the proposed territory of arizona(亚桑 那的预定疆界)-第8节
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It is no exaggeration to say that the mining companies； in their own
interest； will be forced to subscribe enough to the stock of the company to
insure its success。 The Arizona Copper Mining Company is now paying
100 per ton for the transportation of its ores from the mines to Colorado
city。 One year's freight money at this rate would build many miles of the
road。 The silver mining companies will be only too glad to get their ores to
market at so cheap a rate； as their proportion of the subscription to the
railroad。 Iron and coal are both found in the Territory；the former
especially in great abundance。 Texas has guaranteed the road to El Paso；
by her generous legislation； Arizona will build it； with her mineral wealth；
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to Fort Yuma； the eastern boundary of California； and California will do
the rest。 The first terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad will doubt less
be on the Gulf of California； at the Island of Tiburon； or more probably
Guyamas。 A steam ferry across the Gulf； a short railroad across the
peninsula of Lower California to a secure harbor on the Pacific； （where a
steamer will take passengers and freight in four days to San Francisco；） is
the most natural course of this route。 In view of this probability； all the
available points for such a terminus on the Gulf have been； or are in
progress of being； secured by capitalists； either by obtaining grants from
the Mexican Government； or by purchase from private individuals。
Already Guyamas is owned in great part by English and American
capitalists。 A port on the Gulf of California is necessary to our Pacific
possessions； and must be ours sooner or later。 The longer it is delayed； the
worse for American progress on the Pacific。 Arizona needs it at once； as a
depot for the export of her ores； and for the import of goods for the supply
of her population。
The Mormon war has closed for years the great emigrant road to
California and Oregon； over the South Pass and Salt Lake valley； leaving
open only the route along the 32d parallel of latitude； through Arizona。
This route is by far the most practicable at all seasons of the year； and the
closing of the South Pass route by the Mormon difficulty is an additional
and urgent argument in favor of the early organization of this Territory。
Fifty thousand souls will move towards the Pacific early in the spring； if
the route is opened to a secure passage。
The present condition of Arizona Territory is deplorable in the extreme。
Throughout the whole country there is no redress for crimes or civil
injuries…﹏o courts； no law； no magistrates。 The Territory of New Mexico；
to which it is attached by an act of Congress； affords it neither protection
nor sustenance。 The following extracts from letters received by the writer
tell the story of the necessity for early action on the part of Congress； in
urgent terms。
TUBAC； GADSDEN PURCHASE； August 15； 1857。
Affairs in the Territory have not improved。 A party of Americans （our
countrymen） had made an 〃excursion〃 into Sonora； captured a train of
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mules； and killed several Mexicans。 Upon their return to the Territory with
their ill…gotten booty； the citizens formed a company and took the property
away from them； and returned it to the owners in Magdalena； ＇a town of
Sonora┅Ed。＇ and delivered the robbers up to Major Steen； commanding
first dragoons； to be held in custody until Courts should be organized。
They have again been turned loose upon the community。 In justice to
Major Fitzgerald I must say he was in favor of retaining them in custody；
and has generally maintained favoring law and order in the Territory； but
as he is only second in command he has no absolute authority。
We have no remedy but to follow the example so wide spread in the
Union； and form a 〃Vigilance Committee〃contrary to all good morals；
law； order； and society。 Can you do nothing to induce the government to
establish authority and law in this country； and avert this unhappy
alternative？
It is not desired by any good citizens； and tends to anarchy and
mobocracy； causing disloyalty in our own citizens and bringing the
reproach of foreigners upon our republican institutions。 It is impossible to
progress in developing the resources of the country under this state of
affairs。 The greatest objection the capitalists of San Francisco have to
aiding me in the development of silver mines； is the insecurity of property；
want of protection from government； and general distrust of fair and
honest legislation。
They have no confidence that the guarantees of the GADSDEN
TREATY will be respected by the United States； in regard to land titles
under the Mexican government。
The silver ore brought to San Francisco from our mines； has been
tested by a dozen different officers； in as many different ways； and no
result falls BELOW FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER TON OF ORE。
Senator Gwin goes on to Washington soon； and will corroborate my
statements。 He has a piece of the silver； the first smelted in San Francisco；
showing 8；735 20EIGHT THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND
THIRTY…FIVE 20…100 DOLLARS PER TON OF ORE。 Mr。 Dunbar is
getting the petition to Congress signedand moving in the affairs of the
Territory in connection with Mr。 Ehrenberg and our friendsbut the
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
government came near 〃crushing us out〃 by sending a Custom House
Collector to consume and destroy what little we had saved from the
Apaches。 Can nothing be done to rid us of a Custom House？ It is no
protection。 The Territory （as yet） produces nothing but mineralsand we
have to pay duty upon every article of consumption。 This is a very onerous
tax upon our first feeble efforts to develop the resources of this remote and
unprotected country。
Very truly yours； C。 D。 Poston。
To Lieut。 Mowry； U。 S。 A。； Washington； D。 C。
〃We are living without the protection of law or the ameliorations of
society。 New Mexico affords us no protection。 We have not even received
an order for election。 Every one goes armed to the teeth； and a difficulty is
sure to prove fatal。 In this state of affairs it is impossible to hold a
convention。〃
Tueson； Oct。 1； 1857。
We are pleased to hear that the prospect for Arizona is so bright。 If you
should succeed in getting a separate organization for Arizona； you will lay
the people under many obligations to you。 You have no doubt received
many petitions for Congress； and also your certificate of election as
delegate for this purchase。 You received the entire vote； there was no
difference of opinion among the voters。
Your ob't serv't； J。 A。 Douglas。
Lt。 Mowry； U。 S。 A。 Tueson； Oct。 25； 1857。
I send you the last petition from the Territory。 The work is now in
your hands； and we say； God speed it。
G。 H。 Oury。
Tueson； Arizona Territory； Oct。 17； 1857。
Every thing begins to look up in the Territory notwithstanding the
difficulties we labor under。 The Indians the other day came within eight
hundred yards of Fort Buchanan and remained some time； and when they
left carried off with them all the horses and mules in the valley for six or
eight miles below。 Try your hand in this matter of our Territory； and see if
some change cannot be wrought to some benefitwe need it greatly。
Very truly yours； G。 H。 Oury。
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孴 ueson； Oct
