Economically, McCormick envisioned Arizona developing a mining-based economy similar to California's. To attract economic capital, he advocated a "laissez-faire" tax policy. McCormick also pushed for the creation of the roads, railroads, telegraph lines and postal routes needed for such an economy to function. He also asked Congress to acquire additional land from Mexico so that Arizona could have a port on the Gulf of California To meet the need for food, the governor called for settlers and "tame" Indians to engage in farming. To help protect the growing population from outlaws, McCormick asked the territorial legislation to create courthouses and jails.