The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-19
EXPLORATION OF THE RIO GRANDE.

Report of exploration of the Rio Grande, made by
III. LOss, an the keel-boat Major Babbitt, toih a
map Of The riusr-NaUiga CATION Of the riUer-liilita-
ry posts, soil, products, &c.
ASSISTANT QUARTERMAsTER's OFFICE, }
BRAsos SANTIAGO, Texas, Sept. s, 1850
GENERAL: have the honor TO report that Cap
tain Love has returned from his explorations Of the
Rio Grande.
He left Ringgold Barracks, Texas, (nearly OPP
posite Camargo, Mexico,) with the keel boat "Ma
jor Babbtt," and crew of twelve men, the
18th of March, 1850. The "Major Rabbit" was
fifty feet long, sixteen feet wide, and drew, with
her crew, provisions, arms, &C., board, eighteen
inches of water. Captain Love was instructed to
carry her to the highest attainabe point Oh the Rio
Grande; and am satisfied he faithfully complied
with the orders received. He found this point a a
distance ofnine hundred and sixty miles from
Ringgold Barracks, where his further progress
in the keel boat was stopped by impossible falls
which he named "Brookes Falls" On arriving
at this point Captain Love carried the skif which
accompanied his boat around these falls, launched
her, and rowed her Al miles to other falls which
he named "Babbitts Falls" These are Ola miles
above Ringgold Barracks, about $50 by land be-
low Ell Paso, 25 by land below the mouth of the
Conchos, and 29l by water above the mouth of the
Puerco, sometimes called the Pecos.
Beyond this point he found it impossible to pro.
coed with the skif, either by land or water, and
left it the 18th of July his return He arrived
at Ringgod Barracks on the 18th of August, where
he turned over his boat to the quartermaster, and
reported to me at this post on the 25th Of August.
From Captain Loves rough notes, and from fire.
qucnt conversations with him, am enabled to pre-
sent the following report of his expedition would
here observe that his distances not taken with
mathematical precision, yet believe them to be
sufficiently accurate for all practical purposes. All
the distances given by the river, unless special
ly mentioned as being by land. On the accompa-
nying map, (the skeleton of which taken from
Emory's, published in ls44,) have put down the
towns, on both sides of the river, the rivers and
creeks emptying into the Rio Grande, coal mines,
&C., and the distance of every important point
from Ringgold Barracks.
NAVIGATION OF THE RIVER.
1t would here be proper to remark that Captain
Love made his expedition at time when the wa
ter was lower in the Rio Grande than had been
known for several years, and therefore it was a
most favorable season to ascertain the practicable
ty of its navigation at all times.
From Ringgold Barracks to Kingsbury's Falls,
which are l69 miles above Fort Mcintosh, (near
Laredo,) and eleven below Presidio Rio Grande,
(where General Wools column crossed into Next
co in 1850 there are distractions in the river
which would prevent its navigation about seven
months of each year by steamboats, of the class
which now run between its mouth and Ringgold
Barracks. During the other five months, from
June to November, when the river is generally
high steamboats, Of the largest class now running
the Lower Rio Grande, could GO without diff
Guilty to Kingsburys Falls. During the seven
months of low, rather ordinary water, there are
three and half feet of water in the channel, which
Is about % feet wide. A smaller class steamboat
could be constructed, (iron would probably be the
BEST, to navigate the channel at all of the
year. Those adapted for towing keel boats would
perhaps be preferable. This narrow channel only
occurs at intervals, and Captain Love is of opinion
that it could be wdened to admit the passage of the
largest class steamboats, on the river say of
the size of the United States Corvette" or Ma
Ior Brown which about so feet long, 46 wide,
and draw, loaded, three and haiffeet-or q 10 600
As Captain Love is better sailor and frontiersman
han civil engineer, probably nearer approx
nation to the truth would be arrived at by doubling
1r trebing his estimate. Private steamboats, of
about the size of the above mentioned Government
boats run at all seasons as high Guerrero, 1903
miles above Ringgold Barracks.
KfNGsBURY's FALLS.
These falls entirely obstruct the navigation of
the river for steamboats,. Two keel boats the
" Harry Love" and Major Babbitt"-have been
hauled over them with much difficulty. They are
about 200 feet long, with fall of four feet and the
rock which forms them ia arglaccous limestone,
which is easily removed with crow bar Captain
Love is of opinion that channel could be cut
through them, or rather that the present channel
could be widened to admit the passa &c Of the steam
boats " Corvette " Major Brown" for about
$4,000. Captain Kingsbury, "a practical en-
yineer,) who made an examination of them in lS49
under my instructions, (see my report dated May
10, lS49,) assured me that a channel could be cut
through them to allow the passage Of the keel. boat
" Harry Love-" (Which was rs feet long, 30 wide,
and drew IS inches of water,) for less than 8 500
Captain Love was informed, by an American
merchant residing at the town of Preside, Mcxi.
co, (six miles from the falls,) that during FIVE
months of last year, when the water was unusually
high, steamboat drawing three and half feet
could have run over them; this think doubtful
From Kingsbury's Falls up to the mouth Of the
San Pedro or DEVILS sjver, distance of 232 miles
there is nothing to obstruct the navigation of the
river with steamboats, of the largest class running
| IN the lower Rio Grande. Although the river was
at its lowest known stage when Captain Love
passed up, there were nearly four feet of water,
with a wide channel.
The mouth Of DEVILS river, which is about
100 miles below the mouth Of the Pucrco, and 6l7
above Ringgod Barracks, ia the head of steamboat
navigation. Above this, the Rio Grande runs be-
tween high mountains, is deep, rapid, crooked, and
narrow. II, however, could be nayigated with
some difficulty, by keel-boats to a point So miles
above the "Grand Indian Crossing" or about 253
miles above the mouth of Devils river.
The garrison at Fort Mcintosh (Laredo) is now
supplied by boats, and train of from 30 to 40
six mule teens; tho latter alec supplies Fort Dun
can, (near Eagle Pass) which is 100 miles by the
road above laredo and 6j by the river above Kings
bury's Falls. If the Instructions at Kingsbury's
Falls were removed, Fort Duncan could be fur d.
nshed by keel steamboats,, thus obviating the ne
cessty of an expensive wagon train.
Should the river be rendered nayigablo, at the
trihing expense above mentioned, to the mouth Of
DEVILS river it would then become an important
question, whether it might not be judicious ccono-
my to establish depot at that point and transport
stores from thence by land to FL Paso, instead
Of, as at present, Transporting them by wagons, at
an immense expense, from Lavaca, the Gulf OF
Mexico, to El Paso, distance of $50 miles Cap