David K - 5-16-2004 at 06:59 PM
Perhaps it may be interesting to compare places in Baja as they were in 1957, to today?
I will use my 1958 second/ revised edition of Gerhard & Gulick's Lower California Guidebook and post details from it on selected locations.
Please nominate some locations!
From the following passage, you can see how the Lower California Guidebook was truly known as the Baja bible!
1) EL ARCO. Elev. 950 ft. Pop. 160. Communications: Radio telegraph.
A small mining community just north of the boundry between the State of Baja California and the Southern Territory. It consists of two groups of
wooden shacks on opposite banks of the arroyo, with extensive mine workings below. There are two stores, one of which has a kerosene-operated
refrigerator. This is the southernmost point where American gasoline is available. There is a well of poor water. Three miles south of town is a
landing field long enough for heavy planes.
The gold mines of El Arco, which at one time employed over 1,000 workers, began to be developed by an American company in the 1920's, but operations
ceased after a prolonged strike of the miners. A new company is now endeavoring to begin copper mining.
[Edited on 5-17-2004 by David K]
Good work
bajalou - 5-17-2004 at 09:39 AM
Great post. - really like the history posts as well as pictures. When It's places I've been it makes it all the more enjoyable.
Also like the "Where is this" picture posts.
bajalera - 5-17-2004 at 04:15 PM
There was a checkpoint manned by soldiers at El Arco when we passed through there in 1963, and a barracks on one side of the road. On the other side
was a ranch house with a tienda operated by several pretty girls. Unlike most of the other women we'd seen at roadside ranches, they wore make-up.
The three college guys in our little group thought it strange that all the soldiers who bought something at the tienda while we were being inspected
were such spiffy dressers. Duh!
bajalera