The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-16
TEXAS.
To The Editor Of the Union:

10 Me Ednor OF me Union:
have observed in the public papers some dis
crepancies in relation the object of the very hur-
red march of Lieut.. Ringgold from this place for
the army the frontier Of Texas-some supposing
that he has gone with orders to Gen. Taylor, in
sructing the general not to take possession of the
Mexican fortresses on the east of the Rio Grande.
These gentlemen all labor under a mistake There
no .Merican settlements this side of the Rio
Grande until you get TO Fray Cristoba al least eight
hundred miles from the mouth Of the riper and hun
bred and fifty miles north of the Paso del Norte.
About year ago, Gen. Adrian Woll, command
ing the western side of the river Cor rather he
styles HIMSELF comandantc-gener en- gefe del ejer-
clio dc operacionss SCORE 1tjas) announced to Gen.
eral Houston, President Of Texas, a suspension of
the armistce, and at the same time published gen.
eral order, notifying all persons, that any indi-
yldual, but particularly the Mexicans, found east
Of the river, should be considered as a spy; and
commanding all the authorities, civil and military,
to punish him as such. The English, French, and
American ministers protested agalns. this order.
The correspondence between them and the Mexi-
can government saw published in the Diario del
Gobierno. There were formerly some few stock
farms on this side; but they have been abandoned
long slnce owing to the incursions of the Camanchc
and Lipan Indians. At Matamoras, on the east
sde there are three or four novels for the
dation of the ferrymen who have charge of Mr..
Stilman's boats, employed to cross over the river,
at that point the goods disembarked at the Brasos
de Santiago.
This is the Santiago SO much spoken Of in the
newspapers, where there has been said to be post
sometimes called forthwith Mexican troops said
to be stationed there, &C.
The Brasos de Santiago is nothing more than the
point where occasionally vessels (too large to go
INTO the rver) discharge their cargoes. There are
Tor were, IN April last) FIVE or six sheds occupied
by the custom-house officers and servants during
the unloading Of the schooner VIM. G. Preston, of
New Orleans. On the bar of the Brasos there are
six feet WATER while at the mouth Of the river
'hsse are only four and half.
some one has said, in The New Orleans Courier,
that steamboat has gone up the river as far as
Laredo. This IS not correct. The steamboat
Ariel, IN the year 1882, got up as far Camargo,
seventy miles above Matamoras, where she had to
remain twelve months before there was water
enough to turn round. There is singularity in the
no del Norte. 1t runs its whole distance without
receiving single tributaryfor you cannot call rib-
utarles the Conchos, Puerco, and San Juan, which
are dry ten months in the year; and when they do
rise IN the rainy season, they will fall again in
lwenty-four hours, soon ii is done raining.
have often heard persons disputing the question
whether there is not water in the river at San
Ia lie than at Matamoras.
There is on the river, west OF the Rio Grande,
at the mouth of the river Conchos, 6fiy-six miles
rom chihuahua IN straight line, (but on account
OF the mountains l50 mlles,) fort called Preside
del tor'e, where the State of chihuahua maintains
Iwo hundred soldiers to ward of the encroachments
OF the Camanches.
Nearly all New Mexico is on this side of the ry-
el. ~ contains large population. 1t has been
cia'neu oy Texas as within her boundary line. II
M mountainous, and is undoubtedly full OF mines
Whlch nave hitherto been worked but little, on nc
coun, o. ihe Indians. There is god-mine now in
successful operation at place called San Domn-
60, ABOUT Twelve miles south of Santa Fe and 9th
es, no doubt, might be found as the sand for long
Instance contains Tue precious metal; but, owing 10
the scarcity of water for washing, thew have not
aDce could be procured. "''"'
The New Mcxicans have devoted themselves an
trely to the raising of sheep which are driven 10
the southern cities for market. Formerly ,hsv
drove from four to five hundred thousand yesrIy
whereas now they cannot drive over two hnndrsd
thousand yearly. Sver-mines have also been
worked to advantage formerly; but, owing 10 their
beng so constantly exposed to the depreda,ions Of
The Camanches, Lipans, Eutas, and other Indians
they have been obliged to keep as much on the NV
=, where are the large settlements) as possbl.
ihsy are entirely cut of from the rest OF Mexico