Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-10

two mighty streams mnglng their waters flow on in one
vast and uninterrupted body gradually increased by
rivers Of minor importance which join from either side
till they finally empty themselves into the great estuary
of the Rio de la Plata Its total is about two thou
sand miles.
and rapids and is only naygable the island Of Apip
about hundred miles above its junction with the Pa
raguay The latter properly called on the contrary
may be naygaed upwards by vessels of burden the
whole way to the Jaur1 in latitude l6 deg % min pre-
senting the extraordinary instance Of uninterrupted
inland navigation in extent nearly 10 deg ofattude
throughout the whole of which there is rock or
to impede the passage the bottom being every where
formed of mud or fine sand.
The Rio Salado, or Salt river, has its in the
snowy ranges Of Acay in the province Of Saa in lat 24o
20; flows through the departments Of Sata, Tucuman,
and Santiago and falls into the Parana near Santa Fe
in latitude about 80 two hundred and ten miles
west of Buenos Ayres its total is about thou
sand miles, 1t is said be navigable high Matara
in the latitude Of Santiago del Estero about 27o 40>
the S
have their sources in intercepted ATTITUDES and though
running towards opposite poles disembogue by detas
about the same distance from the equator both nav
gable for very long distances and both have their perod
col risings bursting their natural bounds flooding
and ferthzng vast tracts of country.
The Uruguay, which contributes with the Parana TO
form the great estuary of La Plata, takes its name from
its numerous falls and rapids The whole extent Of its
30 in the province of Rio Grande do Su Brazil and for
long distance nearly due west receiving besides
mary auents Of less Importance the Uruguay-Ain or
Little Uruguay from the south, and Pepiry-Gua or
Greater Pepiry from the north As it approaches the
Paran4 it changes its course ncnng southwark through
the fertile territories in which the Jesuits established
their celebrated Missions Opposite to Yupeqd, the last
of those establishments 1t receives in lat 290 3O the
Ybicuy considerable stream from the east In 300 l2
the Mrinay ponrs into it from the west considerable
portion Of the drainage Of the vast lake swamp Of Ybera
Its principal tributaries afterwards the Guaeguaych
from the Argentine province OF Entire Rios and the Rio
Negro the largest river Of the Banda Oriental after
receiving which it falls the La Plata with the PaAna
forty miles north Of Buenos Ayres, in about 340 south
latitude.
The navigation Of the Uruguay is interrupted by many
lodges of rocks and falls only passabe when the waters
their highest during the periodical inundaons
by porages in the dry season OF these the Sato rande
and Sato Chico great and small falls, little below the
degree of latitude the first and worst impedi
ments met with in ascending the river The former con-
ssts of rocky reef running like wall across its bed,
ordabe low water though during the floods it is passa
BILE in boats by which the river is navgabe without fur
Their danger, high up the Missions. The higher
parts of the river bounded by forests of noble trees in
great variety and in its bed found beautiful specimens
of silicifed wood and variegated pebbles
The Rio Negro, or Black River, which runs into the
Uruguay from the Banda Oriental derives its name from
the hue of the sarsaparla plant which at particular
ros upon its banks and falls into the stream in
such immense quantities to dscoor its waters, which
De highly medlcna anu mucn request IN
The little village of Mercedes, its
mouth resorted by nvalids from Buenos Ayres to
drink these waters 1t is two hundred and fifty miles in
length in considerable part Of which it is navigabe
Elaborate surveys ofhe Parana and Uruguay embracing
the whole of the former high Coentes and
of the latter to Paysard1 executed by Capt Sul
van r. N, during the operations of the British naval
forces the La Plata in 1896 when the fact that steam
vessels Of considerable burden and draught Of water could
ascend these rivers to very great distance especially
during the Of freshes, established According
to Capt Sullivan, when the Parana is high vessels draw
ing sixteen feet may ascend it as far as the pass of San
Juan in latitude 30o &c., and those drawing twelve feet
may 60 up Corientes with two feet to spare but when
the river its lowest vessels attempting to ascend it
should not draw more than six feet.
The fact Of the practicability of steam navigation
the Parana and its tributaries being thus established 1t
remains to be what the of Buenos
Ayres win adopt, whether to purchase steamers on
count Of the State to carry weekly or more frequent
periodical communication with the Rverine Provinces
well with Paraguay and Bolivia, encourage pr
individuals to form associations for those objects
and whether steamers Of large capacity shall be employ
ed under the national fag to carry cargo or smaller
ones as seamtugs to tow sailing vessels or barges up
the stream.
The principal upper afiuents of the Amazon which
have their in Peru Bolivia and Ecuador, have
been explored and found to be navgab for considerable
distances by steamers Of light draught Of water Lieut.
w. j. Herndon, United States navy, under instructions
from the Navy Department embarked early last year
Of the upper auents of the Amazon in Peru, and
the river 10 Para on voyage OF exporauon
has just returned the United States and it is under
stood is shortly publish account Of his observations
respecting the geography and productions Of those remote
and comparatively unknown regions.
The Brazilian Government has recently authorized the
construction Of adapted for the navigation
of the Amazon and its tributaries and has dispatched Sc
Rebeiro its minister plenpoentary to enter into
with the Governments Of Peru, Bolivia and
Ecuador to embrace among other objects the free nav
CATION Of those rivers by steamers The able and inte
resting memorial Of Lieut. Manry to Congress on the vast
productive and capabilities Of the valley OF the
Amazon for profitable American commerce, has led To
the association of company Of enterprising Southern
capitalists who have already obtained charter from the
Legislature of Virginia to establish line Of steamers be-
tween Norfolk and PARA which win shortly lead to the
opening Of and lucrative commerce between the
United States and the entire valley Of the Amazon nclu
ding the upper provinces Of Peru Bolivia, and Ecuador
WASHINGTON, july, 1852. A. II. y.