Pima County, Arizona History
This county is bounded on the north by the Gila river; on the east by New
Mexico; on the south by Sonora, and on the west by Yuma county. It is the
oldest inhabited county in the Territory, and contains the most
population. The western end of the county, to a line drawn north and south
from the Gila river to the Sonora line, and passing a few miles west of
Tucson, is uninhabited after leaving the Gila river, except by the Papago
Indians, whose habitation will hereafter be described. This belt of
country is composed of plains, covered with grass part of the year, and
considerable portions of it with mesquite wood, and broken or detached
chains of mountains. Wherever water can be found, grazing is excellent,
and experience in sinking wells demonstrates that by this means water may
be procured almost anywhere in Arizona-but without thus increasing the
supply of water, much of this section must remain valueless. The south
bank of the valley of the Gila extends the whole length of the county,
and, as before described, has superior agricultural advantages. At Gila
Bend, one hundred and fifty miles from the mouth of the river, the valley
for a distance of twenty-five miles is from five to ten miles in width,
and the soil is of the richest character. A company are now engaged
constructing a very large ditch for irrigating purposes, and offer shares
for sale at the cost of construction. Those who are not able to pay cash
are furnished provisions and allowed to work for interests. There are many
thousand acres of unoccupied land already surveyed, and subject to
pre-eruption and entry at $1.25 per acre. There is a large volume of water
remaining in the river, more than can be used through the ditch under
construction. This section, in addition to being well adapted to raising
vegetables and all the cereals, is undoubtedly, by soil and climate,
favorable to growing oranges, lemons, figs and grapes.
Passing up the Gila forty miles, the Maricopa and Pima Reservation is
reached. This reservation is 25 miles long and in width takes in the river
valley, and will be referred to in the description of the Indian tribes of
Arizona. Above this reservation, the river valley is extensively farmed
for twenty miles, and is among the best producing lands in Arizona. The
products and yield are about the same as described in the Salt River
Valley. The county south of the Gila and east of that heretofore
mentioned, is watered by the San Pedro and Santa Cruz rivers and several
smaller streams, and is composed of plains, valleys and broken chains of
mountains. Nearly every portion of it is covered with nutritious grasses;
live oak and mesquite grows in abundance for fuel, on the plains and in
the valleys, and many of the mountains are covered with excellent forests
of timber. No better grazing country can be found, and it is nearly all
yet unoccupied. The valleys possess excellent agricultural advantages;
with irrigation two crops are annually produced on the same land. Many of
these valleys were settled by the Catholic fathers over one hundred years
ago, and a history of the changes that have since ensued would fill a
large volume. It is sufficient to say that over a century ago, these
fathers attracted by the salubrity of the climate and the fertility of the
soil, established several missions, improved farms, introduced herds, and
built churches, one of which is still well preserved (the San Xavier, nine
miles south of Tucson), and for style of architecture and solidity of
construction, is admired by all who see it. These fathers commenced the
good work of teaching and Christianizing the Indians, and succeeded
admirably with all the tribes save the Apaches, who, as Baron Humboldt
writes in 1803, in his "Kingdom of New Spain," that " neither the soldiers
stationed in the presidios, nor the monks posted in the neighboring
missions, have been hitherto able to make the conquest over them." Their
treachery and ferocity could not be controlled by examples of Christian
purity and love, nor had the forces of Spain the power to conquer them;
and the deserted fields and broken walls of these missions can be seen
to-day as undoubted witnesses of
these facts. Since the occupation of the country 'by the Americans, a
constant struggle has been going on 'to hold possession of the rich
valleys of the San Pedro and Upper Santa Cruz, but the slaughter has been
so great each year, since 1863, that almost anew population has been
introduced to fill the places of the dead. The soil is so rich and
productive, and the desire of the people has been so great to live and
make homes in these valleys, that with true American courage they filled
the broken ranks and still continue the contest.
The present year, the Indians have swept over these valleys with unusual
ferocity; many have been slain and their property destroyed or stolen, and
unless a vigorous war policy is soon adopted that will prevent these
savages from sallying forth from reservations, where they are well fed, to
murder and rob at will, and then returning to be again fed and protected
by the Government, these valleys will soon be abandoned and turned over
again to the undisputed sway of the Apaches. These remarks may be
considered out of place in a pamphlet of this character, but as the object
is to give correct information to those who feel an interest or desire to
emigrate to this Territory, these facts should be known. While there are
many locations, such as along and near the Colorado river, the Salt river
and settlements along the Gila, that are comparatively safe from Apache
raids, yet the larger part of Arizona is insecure for life and property,
on account of the hostility of the Apaches.
MINES - Nearly all the mountains contain veins of gold, silver,
copper and lead, and long before the country was purchased from Mexico,
gold and silver mining was carried on to a considerable extent. After the
purchase, the attention of capitalists was attracted here and considerable
money was invested with fair prospects of success. About this time the
Great Rebellion broke out and the Confederate forces took possession and
confiscated or destroyed all property known to belong to Union men; then
the Union forces re-took the country and confiscated or destroyed all
property known to belong to those in sympathy with the Rebellion, and the
Indians and marauding bands took what was left irrespective of creed or
parties. This effectually destroyed all mining enterprises, and to this
day they have never been revived. The mines, or many of them, are
undoubtedly rich and extensive, and the field for the investment of well
directed capital is inviting.
TOWNS - Tucson is located in the Santa Cruz Valley, three hundred
miles east of Arizona City, on the overland road from San Diego,
California, to Santa Fe, New Mexico; is the capital of the Territory, and
the county seat of Pima county, and according to the last census, has a
population of three thousand two hundred. It has been a town of some
importance for a century. The Mexican Government had a military post here
before the country was ceded to the United States, and it is now the
principal place for the exchange of commodities between Arizona and
Sonora. The people of that country bring here wheat, barley, corn, fruits,
salt, coarse sugar, tobacco, cigars and other products of their country,
and exchange them for goods and money. The valley of the Santa Cruz, above
and below the town for several miles, is under cultivation, and produces
two excellent crops each year. Tucson contains a number of heavy
mercantile houses, a tin shop, blacksmith and wagon shops, two flour
mills, hotels and restaurants. - The town is built almost entirely of
adobes, and is laid out and has the appearance of a Mexican town.
Seven-eighths of the population are Mexican, and the Spanish language is
more spoken than the English.
The Catholics have a church (the only one here), that is well attended and
supported. The Sisters of St. Joseph have a Seminary for Young Ladies that
is attended by about one hundred and sixty pupils; the Fathers also have a
school for boys. An effort is being made that will probably soon result in
establishing a free public school from Territorial and county funds.
FLORENCE - This town is pleasantly located at the head of the
farming settlement on the Gila river, about eighty miles north of Tucson.
It contains several mercantile houses, blacksmith shops, and has a
Catholic Church. Rows of trees have been, planted along the streets, and
it is destined to be one of the pleasantest towns in the Territory.
SANFORD OR ADAMSVILLE - This town is located on the Gila river,
four miles below Florence; is centrally located in a thriving farming
settlement, and contains several mercantile houses and a flour mill, and
is a thriving, growing place.
CLIMATE AND HEALTH - The climate of the valleys and plains is about
the same as that of the Colorado river. Elevated portions of the county
become cooler in proportion to the altitude. It is generally healthy
except in a few locations on and near the southern border, where chills
and fevers prevail to some extent during the Summer months.
Source: Resources Of Arizona Territory. Francis & Valentine, Steam Printers And Engravers. 1871.
