The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1919-02-21

Mexico, dlibusters intent on setti"R
nm an independent government, ana
lastly the contending factions LOT
supremacy in Mexicos national ap-
ministration since the overtime" u
Portlrio Diaz as president
1t was Diaz who bestowed on lowe
California, title Of "Pobre BaJd
California" descriptive of her conoi-
tion in recent wears and which trans
lated is npoOr Lower California"
Diazs description fits the country |
Just as well as 70 It's topoRraph'cal
aspect, and in some other respects
for it is Jagged peninsula, 100 miles
long, varying in width from 81 10 ioo
miles, and traversed throughout us
length by an Irregular range OF barren
mountains of volcanic oFiKin, break
Ing Oft abruptly on the gulf side aud
rambling off in series OF 10" mis- |"
the Pacific coast. 1t has been
described by its most rscent explorer
as IA land great 10 Its past and lean
in its present. land where the
rattlesnakes and the Sidewinder, the
tarantula and the scorpion multiply
and where sickness is unknown and
fivescore years no uncommon span OF
life. A land of strange contradlc
lions"
While territorial state Of Mexico,
1t nowhere touches other Mexican
soil, being separated from the main
land by the waters Of the Colorado
river and the Gulf Of California. In
1910 the population of the entire pen
insula was gwen at 50, 244. There is
but one railroad in the country, aside
from "wheezy" mine transwayS, and
that one, from Mexicali TO Yuma, but
SO miles in !enght. The "caminoSn
or roads Of the mission days have
fallen into wretched state and 10
many places have been practically
obliterated.
The peninsula is rich in mineral
wealth, at least one of It's silver
mines in the southern district, having
been operated since l743. Gold,
silver, copper, iron, coal, lead, gypsum,
and salt are found. valuable marble
for building is everywhere abundant.
Mining experts agree that the mineral
resources have hardly been scratched.
Cactus and mesquite have given
place ia valleys where irrigation has
been possible TO the cultivation of
deciduous fruits, figs, dates, cereals,
and vegetables. Rainfall is Scanty
aud insufficient to support vegetation.
Tobacco, cotton, grapes, sugar cane
and native melons are grown. Horses,
cattle and sheep in limited numbers
are found 10 the most fertile valleys.
The pearl fisheries of La Paz, on
the gulf side. have been worked since
the first Spanish landed and have
netted fortunes to those who have
succeeded to the franchises covering
the fisheries. Whale fishing has been
carried on successfully for more than
a hundred years off Magdaleua bay, on
the Pacific side, which has furnished
also ground for target practice by
the warships of the United States.
The CALIFORNIA;, Baia and Alta
| California, the latter the state north
of the Mexican boundary were christ.
ened from Spanish romance popular
in the time Of Cortez, entitled "Sergas
de Esplandian," 10 which the island
of California was mentioned as stu
ated ION the right nand of the Indies
very near terrestrial Paradise"
The first permanent settlement on
the peninsula was founded at Loreto
in 1897 by Jesuits, who established a
settlement at La Paz. In 1887 lower
California divided into two districts
with La Paz as the capital of the
south and Enscnada as capital of the
north.