate length must
more than equal that of the Colorado
river, making at least a length of 1900
miles, or a coast line of 4, 600 miles.
Those waters drain and irrigate Cali
fornia, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and
New Mexico, making water communica-
ton with the ocean possible where now
on rail transit is available.
1t is to be hoped that no time will be
lost by congress In accepting this very
liberal offer by Mexico, and if President
Harrison should follow the example of
his predecessor. Jefferson, who on his
own responsibility bought louisiana,
the nation would in the latter as in the
former case endorse his stateSmanship.