Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-02-14
A NEW TERRITORY.
Mexico Proposes to Carve One Out
Of Rich Yuoatan. ;
uss ont-In~d . Footheta In the
stronghold OF the Natives ana
VIII open Up the Country 10
Itaaigrstton.


new territory which the federal gov
eminent OF Mexico proposes 10 carve
out Of the long unconquered portion
of Southeastern Nucatan. says Thorn
as Il Dawley. Jr. in the Outlook
For many vears the independent
Navas OF this region not only have
bid defiance to the Mexican arms, \
but at one time they carried the war .
&c the vary walls of Merida, the cap !
ital Of the country. Last year the
Nexicans established a landing upon
the coast 5rst above British Hon f
auras. in the Cherumal bay. and took
r,osseSsion OF the abandoned town
OF Raearla. the inhabitants Of which
had been massacred by the Indians
on one fatal night some 50 years ago-
With Rscarla as base. the troops
worked north IN combination WITH
column from the opposite direction
and succeeded in taking the mythical
CITY Of Chan santa Cruz. the Indian
stronghold The city proved 10 be
an old mission town Of the Francis
cans which had been abandoned oy
. them wears before the Mayas rose IN
rebellion. and which had been forgot
ten in the legendary history OF the
natives With the taking OF this
! stronghold the power Of the reoeis
was broken. since that time the led
( e-al government has been studying
various plans 70 open up the coun-
Try 70 immigration and foreign IN
yestments-
II u now proposed - give IL ter
rirorial government. separating II
from the state OF Yucatan- Iresi-
dent Diaz. according 70 the provi-
sion established by law. has Fixed
the price 81 land al two dollars pei
hec-are. and large colonization
cotnpsnv has already obtained con
cesSion Of $4,000 hectares. which II
intends 70 exploit Immediately foi
the itch cabinet woods. cyeVvooos
snG gum chicle-
/ Some idea OF the size Of this new
territory may be formed by comPar
ing the peninsula OF Nucatan viii
England. which il nearly equals II
a-ea- Although the bounds OF th'
B proposed territory are as yet unce
p fined further than the coast line Dor
s. derfnr the Caribbean sea and tn
D River Hondo. which separates Il from
z British Honduras. IL VIII prohabl.
: take IN one-shird OF the peninsula
, or 1900 square miles Of territor.
= AL Of which il 10 ne opened 1p 20 n
+ immigrant and venturesome capita
J. ist. This country Is covered wit
> great forests Of logNood- mahcgan
gum chicle and cedar trees, and
TIE interior. beyond the forests. ar
r,Sst savannas. or plains, covere
with luxurianf grass. suitable Il
20 cattle raising The soil OF this coui
~ Is so rich that the Indian WI
Inhabited il never required the NJ
OF a plow, not even hoe. 70 raj
his rnuch-ueeded corn. which is h
chief food. he simply cut down q
trees. let them dry through the sc
son. and then. setting IRE 10 theI
the ground was ready for the cor
which he planted with a sharpen
stake. simply making a hole IN Z
soil. dropping the corn IN and CO
n ering Il up with his foot
AL that this rich territory now !
= ouires for It's development is a 20
ulation. and that the Mexican e
ernment is king 20 the best OF
- ability. Criminals and many Of Z
undesirable residents OF Mexico a
being sent there. as are also
=, wives and children OF the &C
braves who are carrying on a "
against the federal government
sonora. Once IN the territory. n
are kept under surveillance, acco
ing 20 the degree Of their Grim
or made 20 work out . sentence
cordingiy. Plans have been suou
ted 70 the government for dredg'
ont q canal at Bzcarla Chico u
Chetuu.zi bay, 20 enable vess
drawing Is feet 70 enter from
sez. thus avoiding the necessity
going further down into British
ters around Albergris Key. The
establishment OF q port IN this vicir
= = already looked upon by the n
chants % Belize az a great injury
d. their fast disappearing trade
what viii be the greatest achi'
rnent 81 the Mexican Is the es'
usbraens Of a port and the buiio
cay OF = future city on ASCENSION
ala further up the coast While
eng rreso. the only port Of Yucatsn
ally merely an open rOzdstead on
the north cast. Ascension bay Is I
On Gull sheet Of water, furnishing
en- harkor for a feet OF vessels II J
men be. il IL anticipated that por
heir this bay g. destined 20 oecom
great city, az tropical cities ga
erfs "