Gilpin observer., 1919-03-13
RICH BUT unknown
Lower California Has Never
Attracted Settlers.
Vast Natural Resources Are knewa
70 Bs Thers-Was Rejected ~
the United states After the
War With Mexico.

Romantic Lower California again has
come into prominence through the in
PRODUCTION In congress of q bill looking
to the purchase Of that unique penin-
sula.
''Baja" California, rejected BY the
United States after the war with Mex
leo as ''the tail-end Of an earthquake"
though recognized a. rich in natural
resources, Is least known. according to
the few who have made scientific
study Of the peninsula. Of any area OF
similar size In the western hemisphere.
Lower California, romantically
styled "the mother Of California" has
figured in modern history for 400 years.
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
nnd strait supposed at that time to
form link In a route from Mexico, or
New Spain. as 1t was then known. to
the newly discovered Spice islands.
known to later generations as the Phil
tppines.
From Cortes' time down to the pres
ent there have passed in review
through the pages Of Lower Calif0rnia's
history Spanish conquerors, Jesuits.
Dominicans and Franciscans, and
plunderers from many lands; United
States troops during the war with
Mexico; f1libusters, intent on setting
up an independent government. and
lastly. the contending factions for su-
premacy in Mexico's national adminis-
tratiOn since the overthrow of Porfirio
Diaz as president.
California title Of ''pobre Baja Cali
fornia." descriptive of her condition in
recent years and which translated is
Poor Lower California"
Diaz' description fits the country Just
as well as to its Typographical aspect.
and in some other respects, for 1t Is a
jagged peninsula. 760 miles long, vary
ing in width from 80 to $50 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
series of low hills to the Pacific coast.
1t has been described by its most re-
cent 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 scorpion
multiply, and where sickness is un-
known and five-score years no uncom-
mon span Of life. A land Of strange
contradictions"
While territorial state Of Mexico.
1t nowhere touches other Mexican soil,
being separated from the mainland by
the waters Of the Colorado river and
the Gulf Of California. In 1910 the
population Of the entire peninsula was
given at 1924. There is but one rail-
road In the country. aside from
"wheezy" mine tramways. and that
one. from Mexicali to Yuma. but 63
miles In length. The "caminos," or
,roads Of the mission days, have fallen
into wretched state and In many
places have been practically obljter-
ated.
The peninsula Is rich in mineral
wealth. at least one Of Its silver mines,
In the southern district, having been
operated since 174s. Gold. silver. cop
per. iron, coal, lead. gypsum and salt
are found, and valuable marble for
building is everywhere abundant. Min
Ing experts agree that the mineral re-
sources have hardly been scratched.