Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-01
Lower California Has Roman
tic History and Annexation
to United States Is Desired
by California and Arizona,
GENERALLY PEACEFUL
DURING iNSURRECTl0N
Although Belonging to Mexico,
It Nowhere Touches Land Of
Remainder of Country Ruled
Over by Carranza,
yaY MORNING 1oossAl SPECIAL LEASED wrprl

,sY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wreUl
san Francisco, Jan. Romantic
Lower California again has come into
prominence through the introduction
in congress of bill looking 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-
cordins to the few who have made
scientific study of the peninsula, of
any area of similar size in the west
ern hemisphere.
Lower California, romantically
styled The Mother of California"
has figured in modern history for 400
years. 1t was in 1891 that the Span
ish captain general, Fernando Cortez,
sent one of Balboa's veterans. Alyera
de Saavedra from Tehuantepec, on
the west coast of Mexico, with in
structions to try to find a strait sup
posed at that time to form a link In
route from Mexico, or New Spain as
il was then known. to the newly dis
covered Spice Islands, known to later
generations as the Philippines.
Has Notable History.
From Corte2 time down to the
present there have passed in review
through the pages of Lower Califor-
MAS history Spanish conquerors, Je-
suits, Dominicyns and Franciscans,
and plunderers from many lands;
United States troops during the war
with Mexico. flibusters intent on
setting Hp an. independent govern
nent, and lastly the contehding fac
tons for supremacy In MeXico's ma
tional administration since the over
throw of Porfirio Daz as president.
1t was Diaz who bestowed on Low
er California. a title of "pobre Baia
descriptive of her condi-
tion in recent years and which trans
lated is Poor Lower California"
Diaz's description fits the country
just as well as to its topogra phIcal as
pect, and in some other respects, for
1t Is a jagged peninsula, 760 miles
long varying in width from 80 to
| 80 miles, and traversed throughout
its length by an irregular range of
barren mountains of volcanic origin.
breaking off abruptly on the gulf
side and rambling off in a series OF
been described by its most recent
explorer as "A land great in its past
and lean in its present A land
where the rattlesnake and the side
winder, the tarantula and the scorpin
multiply, and where sickness is un-
known and five-score syears no un-
span of life. A land OF
strange contradictions"
Separated From Mexico Proper.
While territorial state of Mexico.
t 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
peninsula was given as 52,244 There
IS but one railroad in the country,
aside from "wheeZv" mine trans
ways, and that one. from Mexicali to
Yuma, but G3 miles in length. The
'caminos' or roads, Of the mission
laws have fallen into wretched state
md in many places have been prac-
ieally obliterated.
The peninsula is rich in mineral
wealth, at least one of its silver mines
n the southern district. having been
operated since 174S. Gold. silver.
copper. iron. coal. lead, gypsum and
,alt are found. valuable marble for
is everywhere abundant.
Mining experts agree that the min
'ra resources have hardly been
Cactus and mesquite have given
place in valleys where irrigation has
been possible to the cultivation OF
leciduous fruits, figs. dates. cereals,
md vegetables. Rainfall is scanty
md insufficient to support vegetation.
Tobacco, cotton, grapes, sugar cane
md native melons are grown. Horses,
'attle and sheep in limited numbers
ire found in the most fertile valleys
The pearl fisheries Of La Paz on
he gulf side, have been worked since
he first Spanish landed and have
,etted fortunes to those who have
ucceeded to the franchises covering
he fisheries Whale fishing has been
arried on successfully for more than
hundred years off Magdalena Bay,
N the Pacific side, which has ftr-
lished also a ground for target prac-
ice by the warships of the United
states
terrestrial Paradise"
The CALIFORNIA;, Raja and Alta
California. the latter the state north
of the Mexican boundary, We're christ
aned from Spanish romance popu-
ar in the time of Cortez, entitled
'Sergas de Esplandian. in which the
Island of California was mentioned as
situated "on the right hand of the
indies, very near terrestrial Para
lse"
The first permanent settlement on
he peninsula was founded at Loreto
n 1897 by Jesuts, who afterwards es-
q settlement ut La Paz At
er the expulsion Of the Iesuits, who
afterwards established settlement at
a Paz, After the expulsion of the
fesaits the Franciseans We're allowed
o carry On their missionary work
md later when Dominican monks
we're granted similar privileges,
Eollowino are among the more inl-