The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-07-21
NOT DESERT Land
Lower California Has Much Fer.
tite Soil.
Reai'y q Region Of Great Rssources
That Only Await Development. Ae-
cordins to Writer In Los
Angeles Newspaper.

Lower California Is an expansive
region that has never been well
known and has long been mlsunder.
stood. Even we of Upper California,
despite our close proximity, know
little OF the peninsula except its ex-
trefne northern part, writes Arthur
Berg, in the Los Angeles Times. Few
OF us realize that 1t Is not an utterly
barren waste that 1t Is a tropical
country with q salubrious climate and
many regions Of luxuriant vegetation !;
that its northern and southern parts
are utterly unlike one snother,> and
that rich resources abound that are
only waiting to be developed.
Despite its Jagged, barren heights
and cactus-clad mesas, which glow in
the hery rays OF an unobscured sun,
It was a land rich IN history when
the ttrnbefs of the Mayffower were yet
trees IN the forest. Once sought and
i'uarded fbr her ores and her 3ewels,
this peninsula, which to the Spanish
conQuistadores was an Island Klitter-
Ing in the azure web OF romance, a
Mnd for which tho Psirss gave their
HIVES In fanatic devotion to the cross,
now lies practically uAAoticed, its ro.
nance and history forgotten. and fts
possibilities, if not overlooked, ut least
neglected.
Between 1927 and 1882 Hernando
Cortez sent four expeditions on voy-
Ages OF discovery up the west coast
Of Mexico, but the first three accom-
plished nothing and the fourth failed
to return. Finally, in 1888, Lower
California was discovered by Kline
nez, who anchored In the bay OF Santa
Cruz (now Ia Paz). Later Cortes
himself visited S,tntA Cruz and se-
ctired q quantity of pearls and Indian
slaves. In 1889 Francisco de Ulloa
sailed up the Gulf Of California and
discovered the mouth of the Colorado
river. In spite of this discovery.
Lower California was known as an
island for more than 100 years and ap-
peared on European maps as IN island
up to hs late ay 174S.
All attempts Of Spain to colonize
the California peninsula ended In DIS
astrous failures until the task was del.
ekated to the Jasuits. or Com.
pany OF Jesus, In 1897. These Jesuit
missionary priests were possessed Of
the tact Of the French explorers, the
persistency Of the English colonial set
tiers and the bravery Of the American
frontiersman.
Padre Salvatierra made the first
mission settlement In Lower CALI
fornia on October 15. 1897. at the bay
OF San Bruno. on the east coast. For
70 years thereafter the Jesuits con-
trolled the peninsula, and those 20
years represented the era Of Lower
CALIFORNIA; greatest activity and
greatest prosperity.
During their sojourn the JeSuits
charted the east coast, explored the
east and west coasts the Islands ada.
cent thereto and the interior in
manner that has never been excelled;
founded % missions, of which IA
proved to be successful; formulated 4
system OF mission life never thereafter
surpassed; not only instructed the In.
dfahs in religious matters, but taught
them many useful arts as well; cul-
tivated and planted the arabic lands
and inaukurated system OF Irrigation
which. had they been given time for
a more northerly advance, would have
given Upper California q marvellous
agricultural development early In the
nineteenth century.
The establishment Of the mission In
Upper California was q much easier
task than that which the hardy
Jesuit priests faced and conquered In
Lower California.