Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-04-19

torn by revolt, is officially
called the United Mexican
! A States" was one Of the two
great viee-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
its 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 a regency was
installed and an emperor was named.
II 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 en-
other 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 a scourge,
butchering and laying waste. and driv-
ing the terrified and 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 civili-
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 we'll as
its 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
Saints even contemplated a general
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 were willing to undertake
the new pilgrimage, but they we're
/ checked by a famous Mexican Gen
Luis Terrazas, who owns the largest
landed estate in the world. Without
passing on to property of another. one
may travel 500 ,ailes 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, aud then plans were neces-
sarily checked
Railroad building aud mining devel-
opment in Sonora has teen practical
ly In the hands of Americans. Graat
mining operations have sprung into
existence and millions of America, dol
lars have been poured into the conn
try. Towns and cities have sprung mn
in this one-ume wilderness like magic
and the district is now the thir5
greatest copper-prnducing section in
the world. II is the peril that revol,,-
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 $4,000 A long noun.
tain chain. the Sierra Ma6re. 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
itsl 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