Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-04
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society

Washington, D. C., July s.-That part Of the United States-Mexico boundary line extending from Fl Paso, Texas, to the Pacific Coast is de- scribed in the following war geography bulletin of the National Geographic Society, issued from Washington:
 After leaving the Rio Grande, the natural boundary and striking due west from Fl Paso for 100 miles, the international line between the United States and Mexico changes direction five times before reaching the Pacific Coast. As if it had struck an in surnOuntable obstacle in the Big Hatchet mountains. it turns at right angles, and extends to the south for go miles, then strikes west again for a distance of more than 160 miles to a point beyond Nogales. Forming an Obtuse angle, the line now runs in a northwesterly direction for it's longest leg more than 230 miles, until it reaches the Colorado River, which forms the boundary for 20 miles from southwest to northwest. At Yuma, near the juncture of the GiIa River with the Colorado, the line takes it's final change of direction, toward the west, terminating in the Pacific, 40 miles distant
 This boundary is marked by 258 monuments. more than 200 of which are of cast iron weighing 800 pounds.
 
 crete. The expense of their erection, borne jointly by Mexico and the United States, averaged $50 each.
 With the exception of Bisbee Santa Cruz, Yuma and San Diego, there are few settlements of any size within a 20 mile zone on each sIde of the boundary embracing an area of 24,- 900 square miles.
 Although the boundary was chosen arbitrarily, when the work of survey ing, it was found that the line between the Colorado and the Rio Grande fol- lowed almost exactly the summit of the divide separating the waters flowing north into the United States from those flowing south into Mexico.
 The highest point on the line is at the summit of the San Luis range, a part of the continental divide. The elevation is $500 feet, which is nearly 5000 feet above Fl Paso. It is in this high altitude that quantities of game are to be found, making it one of the most interesting sections of the line. Here antelope, deer. bear and wild tur- keys are plentiful, and the acorns from the evergreen oaks of the picturesque valleys attract great f1ockS of wild pigeons. Many years ago there were few struggling settlements in this region, but they were abandoned dur ing the raids of the ruthless Apache chief. Geronimo.
 OTS or the most COnS106rdDtG towns along the border is Bisbee, Ariz., with a population of 5000. It is situated in the Mule mountains, 15 miles from the border. Tombstone, which is 20 miles northwest of Bisbee, was once one of the great mining camps of the world
 Tn a valley to the west of the Babo- quivari Mountains, also called the Pogo Verde Mountains, 200 miles east of the Colorado River, the traveller sometimes is so unfortunate as to en- counter a sand-storm which in se- verity rivals the torrid tempests of the Sahara Desert In their report to the United States government the Ipterna- tional (Mexican) Boundary Comnis- sion, which made the final survey of which now mark the border described such 8 storm, saying, Tn this valley on July Srd, was encountered sand storm of frightful violence. About o'clock in the afternoon a dense dark brown cloud was seen rising in the south, which presented singlarly threatening appearance. The sun, which until ten had been shining brightly, was soon overcast, and in a few moments after the cloud was first notice the storm burst fin all its fury, filling the atsrnosphere to a height of several hundred feet with the loose soil of te valley. In ten or fifteen minutes after the storm burst it be- came as black as midnight, respira- ton was almost impossible, and it was only by breathing through 8 handker- chief held in front of the mouth that suffocation was avoided. In about half an hour the wind began to subside and the darkness to diminish, and finally, in g, little over two hours after the storm commenced the setting sun shone falntly through the particles of dust which stf1l filled the aif''