Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-08-11
become a republic.


would secede from Mexico and
become a republic.
Vague notions prevail of what con-
StituteS Lower California. Physically.
it is peninsula 700 miles long and a
hundred miles or so across from the
Pacific to the gulf. The peninsula is a
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 is
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 M. 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 it's character
istics are 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 'the mother Of California" Cor
teZ sent exploring parties there after
pearls and gold. The Jesuit fathers es-
tablished themselves, and all the ro-
nance of the mission days is due to
them.
Porfirio Diaz gave Lower California
: the best government it ever had, which
was that of a benevolent, but iron
handed, military dictatorship. The
peninsula was constituted into a ter
ritory, which it still is, and was di-
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
tanned 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 tC
be between thirty and thirty-five 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, marked progress
was observed in Lower California. The
gold mines proved to be largely legen
Diary, 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 gull
coast. 1t is controlled by the French
branch of the Rothschild family, an6
the majority of the foreigners there
are Frenchmen. Santa Rosalia has
been described as q French municipal
ity in a Spanish and Indian environ
ment.
The pearl fisheries of the gulf at one
time were quite valuable, although the
reports of the revenues which the
Spanish crown derived from then
were, as usual, wildly exaggerated
The center of the pearl fishing indus
try is at La Paz. 1t has dwindled
good deal in recent years, but is still
n source of revenue TO the government
The agricultural resources of the
peninsula never have been systematic
ally exploited. This is partly because
If only could be done on scale requir
ing q. large amount of capital and pare
ly because of the political uncertain
ties. The country itself is not such a.
IN invite many colonists from thu
United States, though there have beer
a few adventurous spirits who tooi
their chances. What is needed In or
der TO insure colonization is irrigation
Maodalena Bay and La Pax.
Attention has been conferred on Tn
nroper interest of the United States
in Lower California through the Mag
dalepa bay incident. That was cas-
in which Washington could not amor.
To view the international situation VIII
unconcern.
Naval officers know the harbor a.
one of the finest in the world, just a.
the old-time New Bedford whaler
knew II. They know that the unite'
States I'm due regard for its owl
rights. never could acquiesce IN an
arrangement by which any Asiau'
powar. or. for that matter, European
power, would be allowed TO CONVEX CONVEX
MagdaIena bay into naval station
Eor that reason they, perhaps, Wer'