Arizona republican., 1919-02-03
bAJA CALIFORNIA
 HAS MINERAL AND OTHER RESOURCE
Buchanan Tried To Buy Peninsula In 1659-Does Not Touch Mexico At Any Point.


 come into prominence through the introduction in congress of bill look ing to the purchase of that unique peninsula. "Baja" California. rejected by the United States after the war With Mexico as the tail end of an earth quake" though recognized as rich in natural resources is least known, ac- cording to the few who have made scientific study of the peninsula, of any area in similar size in the western hemisphere.
 Lower California, romantically styled 'eThe Mother of California" has fig ured in modern history for 400 years. It was is 1527 that the Spanish cap tain-general, Fernando Cortez, sent one of Balboa's veterans, Alvera de Saavedra from Tehuantepec, on the west coast of Mexico, with instructions to try to find @ strait supposed at that time to form a link in a route from Mexico, or New Spain as 1t was then known, to the newly discovered Spice islands, known to later genera tions as the Philippines.
 A Bone of Contention From Cortez' time down to the pres ent there have passed in review 1 through the pages of Lower Califor- 1 nia's history Spanish conquerors, Je- 1 suits, Dominicans and Franciscans. and plunderers from many lands; 1 United States troops during the war with Mexico, filibusters intent on set ting up an independent government, and lastly the contending factions for l l. al 0h- l ministration since the overthrow of Porfirio Diaz as president.
 l It was Diaz who bestowed on Lower California, title of "pobre Baja Cali fornia," descriptive of her condition in recent years and which translated is "Poor Lower California
 Diaz's description fits the country just as well as to it's typographical aspect, and in some other respects for it is a jagged peninsula, 760 miles long, varying in width from 90 to 15t miles, and traversed throughout its 1 length by an irregular range of bar ren mountains of volcanic origin breaking off abruptly on the gulf sid' and rambling off in a series of low hills to the Pacific coast. It has beer described by it's most recent explores as "a land great in its past and lear in it's present. A land where the rat tlesnake and the sidewinder, the tar antula and the scorpion multiply, ant where sickness is unknown and fiv' score years no uncommon span O life A land of strange contradictions.
 Doesn't Touch Mexico
 While a territorial state of Mexico it nowhere touches other Maxican soil being separated from the mainlan, by the waters of the Colorado rive and the Gulf of California. In 191 the population of the entire peninsula was given at 2,244. There is but on railroad in the country, aside iron ''wheezy'' mine tramways, and tha one, from Mexicali to Yuma, but 6 miles in length. The 'caminos' 0 roads, of the mission days have falle into wretched state and in many place have been practically obliterated.
 The peninsula is rich in minera wealth, at least one of it's silver mine in the southern district, having bee operated since 174S. Gold, silver, cop per, iron, coal, lead, gypsum and sa are found, valuable marble for build ing is everywhere abundant. Minin experts agree that the mineral re sources have hardly been scratched.
 Cactus and mosquites have give place in valleys where irrigation ha been possible to the cultivation ( deciduous fruits, figs, dates, cereal and vegetables. Rainfall is scanty an insufficient to support vegetation. Tc bacco, cotton, grapes, sugar cane an native melons are grown. Horses, cal tie and sheep in limited numbers al found in the most fertile valleys.
 Has Pearl Fisheries
 The pearl fisheries of La Paz, c the gulf side, have been worked sint the first Spanish landed and haN netted fortunes to those, who have SUI ceeded to the franchises covering u fisheries. Whale fishing has been ca ried on successfully for more than hundred years off Magdalena Bay, ( the Pacific side, which has furnish, also a ground for target practice the warships of the United States.
 The Californias, Baja and Alta Col fornia, the latter the state north of tl Mexican boundry were christened fro a Spanish romance popular in the tin of Cortez, entitled "Sergas de Espla dian," in which the island of Californ was mentioned as situated "on t right hand of the Indies, very ne terrestrial Paradise
 The first permanent settlement the peninsula was founded at Lore in 1897 by Jesuits, who afterwar established settlement at La F; After the expulsion of the Jesuits { Franciscans were allowed to car on their missionary work and lat the Dominican monks were grant similar privileges.
 Historical Events
 Following are among the more il portant events of historical inter, from the landing of the Spaniar down to the overthrow of Preside Porfiria Diaz, in 1911:
 1579-Coast visited by Sir Fran Drake.
 -s3-Ffve unsuccessful atteml to establish settlements.
 1697-Jesuits found Loreto missi, Pious Fund, for the maintaining missions, founded.
 1751-First wine grapes planted Jesuits.
 l767-Jesuits expelled after havi founded 25 missions, 14 of them sr cessful.
 1768-Franciscans permitted to ( gage in missionary work on peninsu
 l772-Dominican monks given sa. rights as Franciscans.
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