The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-02

source Oh large creek flowing IN norhweserly direc
ton down the valley OF the Sacramento which we fol-
lowed Tor about three miles to La Vile Neuva-a small
and modern town OF $50 inhabitants. In this quiet and
secluded valley, we saw the first appearance Of Improve
menf since our entrance upon Mexican soil. Within
lew miles OF each other two new and respectable look
ing towns have recently sprung INTO existence, and many
acres OF nch, but waste lands have been brought into
successful cultivation. Here there wealthy pro-
pretors, nor lordly haciendas, TO please the eye with
their immense properties; but what more gratifying
TO an Amercansmall neat tenements occupied by the
owners and ters OF the soil This valley covered
Tor miles with maize and cotton, but it difficult to
obtain authentic statistical information that unable
to sta state the ne; amount OF their production
From Vile Neuva course of N. So w. brought us,
over distance Of eight miles across the valley, to
markabe mountain pass called e Puerto del Sacramento
It IS about 300 yards wide, the mountain rising almost
vertically to an altitude OF nearly 900 feet and huge
rock directly IN the pass gives IT the appearance OF gu
gantic portal The road follows up this gorge Through
which flows large and rapid stream called the San juan
that rises west of Cenegas) for about miles, where the
mountains widen out leaving between them broad and
most lovely valley, at the lower end of which is built the
hacienda OF San Juan There is not mile of this pass
that does not offer strong position for defence But the
most formidable is at the upper outlet of the gorge, where
It is scarcely $50 yards wide, with huge and inaccessible
mountains rising almost pependlculary from its two ex
tremities, while the ground slopes down the pass
evenly as glacls AS far as could ascertain, it would
be difficult TO turn this position, if occupied by enemy
To the south OF the Hacienda there are extensive salt
ponds which render the running waters rather bracksh
and probably impregnates them with suphate of mag
nesIa.
FROM ule IldCeiud, Il rue along tIc mountain, on
the north of the valley for twelve miles, in direction
little south of west brought the town of Cienegas,
situated in the midst of this upland valley. For abou
eight miles, the land though rich and easily irrigated
lett uncultvated, ana produces only uXurant growth
OF tall wild grass.
The town OF Cienegas contains, according to the last
census, i2s inhabitants, including its dependencies
(of St Catarna Rosars, and Vile del Sacramento) sub
ject to the jurisdiction of the alcalde, 1859.
The people OF this district are distinguished for their in
dustry sobriey, and attachment to their religion In
politics. unlike the citizens of Moncova they mostly
federallss and unlriendly to the ruling powers of Mex
co. We found them, they had been represented, ia
voraby inclined to our government and its institutions
To us, individually, they unbounded in their kind
ness and hospitality.
For miles around the town the land is cultivated like
garden and produces the great staples OF wheat and
ton in abundance The grapevine is also reared success
fully in large vineyards, and furnishes both red and
white wine of loerable quality The fruit is said to be
dstation, pure, but not agreeably-favored brandy,
called Aguadisnte The Mayuey, (Agava Americana,)
grows sometimes to the height of forty feet and is plant
ed Tor its puqne Peaches figs, melons, and pecans find
here congenal soil and proptious climate.
Nothing can bemore enchanting TO the sight than this
broad and lovely valley nersected in every direction by
streams OF running waer surrounded every side by
lofty mountains, impossible except through few narrow
chasms just wide enough to admit the roads and the
rushing brooks whose waters are gathered within their
and could but ken II to the Happy Valley" of Rascal
las
There are two grismills near Cienegas and two cot
tongins, (o American manufactured all driven by water
power. The buildings are large well proportoned, and
imposing in appearance But the machinery OF the grst-
mills is of the most simple and primitive construction.
The shaft is vertical with tub-wheel attached to the
lower extremity and the upper millson TO the top The
neither fixed in the floor above the pit and the shaft
revoves inside of it, carrying with it the upper stone The
wheat (Which in Mexico is always washed and dried be-
fore grnding) taken in sacks, and thrown into hop
per, from which it descends between the stones and is
ground into -four. These mills unprovided with
boiling apparatus, the flour and bran not separated
for ordinary use When white bread is baked and the
be-, in the world is made in Mexco0 the flour is sed
by hand The mechanic arts, have made but little pro-
gress Mexico, and labor-savng machinery, for ord
nary purposes is almost unknown Their tools carts,
and agricultural implements of the rudest description,
and obviously literal copies OF their original mod
els The type Of their mode of Harvesting and driving
oxen, and the form OF their carts and poughs may be
found in the Egyptian drawings and bas,rellevos by
changing their seed gram and introducing the best Amer
lean system OF agriculture have no doubt that, with
their natural advantages of SOIL climate and means OF
irrigation the crops in this portion OF Mexlc !1 might pc
than doubled AT present they never till the earth
to greater depth than three inches and this has been
their system from the beginning The markets for this
huahua Clean cotton is worth here from IS to SO the
aroba of % bs and is said to be of better quality than
the American Wheat is worth Sc the cargo of 300 lbs
and -four 49, Very little maize is grown here; but in the
Sacramento sells for 81 50 to So the fanegaa little
short of three bushels There are no mines in the vcn
y, and manufactures except those already mentioned
The roads leading from Cienegas are, 1st TO Monclova
the route we travelled ID to Sato, by mule track
ninety miles 3D. to Parras, one hundred and eighty
miles, by good cart road but the deficiency OF water
for long distance, has caused it to be- in great meas
ure abandoned 18th to Santa Catarlna, by good wagon
road well watered
Santa Caarina, small hamlet of four hundred and
sixteen inhabitants, situated at the foot of elevated
plateau, called the BaIson del Mapni, about thirty miles
north and eighty west OF Cenegas The road passes al
tenatey through mountain dehles and narrow valleys
In the mountains between Cienegas and Santa Catarna
there very extensive forests of white pne and oaks
of different kinds, growing TO immense size
The route to Chihuahua passes through Santa Cata-
rna and it is here the real difficulties begin For at least
90 miles there water, except in the rainy season
and several persons who have recently aversed the Bal
del Mapn unite in saying that the present season
unusually dry, and that the water which sometimes TO
be found holes has entirely disappeared. There is
only mule track, and no wagon road IN this direction
after leaving Santa Caarina Mexican cart has been
driven this line but II found necessary often to
shift the load and take the cart to pieces, owing
to the abrupt and broken nature of the country.
From Aqua Chill to Chihuahua the road is SAID to be
excellent, but there is deficiency of water to Santa
Rosals, from whence there abundance OF every
thing necessary for the subsistence of troops Chhua
hua.
Supposng the representations to be true, (and have
no reason TO doubt them) the natural inference s that
the route impossible for artillery, infantry and the
wagon train. Dragons, mounted on mules, and taking
with them pack mules to carry wafer could, no doubt
effect passage by this route but should consider it to
be most hazardous undertaking to attempt it with any
other of the service.
Having executed as far practicable the instructions
of the commanding general returned with the escort as
far the Puerto del Sacramento former route
Ranches Neuva to the outlet of the Sacramento drec
ION nearly north 50 east the valley AT this point
the San Pedro the San juan and the Sacramento creeks
unite forming large and rapid stream, called the NADIA
dores, flowing into the Rio Monclova, the Hacienda
Hermanas where the junction OF the two produces the
Hif,N ,l.IA Latte nplfpe