Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1907-11-10
tBy Dwight E. Woodbridge in Mining


The writer has recently returned to
me north from reconnaissance
through parts OF Sonora, Sinaioa and
Tepie. down the west side of the Mex
lean republic. This is a very differ.
ent region from the great central pla-
teau, or terra templada, as the eli
mate is hot, the altitude slight. for
eigners few, means of communication
lacking accommodations meAger. min
ing development insufficient. with por-
tons OF the region especially unhealth-
full A few random notes jotted down
from place TO place and somewhat re-
yised Tor publication, may be of value
10 the intending traveller.
The Sournern Pacific Railway Co.
is back of a great enterprise down th,,
west coast, no less than connecting
the cities of San Francisco and Mex
leo; and thousands OF men are at
work upon the project. Though there
is letup in railway construction just
now in many parts OF the country,
this project is pushing along at speeu,
with no fear of lack Of money, and
with the desire to make the coanec-
ton at the earliest date. It was the
fact that this road was building
through a country heretofore travers.
ed only by mule or on foot d country
rich in mineral and worked in Next
can manner for hundreds OF years,
which led TO the reconnaissance of
which | had charge Ny trip was not
to look for prospects that might be
developed as mines, nor was it to
make careful examination of any par
Ia asr-saHs i
see if, under changed and new condi-
tons, there might not be opportunity
for American capital and American
mining skill to take over and devotion
properties already going. in such a
way as should return good dividends.
This general region, that is Sonora
and Sinaloa, has been known since the
day OF Humboldt as the treasure
house of the world At hundreds of
isolated spots throughout its area, es-
pecially to the north, were great
mines OF silver and gold in the DAYS Of
the ascendency of Spain; from west
coast districts. like Alamos for in
stance, there are still TO be traced
deep worn trails over the sierras lead
ing a thousand and more miles to
Mexico city, through which ran the
streams of precious metals that laved
the shores of Mexico and Spain. and
brought to the latter its height OK
eneryating wealth and imperial pros
perity. Under heavy guard, month af-
ter month, year following year, there
trayeTsed the western mountains the
great conductes, consisting of hun
dreds of sumpJer mules, each laden
with cargo OF gold or silver bars. In
the Businesses Of the high sierra, on
the route they travelled, the passeTby
may yet follow their trail in deep and
precipitous canyons, winding about
rocky, lofty escarpments, along the
banks of torrential rivers and climb
ing out of almost impossible depths.
Many are the stories Of wealth in
silver bars that was shown by the
antigua" patrons of these distant
mines. of their ostentations displays
on the occasion Of the wedding of
some fayorite daughter, or the arrival
Of -en11aa=nnted- szra,ldaa and nff9car az
Spain
Arizpe, a thousand miles northwest
of the City OF Mexico, was at one time
the seat of a government scarcely an
swerable to that of the city itself. and
ruled by an intendaRt whose sway was
absolute over province as rich as
Andalusia. But ArizDe today is a
little village of plastered adobe, small.
without comforts, and decayed In
stances OF this sort might be multi
piled indefinitely, but serve no pur-
pose.
More than hundred years ago. at
the time of Mexican Independence.
the terrible Spanish yoke Il slavery
was thrown off. and so frightful wore
the memories of the horrors OF the
mines, that they were abandoned and,
as soon as possible, were forgotten.
Many a tunnel was walled up. al it's
grisly history OF oppression and wrong
hidden as the cedars grew about its
obliterated portal
On entering Mexico, il behooyes "a
man to remember that cigarette aid
smile win go farther with the ma
tives. high as well as low. than a 10
peso coin of gold and Z scowl. II is a
courteous race. a people adaptable
and kindly, loving mnsie and laughter,
and away from the contamination of
the average American who has drifted
INTO Mexico, a race honest and liberal.
Mexico cannot be judged By the
American from his own point OF view.
his environment has not permitted
the outlook of life that must be taken
south OF the Arizona line. He must
change his spectacIes and revise his
mental attitude. The country is a 70
public in name and fast becoming so
condition OF the people will admit
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