Year: 1871

VI


Leona, in Western Texas, there is no bet
ter upland in the world. It is 4 country


of clear water, good wood, running
streams, healthy atmosphere and thrifty


settlements. At a rough guess the dis
tance is about six hundred miles, and


there is room for millions ofpeople From


the Leona to the Rio Cr.nde, another


stretch of six bundred miles. there is but


little wood, little water, no navigable


streams. and a questionable kind of soil.


We say the soil is questionable, because,
since our experience in California and IN
Colorado, where it was once declared She
land would not grow weeds, the value OF
land can ONLY be estimated after it has
been tried 1t is more than probable that
Western Texas, which has hitherto been
delivered over as valueleSs, will deve.rp


into fruitful homes for millions of con-
tented farmers. II is very much s.ch


land as the first settlers in California


refused to pre-empt, but which row sells





the Rio Grande to Tucson there is a bet
ter although a somewhat similar stretch
of territory to the above, with some OF the
lovliest spots of ground in the known
world From Tucson to the junction Of
the Colorado there is but little to attract


settlement, as it is probable that here is


the poorest piece of territory between the
A tlanticand the Pacific. Still it is valu-
able for its mineral wealth. and there are


agricultural and grazing regions that may


serve to support large population.


From the point where the Gila and Color
ado Join. the valley Of the Colorado is
considered the cotton patch of California.
The Indians raise immense crops of corn,
beans and vegetables on the SOIL and their
mode of cu!tivating the ground is not the
best to show off the qualitie, of the land.
These two level stretches embrace four
hundred miles of territory. Between the
Rio Grande and the Colorado. the richest
copper mines that were ever discovered
are located, and it is supposed that silver
and gold abound in the land. Generally
speaking the same character attaches to
the belt of territory which reposes in un-
developed and primeval wildness between
the Lecna and the Colorado, that does to
a similar belt between the Arkansas river
and the Rocky Mountains further North.
And as this northern belt has been set
tied and is now astonishing the world
with the wonder ofi.s agricultural wealth,
it is but fair to presume that our southern
belt is equally capable of development.


SO much by way of introduction to the
main subject of our reflections. Con-
gress has passed. and the President has
signed, the Southern Pacific Railroad bill,
the eastern terminus of which is to be at
Marshall, Texas, and the western termini
at San Francisco and San Diego The
value of this law is that it gives to the
corporation chartered under its provisions
the right to enter upon it each alternate
section of the public land and own the
same, to the sans extent and under the
same limitations that accompanied the
concession to the Northern road. The
work must be commenced and fin
ished in five years, and it is espe-
cially stipulated that a connecting line
may be constructed from New
Orleans, which is, in effect, to make New
Orleans the gulf terminus. This main
road from Marshall to San Diego is to run
directly through the belt of territory
which we described in the first section;
which is to say, that within five years New
Orleans will be in railroad connection
with Ell Paso del Norte, on the Rio Grande;
with the copper mines on the river MINI
bres, with Tucson, with the Pimo Indian
country, with the Colorado river, and the
whole coast of California. It will he
curious if, at the end of that time, we
may not say that our city is connected
with Guaymas, with the lovely valley of
Santa Cruz. in what is now Northern
Mexico; with chihuahua. and perhaps
with Monterey.


The obvious results Of this enterprise
are that it must fill the South with money
and with imported laborers. The build
ing of this road will call into our midst
thous ands of men to do the work, and
where they cast their pickaxes there will |
spring up cities. Nothing can prevent
this consummation except the failure of
the company to do the work, of which |
there is but little apprehension at present.


We shall have this advantage, too, that |
Is the work goes on to its fulfllment the |
road will be reaching out into country |
that is already settled and ready to roll |
its trade into our keeping. West of the
Rio Grande there are the communities |
that have made st. Louis, San Antonio
and Fort Smith prosperous. When the
Northern road Was built it had no such
hope ahead Of it. What it expected to
be supported from it had to create. Our
road is now expected to tap reservoir Of
trade that has been uncxplored except by
mule teams. All Northern Mexico is
waiting for the Southern Pacific railroad.
and Congress declares it shall wait only
five years f., ovd,d


THE GENERAL OUTLOOK.