Evening star., 1919-10-12
|U.S. TWICE HELD
| LOWER CALIFORNIA
During Mexican War 1t Was
Occupied by Americans,
Also in 1884.

Recent suggestions that Lower
States from Mexico prompted the
National Geographic Society to. issue
q bulletin concerning an area which
is described by one senatorial advo-
cate of such purchase as "the vermf-
form appendix of Mexico and the
Achilles heel of the United States"
at may be unknown to many that
the United States or its citizens have
twice had complete possession OF
Lower California" says the bulletin,
which is based on a communication
to the society by E. w. Nelson.
During the Mexican war, in 1847,
cupied the principal points in the
peninsula and declared 1t American
territory. but relinquished it at the
close of hostilities. In 1S53-54 1t was
again captured and government
temporarily organized by bands of
American filibusters under Walker.
This ill-advised venture lacked sup
port and quickly came to a disas-
trous end.
Peninsula Thin1y Peopled.
Lower California Is the long mar
row peninsula that projects about
500 miles southeasterly from the
southern border of California. Its
width varies from about 80 to over 100
miles. and it's irregular coastline, over
1000 miles long, is bordered by nume-
famous, desert region, it Is thinly
peopled and presents many sharply
contrasting conditions. Low, sun
scorched plains. where death by thirst
awaist the unwary traveller lie close
to the bases OF towering granite
and capped in winter by cleaning
snow.
"Vast desolate plateaus of ragged
black lava embosom gem-like val
leys. where verdure-bordered streams
and the spreading fronds of date
wales of the Arabian Nights. The
western coast is bathed by cool wa
ters and abundant fogs, while the
eastern shore is laved by the waves
Of warm inland sea, sparkling under
almost continuous sunshine.
best-known territory and with a re-
corded history which goes hack al
most four centuries and teens with
varied events, the peninsula still re-
mains one Of the least-known parts
Of North America. The early chron-
|
an expedition sent out by Cortez In
search of a fabuously rich island said
to have been inhabited by Amazons'
"It has been estimated that at the
time Of its discovery the peninsula
including many Of the bordering is
lands, was peopled by about IS. .00(
Indians. The Inhabitants svigorously
resented the intrusion Of newcomers
and for more than a century efforts
to establish military colonies in the
new land resulted in disastrous fail
ures.
During one period in its history the
southern shores Of the peninsula serv.
ed as the lurking place Of Sir Fran
in walt for the treasure laden spanss sDas
ish galleons on their annual yoya ees
from Manila to Mexico.
."Afterward; during the first two
thirds of the last century, those
shores were visited by numerous half
whaiers and sealers. drawn thar Sv o1
the swarming abundance Of whs1ass
fur seal. sea elephants and Sos. otter
So ruthless was the pursuit Of fhasa
animals that in few decades they
were on the verge OF determination
and tho business ended, apparently
During the Hast half century all
parts Of the peninsula have been Wis.
tied, mainly by Americans, in search
Of mines and other natural resources
ed has become available to the nuh-
lie Gold. silver, copper. iron ana other
minerals ana much fertile Iand have
been found, but the scarcity Of wafer
fuel. forage and the di6icuittes OF
transportation nave united with other
ID the attemps to develop these ues re.
sources"