The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-08
FROM TOPOLoBAMPO.
Life In the Sub-Tropics in winter-what the
Kansas Contingent Ave Doing and
What they Expect

w " biiAS DDllib, ~ ID uOInlL6 DAD "a 49,
tinual succession of surprises, and causes
one to imagine that he has landed on a
new planet. Leaving the bay of Topolo-
bampc, we go directly north. On our lett
along the gulf coast is a range OF noun
tains. Behind us, all along and about the
bay and inlets are groupes of mountains
away ahead of us, and beyond the tuerte
river, is a range of mountains away IN
the far distance on our right To the east
can be seen a long chain of mountain
peaks. Thus,-as it were walking in
from the rest of the world, the beauti-
full, fertile, and extensive plains
of Sinaloa. Leaving the coast,
the country, at first, is rathersparsely
covered with cacti and low trees of vari-
Gus kinds, gradually increasing in height
and density until the whole country IS
covered with a growth of woods" that
resembles very much-in height and form
the elms, honey locusts, etc, that grow
along the streams in Sedgwick county.
Bat not n single tree, or shrub, or
flower, that one has ever met with in
northern latitude. The bark of many OF
the trees are bright green, or red. or yell
low, as if a painter had been at work on
them. Many OF them bear flowers Of rare
beauty, and the air is fragrant with per
fume. This whole vast plain is as smooth
as a base ball ground, without a brake, or
a gully, or ravine throughout its
whole extent There is a gradual
raise from the bay to this point,
so that the bottom of the river
at the place where we take the
water out is sixty-fve feet above the level
of the Sea The river flows on an elevated
ridge of its own construction, and at pres
ent-low water-has a volume OF water
sufficient TO fill the Minnesota from bank
to bank five feet deep, or enough to supply
fourteen bitches, such as the one we are
constructing. The place where we tap
the river is a perpendicular bank twenty
feet high, and looks exactly like the bank
of the Minnesota on my old Riverside
farm. The ditch will he twenty feet deep
at the river. sixty feet wide at the top and
twenty feet wide at the bottom. big job.
We cut through other peoples land for
six and half miles, for which we have
the right-of-way like railroad. The pro-
prietors give this to us free of charge. We
cut straight out south from the river.
The land falls gradually all the
way out, so that we reach our "Machis
tract" of so 900 acres. and bring the water
from the bottom of the river on to the
surface at the above distance. We have
forty teams at work on the scrapers, be-
sides those engaged in hauling wood, feed,
forage and provisions. As soon as we can
buy twenty yoke Of oxen to do general
hauling we will have sixty teams on
scraper work and push the work along as
fast as possible, so as to complete the
ditch by the first of July. All this vast
zone of land is an alluvial deposit. We
don't know how deep it is. 1t is all soil,
and all the same for twenty feet, and that
is all we know about it. 1t is what Is
known as delta" formation. 1t is very
easy to excavate; two yoke Of oxen pulls
big railroad plow almost down to the
beam and the scrapers fill to overlooking
with the least eXertion TO men and teams.
So far as this organization is concerned,
cooperation works like a charm; every
one seems to work with a will; all have
their respective duties to perform, and the
whole undertaking moves along like
clockwork Ei-ht hours is the days work,
beginning at 7:3O in the morning and quit
at 70 m. and from 1870 TO p. IN. The
tents are pitched promiscuously in the
most desirable placed around in the
woods. There are piles of tirewood at
hand, cut from the right-of-way. Camp
fires light up the whole camp ut night, and
music from organs, violins, guitars and
flutes float out upon the soft, balmy air,
while at one or more places men and
women, old and young, are tripping the
light fantastic to under the green trees.
Pioneering in Sinaloa under cooperation,
and pioneering in western Kansas under
the battle of life system, are two vastly
different states of affairs. / tell you these
people are happy No fuel to buy, no
overcoats or gloves; no rents or taxes or
interest TO pay; no debts, no
or colds. The most encouraging
prospects before them, the best of health,
and an enthusiastic determination to sue
coed. Living is cheap. We are supplied
with fresh vegetables from the colony
farm at La LOgia twice a week; sweet po-
tatoes, cabbage, squashes, radishes, cauli-
flower. tomatoes and Strawberries, with
other varieties coming on. Pork and beef
are cheap; chickens, ten for a dollar, eggs
81 a hundred, and all other things here
produced by the naive people, in proper
ton.
There are four fine rivers flowing into
the Gulf of California, from the north in
the follow ng order: The Yaqui, Mayo,
Fuerte and Sinaloa; each with the finest
climate aud the richest of soil 1t is only
a short while till the Anglo-Saxon viii &C.
cupv these valleys by a peaceful and
friendly invasion. They have only been
developed enough to show their POSSIBLE
tiles and when the hand of skilled indus
try and modern appliances are forthcon-
ing, their agricultural, horticultural.
mineral and commercial possibilities VIII
be hard to exagerate.
Iexpected a good deal before coming
here. from what l had been told by friends
who had been here and had seen for them
selves. But no one can possibly compre-
bend the congenial living, or the beauties
and products of the country, without per-
sonal experience and observation. Those
who don't know any better. or who choose
it, NAV wander into the frozen north, and
enjoy the exposures and privstions in a
struggle for life in a northern latitude,
where nature doles out her bounties TO the
most resolute endeavors, with a stiuCy
hand. CHOOSE TO live among the fruits
and flowers and fresh vegetation, and
evergreens. in January. They can have
the billiards who enjoy them.
Ialmost hesitate 70 attempt descrip-
ton of the products OF the valley Of the
Fuerte: only that am known to your
readers for many years would not risk
my reputation. But in my mex, I will
give a reliable description OF what have
seen in and know about Sinaloa
WILLIAM Ross.