The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-01
The Commerce or the RIo Grandc.

The tine is at hand when tn. attention IF business
men and capt. ssts cannot fail to be drawn to chan
nels Of trade opened in this quarter.
Water does not naturally flow to the than
trade concentrates at points indicated by natural ad
vsntagts unless thrown into circuitous and artificial
channels BY conventional restrictions. Restraints
heretofore existing this Southwestern bounds
ry are now In great measure, thrown of.
The capacity Of the Rio Gran de steamboat navi
CATION is now no longer matter OF doubt
To illustrate our views will assume position
the Upper Rio Grspde-say the junction of this river
with the Puerco. Our readers may take any other
point
On the southeast from the place above indicated,
from. Is San Antonio Texas, and about forty miles
nearer, Is Lastrove, fourshipg German and French
entity of assured locality would command large
portion Of the business Of supply and exchange of the
whole upper region of Western Texas, "a well as the
fertile valleys Of the Puerco and the Rio Grande,
stretching far beyond the Of these streams
and including the latter river the city of Santa
trade Of tie Rocky Mountains on the opposite side Of
the rivr lies the province Of Coabuila where, at
venient distances supplies of horses, mules, cattle,
and sheep may be obtained in abundance, tor the
Of the first settlers
But, in a commercial point of view, . judicious Sc
lection for commerce the Upper Rio Grande W ould
poseess still greater advantages.
That 1t must necessarily command q very extensive
and profitable commerce with the porthern provinces
examination Of its natural facilities become apparent
TIE war, and the consequent want of security the
trade between the United States md Mexico from pass
ing through the valley of the Rio Grande But for
these drawbacks 1t would long ago have taken that
That the Santa Fe route cannot compete with this
new avenue Of international commerce may be easily
In the first place, Santa Fe although the capital Of
New Mexico, does not contain more than three
OF goods there is comparatively small Santa Fe Is in
fact, mere point quasi port Of entry, where the
vinces Of Mexico meet for traffc.
Ii 10 this traffic, this exchange Of merchandise
the precious metals which has given to Santa Fe its
vast Importance; and the commerce OF the prairies
centred there oil the interest of distant ocean
vigation.
known or, known, it has never been p1blshed to
the world Those who knew most about It hare been
eDRsged in the trade, and therefore had etrong in
General Almonte, in his elaborate report the Su-
Ireme Government In 1884, estimated the amount of
chan pel. at two millions Of dollars.
That the Santa Fe trade has contributed largely to
%os up enrich sp aS s ne to st. Louis
pendenoe TIE Nfsposri h indebted fer its origin
and snbsequsDt prosperity TO the CAUSE less
tr0efor more than twenty-five years this trade las
been perseveringly carried often with mmense and
seldom without large returns.
Narratives Of the stirring border incidents connect
ed With the late war have given degree Of publicity
to the detail: OF the Importance and extent of this
1t now we'll ascertained that more than one million
Of dollars In gold and silver, have been Invested in
goods fcs ths sps:irs ,Sysgen during tho past year
years Furnished the principal portion Of the goods
the Santa Fs trade.
These goods have been sent over the mountains,
down ths OHIO, and mp the Mississippi to ST. Louis
From that place to Santa Fs the distance Is twelve
hundred miles, over bad roads and through predatory
tribes Of Indians
Independence has, Of late years become the point
Of departure for the majority the Santa Fe traders
Some however have gone by way of Van Bursn up the
Arhaneas river and the nee eight hundred miles by
land, the pr Aries.
trade must be profitable that will justify year A.
ter year. such distant costly overland
ton, ard line that will relieve it from the
ontrous tranft charges referred things
being equal-command the business.
David Waldo, highly respectable and intelligent
merchant for twenty years engaged in this overland
trade eftmates its amount for the OF lS46 at
nine hundred and thirty seven thousand FIVE
dollars worth Of merchs ndixe, Is follows =