The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09
Price, so cents a box.
A FRESH LOOK AT MEXICO.
Gold Mines In Sonora Offer the Only Hope
for Its Future.

for Its Future.
BENSON, Ariz, Dec. l.-Having Just returned to
this place from q weeks visit to Sonora, 1t occurs
to me that the result OF my observations might
be interesting to the readers Of THE Sun. AS you
we'll know. the entire stretch. of country from
central Kansas TO Guaymas. about l.2OO miles,
10 arid and generally treeless. II consists OF
level plains and serrated ridges. nearly every
where bare of vegetation and abounding only in
dust and gravel. Sage brush in the northern.
mesquite in the central. and mesquite. palOverde,
cactus, and palohierro in the southern part, with
scanty tufts of buffalo and Rramma grass nearly
everywhere. constitute the only vegetation. They
serve TO show that II does rain occasionally in
the entire region, though the river beds are mar
row and shallow, and the streams at this time OF
the year few and far between, many Of them en-
tirely dry and the rest mere trickling rivulets.
1t is apparent to the most casual observer that
the great need OF the entire arid region and ele-
waited table lands of New Mexico, Arizona,
southern California, and Sonora Is water. with
out which, either in regular rains OF in streams
or from artificial works for the purpose OF irri-
ge Tbs s,atisti can Of "g ihe ed deWGfalI of rpa ii0s ara ysrv
incomplete or entirely wanting, and il may well
be doubted il there is enough, II all Of 1t were inn
the vast extent OF country under cultivation.
Most Of it must forever remain a wilderness,
unless the meteOrlc conditions shall be SO
changed "a to bring abundant rains.
In the absence Of. any such change there Is
but one hope for this region, and that is in the
ly too dry even for successful cattle or horse
raising, and the boom OF a few years ago in that
- phiots AANb "a ~
the fall in the price of silver, has brought the
hardest sort OF hard times to this entire region.
10 abounds in dry plains. serrated mountains,
and rocky arroyOs.. The rivers are small and ire
desert before reaching the Gulf of california:
the villages are, poor and dusty; and yet withal
there are abundant indications that there are
vast stores of mineral wealth shut up in the
ridges and mountains. Gold Is found in many
places. Indeed, it is said that 1t can be PANIED
G tSs e sts sl%0f fa sSt ~ & Sistpi iitTsa% ana dnf a srpSSg 20
IT has been developed in paying quantities. a
Stocked with line machinery. Many miners Sna
from California and Colorado have prospected
Sierra Madre Mountains, and all report that
gold abounds, and that united and systematic
operations will bring it out in increasing and
The region fifteen miles east Of Torres station,
on the sonora Railroad. is noted for It's rich
Messrs. chamberlain and Price Of Cleveland
opened an excellent mine about eight years ago,
and have operated II successfully from that day
abundant supply Of free milling ore yielding
from fifteen to forty dollars a ton. Their prin-
clpal openings are the Colorado ard the Minas
PrietOs, and all their buildings and surroundings
are in most excellent order and indicate not
Messrs. Brown. Negra, and Kinds have re-
Gently opened two new mines, the Verde and the
Of rish ors. " Il Is said i that he latter Iarss f z taThiSs
former, promises TO do as well. Many other
fNA'b H.NN " AaNAN alAAl NlCI
are all within two or three miles OF each other.
SO far as q casual inspection can justify one in
favor the opening that the region Is one OF great
riches, aud that the camp is destined at no dis
tAnt day To become a most prosperous one.
Among the other places ia which gold is said
70 abound, Is the island Of Ti6uron on the east
eide Of The Gulf Of California, directly west
from Hermosillio. IL is believed to be rich ia
both gold aud silver, but owing 10 its occupation
by the CERES Indians. a wild and lawless tribe,
has not been explored or prospected. Occasion
ally an Indian fisherman from the island visits
Guaymas or Fort Yuma and takes gold in mug
gets for the purpose OF trading II FOR guns and
ammunition. This circumstance has aroused the
curiosity OF the prospectors and il will probably
not be long till they organize a party stTony
enough 10 make . thorough exploration Of the
Island and adjacent mainland. As gold is APP
can be but little doubt that experienced men
vino have capital 10 invest In mining would do
claims OF this interesting and promising region
II contains not only gold, silver. copper, lead
iron, graphite, and zinc, but anthracite coal IN
sbsndsnee. Already an Eastern company 4 en-
kagea IN constructing one Of the largest trriga-
6i9g sitehes n America in the delta q the va
acres OF very productive land under cultiVstioa
AZ az early Day u Is proposed % build a rail-
= line from Ortiz on the railroad thirty mile.
north OF GuAymas would be much shorter.
Sonora cannot DO given, for the reason fhst
much OF II Is struggled across the border int
can export duty Of 10 per cent ieSSis sds !. asIi.
Custom Houses. 'Hs
The chief cities Of sonora are HsrmOsilo.
the capital, famed for its orange RToyes and
Guaymas, the terminus OF the Sonora RsIiroad
On ths Gulf Of California IL 10 situated on 4
lls population Is about 5000, and II Is he enITe,
POI Ana Distributing point for the entire Slats Of
porous wholesale and jobbing housss aGd
would anord an excellent base for eTtended
mmlhlhg and commercial Operations Ia ~ Sac
Us gsOpAe are orderly and weli-behAVed an
s1ypiS an A9anaSnee OF good aud pAtisnt LABOR,
tAoss prevailing N the statss." LEI ~