Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona | Page 5

by the Jesuits, and then to slavery by the Spaniards.
The notes referred to above contain the names and localities of more
than a hundred silver and gold mines which were worked with great
success by the Spaniards. The survey of the Jesuit priest about 1687
was repeated in 1710 with renewed discoveries, and consequent
accession of population. From this time up to 1757 the conquest and
settlement of the country was prosecuted with vigor, both by the
Jesuits' Society and Spanish government.
The missions and settlements were repeatedly destroyed by the
Apaches, and the priests and settlers massacred or driven off. As often
were they re-established. The Indians at length, thoroughly aroused by
the cruelties of the Spaniards, by whom they were deprived of their
liberty, forced to labor in the silver mines with inadequate food, and
barbarously treated, finally rose, joined with tribes who had never been
subdued, and gradually drove out or massacred their oppressors. A
superior civilizationdisappeared before their devastating career, and to
day there is scarcely a trace of it left, except scarcely visible ruins,
evidence everywhere, of extensive and hastily-deserted mining
operations, and the tradition of the country. The mission of San Xavier
del Bac, and the old towns of Tueson and Tubac, are the most
prominent of these remains. The labors of the Jesuits to civilize the
Indians are still evident in the mission Indians, the Papagos and Pimas,
who live in villages, cultivate crops of corn and wheat, and who, in the
Christian and human elements of good faith and charity, are, to say the
least, in no way inferior to the Mexicans. After the massacre of four of
Crabbe's unfortunate party near Sonoita by the Mexicans, the Papago
Indians buried carefully the bodies to which Mexican inhumanity had
denied this last charitable office. It is a curious and suggestive fact that
the latitude of places upon Gila, Santa Cruz, and San Pedro, determined
by the Jesuits about 1750, has lately been verified by the observations
of Park Michler, and Emory. The instruments used by the Jesuits were
constructed by them, the lenses being made from pebbles.
From 1757 down to 1820, the Spaniards and Mexicans continued to

work many valuable mines near Barbacora, and the notes in my
possession speak of many silver mines, most of which contained a
percentage of gold. "The San Pedro gold mine in 1748 was worked
with extraordinary success." Among the mines anciently worked, as
laid down in the authorities heretofore referred to, were the Dolores,
San Antonio, Casa Gordo, Cabrisa, San Juan Batista, Santa Anna,
(which was worked to the depth of one hundred and twenty yards,)
Rosario, Cata de Agua, Guadaloupe, Connilla, Prieta, Santa Catarina,
Guzopa, Huratano, Arpa, Descuhidara, Nacosare, Arguage,
Churinababi, Huacal, Pinal, and a great number of others which it
would only be tedious to mention.
The most celebrated modern localities are Arivaca, (also anciently
famous as Aribac,) Sopori, the Arizona mountains, the Santa Rita range,
the Cerro Colorado, the entire vicinity of Tubac, the Del Ajo, or
Arizona copper mine, the Gadsonia copper mine, and the Gila river
copper mines. These last are situated directly upon the Gila, only
twenty-five miles from its mouth. The writer assures the public that
there is no room for doubt as to the authenticity of these statements, or
the immense resources of the new Territory in silver, copper, and
probably gold. As late as 1820, the Mina Cobre de la Plata, (silver
copper mines,) near Fort Webster, north of the Gila, were worked to
great advantage; and so rich was the ore that it paid for transportation
on muleback more than a thousand miles to the city of Mexico.
Every exploration within the past few years has confirmed the
statements of the ancient records. The testimony of living Mexicans,
and the tradition of the country, all tend to the same end. Col. A. B.
Gray, Col. Emory, Lt. Michler, Lt. Parke, the Hon. John R. Bartlett,
late of the United States Boundary Commission, all agree in the
statement that the Territory hasimmense resources in silver and copper.
Col. Emory says in his report:
"On account of the Gold Mania in California I kept the search for gold
and other precious metals as much out of view as possible, scarcely
allowing it to be a matter of conversation, much less of actual search.
Yet, enough was ascertained to convince us that the whole region was
teeming with the precious metals. We everywhere saw the remains of
mining operations, conducted by the Spaniards, and more recently by
the Mexicans."

The report enumerates at considerable length the various localities
examined by Col. Emory's party, and others, of which there could be no
doubt.
In view of these authorities, it is hoped that those who will not believe
upon any evidence,