Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-04-15


by American soil experts, plant wiz
ards, and advised by such men as built
the Roosevelt dam, it has cleared and
Watered thousands of acres and estab-
llshed pioneer American colony.
The shallow, weed-choked irrigation
ditch that the Indians knew is replaced
by long, deep canals with miles of lat
erals and take-offs, and giant dredges
now move tons of mud a day where
once the peon toiled with his frail
shovel. Oil-burning tractors and mar
velous gang-plows have crowded out
the crude implements and scratching
sticks of decade ago.
Yankees of Mexico.
In Sonora the American idea has
taken particularly deep root. Next
cans from other states call these So
nora natives "the Yankees of Mexico"
because of their thrift, advancement
and close relations with the Ameri-
cans. Practically all families of the
merchant and ranching classes send
their children to schools in the United
States.
These youngsters, returning to
Mexico, are proud of their English
(and their Yankee slang). They wear
American-made clothes, dance all the
popular steps" and display an under
standing Of American ideals which can
only make of them more friendly and
helpful commercial neighborS.
Even now the average home in
northwest Mexico is largely furnished
with American wares-the Yankee
sewing machine, the piano, graphic
phone, kitchen range, brass bed and
baby carriage are everywhere And
from Uncle Sans factories our M.xi-
can neighbOrs get most Of their ready
made clothing, their shoes, hats,
vehicles, farming implements, canned
foods and sporting goods.
Even with the extinction Of herds
the revolution wrought, the ratio Of
meat-bearing animals to human beings
is probably higher in Mexico than in
any other country, because so much
of the land is fit only for grazing.
Every year we Americans eat thou
sands of imported Mexican cattle, and
in years to come we shall necessarily
buy more and more beef from below
the Rio Grande. Cowmen from our
Western states long ago ventured into
Mexico, and on its vast, unfenced
ranges some Americans have built up
enormous herds.
Many Of the same forage grasses
that cover the great Arizona ranges
are also found in Sonora and Sinaloa.
The beans of the mesquite tree are
likewise very fattening, and it is no
uncommon sight to see a Mexican
heifer stand on her hind legs and
reach for the higher twigs of this sue
culent bush.
Wild Cattle Roam.
In some of the mountains many So
called wild cattle" roam at large. I'M
branded and free, timid as deer, they
or their forebears having strayed from
the unfenced ranches. In spite Of the
many milk COWS at large. In all these
ranch homes condensed milk is gen.
orally used. To rope, throw, and milk
one of the wild cows is rather an ex-
citing task, and frequently "Mollie. the
kind-faced cow" will, when released.
promptly chase her captors up the
nearest tree.
Sonora is a great game country. At
irrigation time in the Yaqui valley,
particularly, the wild fowl become
pest. for this west coast lies on one of
their great migration routes. There
are ducks, geese. brant and curlew and
many varieties of shore birds.
Here also the California or valley"
quail is amazingly abundant, especial
ly about the wheat and tomato fields.
Around unusually good feeding
grounds one will find these birds. not
in coveys. but in armies, frequently
500 to 1000 of them feeding together.
Among the rolling foothills, where
they feed on acorns, myriads of white
wing" or Sonora pigeons make their
home. At nightfall these birds flock
down to the water holes or irrigation
bitches by the thousands.
Here is an American happy hunting
ground for those who love the rod and
gun. Some day, when its charms are
better known. Guaymas must become
a popular winter resort of soft hreezeS
blue seas. and ideal January outdoor
days. with an ideal hunting country
and fishing waters in easy reach