El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-05-23
PENIHSULBR Of
IS
DES0LiTELAND.
Mexican Territory, Discov-
cred in 1888, Barren and
Sparsely Populated.
STRANGE ANIMALS
INHABIT DESERTS

WV ASHINGTON. d. c., May "a
w Lower California. Mexico's iso-
lated peninsula. the coast Of
which the Pacific fleet Of the United
States is now patroling. is one Of the
Ieast-known territories in North Amer
lea. The following facts concerning
this arm of land, when projects about
500 miles souJheasJerIy from the
southern border OF California, were
given out by the National Geographic
society at Washington, ID. c., today:
The width Of the peninsula varies
from about 80 TO more than 100 miles,
and its irregular coast line, over Z,uOy
miles long, is bOrdered by numerous
islands. Being mainly a mountainous
desert region, it is thinly peopled and
presents many sharply contrasting
conditions. Low sun scorched plains
where death by thirst awaits the
traveller, lie close 10 the bases OF
towering granite peaks, belted by for
ests and capped in winter by snow;
desolate plateaus Of DIack lava look
down on valleys scanned with green
bordered streams
Discovered In 1888.
At the time Of its discovery IN 1888
by an expedition sent out by COrtes
in search of q fabulOusly rich island,
il is estimated to nave been inhab-
tied by $1,000 indians, who vigorously
resented the intrusion and prevented
the newcomers from getting 1OOInOld
for more than century The JeSulIeS
then came in and were wonderfully
successful in exploring the peninsula
and establishing missions
They es -ablished tErec main trails.
one along eaca coast and the third
down the middle which serve as the
regular routes Of travel today The
indians have vanished from all parts
Of their former territory, except
few in the extreme northern end
last half all
parts OF the territory have been Wis
tied, mainly by Americans. in search
of mines and other natural resources,
but little Of the knowledge gained
has become available TO the public
Gold. silver, copper, iron and other
minerals and much fertile land have
been found. but the scarcity OF water,
fuel. forage, and the dlIIlculIes OF
transportation have united with other
causes TO bring about failure 10 de
velOp the resources
Long DrouEhts Suffered.
The climate Of Lower California in
general is hot and arid Northern
conditions are closely like those in
adjoining parts OF southern CailIor-
MIA in the middle they are more arid.
but the extreme southern end. though
arid tropical. has more regular sum
meE rains The peninsula suffers long
periods Of drought during which no
rainfall sufficient TO start vegetation
occurs over large areas for periods OF
from three to five years. These dry
periods may be succeeded by tOrren-
tial rains. which sweep the country
and roll great floods down to the sea
Surface water is scarce and limited
mainly 70 isolated water holes in the
rocks or 10 springs from which small
streams flow short distance
The Rio SantO Domingo is the one
living stream within the peninsula
which flows on tho surface from its
source to the sea throughout the year.
These conditions have resulted in the
development Of the richest and most
extraordinary desert flora in the
world The bird and mammal life
however. is closely related to that Of
southern California The plains abound
with small desert mammals, such as
rabbits. pocket mice, kangaroo rats
and others A large number OF the
smaller desert mammals never drink Z
water, il having been found impossible
TO teach some Of them to take water
in captivity. Antelope mountain
sheep. mule deer and mountain lions
are the only large game animals.
But Few Inhabitants.
The peninsula is thinly peopIed and
enormous areas remain uninhabited. I
The most pOpulous section is the re-
zion south Of La Paz, where rains
are more regular than further north. /
a few small towns and widely scat
tered communities along the coast, I
with a limited number Of villages,
ranches and miners camps in the in l
terror. cover the population. Lower l
California has a territorial form Of 4
and, owing TO its great I
length. is divided near the middle into i
a nOthern and southern district
and Ia Paz being the re- i
spectiye capitals