The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-09-15
TAhRE have been many rumors
Vt late that Lower California
would secede from Mexico and

Ut late that Lower California
would secede from Mexico ant
become a republic.
Vague notions prevail Of what con
stitutes Lower California. Physically
1t Is a peninsula TOO miles long and 6
hundred miles or 80 across from tn,
Pacific to the gull. The peninsula is e
Jagged one with a mountain range
paralleling the Pacific. The sterile
heights are not inviting, nor is the
cactus-covered tableland. Few passes
bisect the mountain range. There IL
little timber and less water, but the
peninsula Is not all barren waste
There are regions In which the wealth
Of tropical vegetation Is riotous, and
there are great stretches Of land
which, by means OF irrigation, can be
made the sources of productive agri-
culture, writes Charles N. Pepper, In
the Washington Star.
1t Is the coast however, that is of
chief international Importance. This
was charted by Admiral Dewey when
he was Captain Dewey. 1t has also
been charted by other officers Of the
United States navy, and Its character
istics ere not unknown to the Japanese
navy. There are few good harbors
either on the Pacific side or on that of
the gulf, and that Is another reason
which makes those that do exist of
such international Importance.
A wealth of romantic tradition clus-
tiers around the peninsula. 1t has been
called 1.-THE mother Of California" Cor
tez sent exploring parties there after
pearls and gold The Jesuit fathers es-
fabltshed themselves, and all the ro-
nance OF the mission days is due to
them.
Forflrio Diaz gave Lower California
the best government 1t ever had, which
waA that Of a benevolent, but iron
nanued, military dictatorship. The
peninsula was constituted into ter
ritory, which 1t still Is, and was d.
vided into two districts for administra-
tive purposes, The headquarters of the
northern district are at Ensenada, not
very far from San Diego, with which
steamship communications are main
tained. The headquarters of the lower
district are at La Paz on the gulf.
Resources Of the Territory.
The bulk of the population is In the
southern part Of the peninsula. The
total number of inhabitants is said to
be between thirty and thirty-fve thou
sand, of whom possibly three-fourths
are In the south.
Under the Diaz policy of encouraging
Foreign capital to develop the material
resources of Mexico, a marked progress
was observed in Lower California. The
gold mines proved to be largely legen-
dary, but there are several productive
silver mines operated by American
capital.
Lower California is one of the
worlds principal sources of copper
production. The great mine known as
Santa Rosalia is situated near the gulf
coast. 1t is controlled by the French
branch Of the Rothschild family, and
the majority Of the foreigners there
are Frenchmen. Santa Rosalia has
been described as French municipal
lily In Spanish and Indian environ.
ment.
The pearl fisheries Of the gulf at one
ums were quite valuable, although the
reports of the revenues which the
Spanish crown derived from them
we're. as usual, wildly exaggerated.
The center OF the pearl fishing indus
try In at La Paz. 1t has dwindled a
good deal In recent years, but Ia still
source of revenue to tie government
The agricultural resources Of the
peninsula never have been systematic
ally exploited. This is partly because
1t only could be done on a scale requir- |
ing large amount Of capital and part. |
~ because OF the political uncertain |
ties. The country itself is not such as |
to invite many colonists from the |
United States, though there have been |
few adventurous spirits who took !
their chances. What is needed in or
der to Insure colonization is irrigation.
MaodaIena Bay and La Pax.
Attention has been centered on the
proper interest of the United States
IN Lower California through the Mag
oaiena bay incident. That was a case
In which Washington could not afford
to view the international situation with
Naval officers know the harbor as
one Of the finest In the world, just as
the old-time New Bedford whalers
knew it. They know that the United
States, In due regard for its own
rights, never could acquIesce In any
by which any Asiatic
power, or, for that matter, a European
power, would be allowed to convert
4agdalena bay into a naval station.
|Anr that No~ ~nv th>- porAo.a I .