River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-04-13

W HE Republic Of Mexico, now
81 torn by revolt, is officially
called the United Mexican
States" was one of the two
great vice-royalties of Spain in
the new world. Mexico and Peru
represented the dominions Of terri
tory extending from the underlined
north to the extremity of South Amer
lea. Mexico as New Spain retained
it's identity, but Peru was subdivided
into Rio de la Plata (Buenos Aires),
New Granada, and the original Peru
The revolutionary struggle that ulti-
mately resulted in the independence
of the nation began in 1910, but sue
cess was not attained until the estab-
lishment of independence from Spain
in 1921 The first Mexican congress
was held in 1922, when regency was
installed and an emperor was named.
1t is in the northern provinces OF
Mexico, Sonora and Chihuahua, where
revolt and sedition is rife and where
the revolutionary forces are the
strongest.
Northern Mexico, where perhaps
significant history is being made to-
day, has long been the battle ground
of the races in North America. Cen
turtles before the Spanish conquest,
the Pueblos, or village-making Indians,
came here from parts unknown and
erected their quaint houses, pursuing
their peaceful industrial occupations.
The ruins of these towns are found to-
day sometimes buried deep under
sand-drift or old lake bed. About the
thirteenth century there came an
otheE migration from the north, the
race of savages that never has been
equaled in the world for cruelty-the
fierce and unrelenting Apache Indians.
They swept through the villages OF
the gentle Pueblos like scourge,
butchering and laying waste, and driv-
ing the terrified end helpless villagers
far up into the Sierra Madre noun
tains, where they chung among the
peaks until they persisted. Before
their race was run the Apaches COM
pletely destroyed not only these Pueb
los, but also the results of their civil
zation.
Then came the fight between
Apache and American, and the events
of this struggle, which was ended only
recently, are among the most thrill
ing and picturesque in American his
tory. Miles, Lawton, and Chaffee are
familiar names in these chapters, and
the overcoming of the tenacity and
strange, fierce courage of the last
great fighting Indians of the United
States has even its pathos as well as
it's note of absorbing, exciting inter
est
Following the Apaches began the
American invasion. The cattlemen
were first, for the range was unlim-
tied and the grasses in many parts
unsurpassed Then came the prospec-
tors-men who from choice endure
the most severe privations and face
the greatest perils. Many of these
prospectors are mining kings today.
The Mormons, also, established set
Elements in Sonora many years ago,
and soon had built up several pros
porous communities. The Latter Day
migration to this region, with the pur-
pose of making it the headquarters of
the church. For the sake of freedom
from the restriction which the laws
of the United States place. about
them they we're willing to undertake
the new pilgrimage, but they were
checked by a famous Mexican, Gen.
7 .,sr
landed estate in the world. Without
passing on to property of another, one
mar travel 800 miles east and west
and 200 miles north and south on the
lands Of Gen. Terrazas. He refused
to surrender any of his ground to the
Mormons, and their plans were neces-
sarily checked.
Railroad building and mining devel-
opment III Sonora has been practical
Iy in the hands of Americans. Great
mining operations have sprung into
existence and millions Of American dol
lars have been poured into the coun-
try. Towns and cities have sprung I'D
in this one-time wilderness like magic
and the district is now the third
greatest cOppeF-prOuuclnS SocCiDn N
the world. Il is the peril that revolu-
ton brings to these American dollars
and American citizens who have set
tied here that makes the problem an
acute one for Mexico.
The state of Chihuahua, bordered on
the north by Texas, is large state of
$4,000 square miles and has popula-
ton of about 100000. A long noun
tain chain, the Sierra Madre, occupies
the western part of the state, and the
eastern is high arid tableland and gen.
orally sterile in the absence Of irriga-
ton. The state is rich in minerals,
including gold, silver, copper, lead, tin
and cinnibar The great silver mines
Of the Sierra Madre were formerly
very productive and some Of them are
again being operated by American cap
ital under modern mining methods.
The chief wealth of the people con-
sists OF herds of cattle, horses and
mules. The ancient city of Chihuahua
Is the capital of the state. 1t is on