Building a State in Apache Land | Page 6

learning.
After concluding our business in San Diego, we took the steamer for
San Francisco, and laid the result of the reconnaissance (which was not
much) before the "Syndicate." We had an audience with the
commanding officer of the Pacific, and procured a recommendation to
the Secretary of War for an exploration of the Colorado River. This was
subsequently accomplished with beneficial results,--at least for
information. In San Francisco it was decided that I should proceed to
Washington, for the purpose of soliciting assistance of the Federal
Government in opening the new Territory for settlement, and the
voyage was made via Panama.
* * * * *
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote A: It has been a mystery which I have been asked to explain
a thousand times, why the Gadsden Treaty was made with such a

boundary line. The true inwardness of the treaty is attempted to be
explained. The boundary line at Yuma, on the Colorado, at the junction
of the Gila, is now submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. See Attorney
General Hart.--C.D.P.]
[Footnote B: Quoted from a recent article of mine in a local paper.
Such quotations will occur in this series without further credit.--C.D.P.]

II
Early Mining and Filibustering
In 1855, When I arrived in Washington as an amateur delegate from the
new Territory, the "Gadsden Purchase" did not attract much attention.
They had something else to do. President Pierce, the most affable of
Presidents, was very polite, and asked many questions about the new
acquisition. The Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, promised to order
an exploration of the Colorado River as soon as he could get an
appropriation, and to send troops to the new Territory as soon as they
could be spared.
During the winter General Heintzelman came to Washington, and as
the town was crowded, and he could not find suitable accommodations,
I had an extra bed put in my room at the National, and we messed
together. It was an advantage to have an officer of the Army who had
been in command at Yuma to give information about the country, and
the association thus formed lasted through life.
There was not much to be done in Washington, so I went over to New
York, the seat of "The Texas Pacific Railroad Company." This
company had been organized under a munificent land grant from the
State of Texas. The capital stock was a hundred million dollars. The
scheme was to build a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific
Ocean on the proceeds of land grants and bonds, and make the hundred
millions of dollars stock as profit, less one tenth of one per cent to be
paid in for expenses and promotion money. The President of this

company was Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury under
President Polk; Vice-President, Thomas Butler King, of Georgia, late
Collector of the Port in San Francisco, my recent superior; Secretary,
Samuel Jaudon, late Cashier of the United States Bank. Mr. Walker, the
President of the Company, received me at dinner at his mansion on
Fifth Avenue, and my acquaintance with Thomas Butler King was
renewed over sparkling vintages.
This company had parcelled the world out among its officers. Robert J.
Walker was to have the financial field of Europe. Samuel Jaudon, the
secretary, was to display his financial ability in New York and the
Atlantic cities. Edgar Conkling, of Cincinnati, was agent for the
Mississippi Valley. Thomas Butler King was allotted the State of Texas,
and I, being the junior, was to have the country between the Rio Grande
and the Colorado.
I told them all I knew about the Territory,--and a great deal more,--and
enlarged upon the advantages that would accrue to the railroad
company by an exploration of the new Territory and a development of
its mineral resources. They inquired how much it would cost to make
the exploration. I replied that I would start with a hundred thousand
dollars if there was a million behind it.
A company was organized with a capital of two million dollars, and
shares sold at an average of fifty dollars. General Heintzelman was
appointed president, and I was appointed "manager and commandant."
The office was located in Cincinnati, for the convenience of General
Heintzelman, who was stationed at Newport Barracks, Ky. William
Wrightson was appointed secretary.
As soon as the necessary arrangements were made I started west on this
arduous undertaking. The arms and equipments had been shipped to
San Antonio, Texas, and I proceeded there to complete the outfit.
San Antonio was the best outfitting place in the Southwest at that time.
Wagons, ambulances, mules, horses, and provisions were abundant,
and men could be found in Texas willing to go anywhere.

At San Antonio I met the famous George Wilkins Kendall, who
advised me to go to