Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-07-13
LOWER CALIFORNIA.

Lower California, about which there
have been many conflicting reports since
tho relations between the tinted States
and Mexico reached n crisis, Is the sub
ject of war geography bulletin issued
by the National Geographic society from
Washington. Concerning this undevelop-
ed territory of Mexico, whose governor
is reputed to have declared himself neu-
trail with respect to the two republics and
also as wishing for annexation to the Unit
ed States, the bulletin says
Lower California. once n land of fable.
romance and thrilling adventure. is one
of the most sparsely settled regions of
the Mexican republic. It has an area cor
responding in size to that of the Atlantic
coast peninsula of Florida, but with near
" 200 miles more coast line, owing to its
extreme length of 76N miles. Florida has
more than "A times as many people.
Varying in width from 80 to 10 miles
Lower california is a rugged. barren strip
of land with a mountainous backbone
! largely of volcanic origin. For nearly 900
years after its discovery by the Spaniards
! it was thought to be an island.
! The southern portion of the peninsula
has some rain, but the northern section
| is dry and arid, producing cereals, to-
haCCo, grapes, cassava and sugar cane on
/ " after being thoroughly irrigated. Tho
mineral resources are valuable and varied.
Gold. silver. lead, copper. salt, gypsum,
turquoises, opals and garnets are ptoht-
ably mined. The silver mines of La Paz
were worked by the Jesuits early as
1900. three years after the famous padre
Salvatierra. established the first perma-
nent Spanish settlement in the land.
Lower California owes its early explor-
alton at the hands of Cortez' lieutenants
| to the fact that the region was supposed
to he the home of a wonderful race of
sirens and amazons whose majestic cities
We're paved with gold The name Cali
fornia is derived neither from Ciguatan,
by which the region was known to Cor
tez, nor from Calida Tornax GIot OVEN,
the apt descriptive phrase employed by
some OF the early explorers, The name
was used in Las Sergus de Fsplandian.
n widely read Spanish romance of Cortez'
day, to designate IAN island on the right
hand of the Indies very near the terres-
trial paradise" Some commentators sug-
gest that this name was adopted in deri-
sion for the barren shores and desolate
black mountains of the peninsula could
hardly have suggested eysian fields to
those seeking fertile valleys and treasure
cities.
The magnificent Magdalena bay, on
whose protected waters, 40 miles long and
y miles wide. the Pacific fleets of the
American navy have conducted their tar
get practice in recent years, was dis
covered by Francisco de Ulloa in 15$G
while on a voyage of exploration seeking
the pearls and gold of the "amazons."
Lower California has two Capitals--Le
| E,nsenda, with a population of 200, &
miles by sea from San Diego. Cal, ant
La paz, with $500 people. many of whom
earn a livelihood from the ports pear
, fisheries which are among the most i'm
pOrtant in the world.
In addition to its pearl oysters, the wa
ters of Lower California yield sponEes
tortoises sperm and Grayback whales
. while in the hayous and river mouths o
the east coast many allgators are to b,
2 found