The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-11
THE GARDINER CASE.
CRIMINAL COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBT
RsPoRrED FoR THE REPusLIc.1
TwENTY-FoURTH DAY-Fsiday. april s


TwENTY-FOURTH DAY-FSiday, april 8.
A6a<r Doubleday, sscorn.
In answer to questions by Mr. MAY, tho witness
stated follows: l am first lieutenant oil arli.
lery; educated at West Point in the science OF
engineering which ia part of the course of ednca-
ton pursued there, and have practiced a. CIVIL
engineer for two three years before went 70
West Point. and have practiced civil engineering
since left West Point. l was one of the commits
sioners appointed by the Senate COMMITTEES on
Mexican Claims to go to Mexico. visited San
Luis Potosi with the rest of the commission. The
commission went from San Luis Potosi to Guadal-
cazar; from there to Rio Verde; from Rio Verde
to Nuevo Camotes, and from Nuevo Camotes to
Lagunas. do not remember the distance from
Rio Verde to Laguinillas, but think il 10 about
twenty.four leagues. IA map was here presented
to witness ! made that map. On examining it
think the distance from Rio Verde to LaguiniIfas
il about twenty six or twenty-seven leagues. 1t
may be little more than that This map ia not
made with reference to a scale of inches. A Mexi-
can league is about two and half American miles.
have been in Mexico with our army before went
this commission. have made experiments to
test the accuracy or length OF Mexican league IN
comparison with an American mile. find ii to
be made a computation of thirty two inches to
the varros. The league 10 fraction over two and
half American miles-between two and q half and
two and three-quarters. In making this map the
sources Of information to which bad access were
there l obtained permission to inspect the maps
in the War Department, in the National Palace OF
spected all the maps they had there, and selected
the latest one, and. in fact, the only one could
find in the State of San Luis Potos.
CUES. Was the War Department in Mexico the
place where the maps were deposited?
1Ans. l was not referred to any other place.
CUES. Did you copy that map Of " ich you have
spoken?
Ans. did; traced it upon tracing paper, and
this is copy made from the copy which took on
tracing paper. Where there were errors cor
rected them.
Mr. BRADLEY Was that copy made on tracing
pager made upon tn same scale?
Witness. 1t 10 a different scale.
Mr.. MAY. Did you get any other information!
Ays. l took the course OF the road we went
along, and made destinations of the distances, and
corrected the map BY my observations.
CUES Did you hnd any other information?
Ans. found in Queretaro that there ma p
of that State, from which obtained the boundary
of the State between it and San Luis Potosi.
CUES. Has the map you got from Queretaro also
been reduced to the scale OF that map!
Ans. 1t has.
Quss Did you consult any maps in the State of
San Luis Potosi, or Rio Verde, or anywhere ese'
Ans. No, could find none in San Luis Potosi.
consulted the maps in the possession OF the Colonel
of Engineers, Mariana de los Reyes who was en-
deavoring to make carriage road, as 1 under
stood it, from Tampico San Luis Potosi. He was
then engaged public engineer of the State.
I took the benefit of his maps, and saw that they
agreed with the map Of the Governor Of Queretaro
in relation to this boundary.
CUES. understand that you made observations
with instruments you carried with you for the pur-
pose of ascertaning the correctness of these maps
which you took with you, and that you made cor
rection where you found errors?
Aps. did
Q,sss. | will ask you whether according to these
maps and the informa ton you acquired there, the
map which ia now before you represents faithfully
the country, 30 far as you are acquainted with il?
dns. Yes, sir.
CUES. And the positions of places are correctly
located (?
4ns Thew are corrected.
CUES. ask you, with respect to all these lines
and boundaries if it is faithful representation of
the location of the country;
Ans. The boundary of Laguinias ia made from
law organizing the municipality from descrip-
ton of the boundaries obtained in San Luis Potosi,
and from my own observations.
CUES. Did you find the north boundary stones
Ans. Yes, sir.
CUES. Did you make any observation there?
Ans Yes, sir.
Cues. Did you find boundary stone in the
south?
Ans did; there is boundary stone at every
corner, / believe.
CUES. Did you find the descriptions which you
examined to coincide with the locations Of these
stones'
Ans. Yes, sir, exactly.
CUES. Had you not previous knowledge of
these boundary stones "a they are used in Mexico'
Ans. Ye-, sir; had seen them before.
CUES. i see that mountain ranges are set down
on the map existing in Laguinilas?
Ans. These set down from my own obser-
vations.
CUES / see that Arroyo Seco 10 set down az being
in the State of Queretaro. Is it in that State?
-4ns. 1t is
Q.es Can you say how far it is from the town
of Laguinillas TO the southern boundary of that
district?
Ans. About five or six leagues. 1 think the
longest distance ls about seven leagues.
CUES. After you pass that distance in any direc-
ton TO the south. east, southwest, do you go
into the State of Queretaro?
Ans. Yes, sir.
CUES. Do you remember the village of Penijuan7
Ans / do.
CUES. Is it located upon your map?
-Ans. IL il.
CUES will ask you whether you made constant
and repeated observations?
Ans. Yes, sir.
CUES Does that line describe correctly or not
the line that was travelled by the commissioners?
dns. Yes, air.
CUES. will you describe the character of thai
road and the roads you saw in Laguinillas and the
general face and character of the country?
Ans. The road goes up and down mountain
You cannot call it road. 1t is mere bride path
1t goes up some very steep accents, and down som'
very steep declivties. The country is covered will
very thick chapperal-trees about eight or ten fee
high, something like large bushes, which are al
most impenetrable.
CUES. Is the character of the whole district o
Laguiniilas mountainous, as you describe it'
Ans. Yes, sir; very mountainous
CUES. / will ask you, matter of opinion
whether a steam-engine could be carried into tina
country?
Ans. No, SIR 1t would have TO be dragged vi
the steep side of mountain and let down tn
steep side of another mountain There ia nothing
like a road that saw.
CUES. How is transportation effected in tina
country?
Ans. On mules and donkeys.
Cues. Did you any wheeled vehicles theres
Ans. l did not.
Qu<s Via ia the position Of La guinillas?
4ns 1t il in a sort of valley-that 10, 1t ia abou
half. way I'D mountain; and on leaving it you hav
IN desc nd into a valley.
CUES. Are there any plains around IT.
Ans No plains of any size.
Cues W hat is the character OF the country i
the vicinity Of the town of Laguiniilas?
Ans 1t Il surrounded by high mountains, whic
are wooded on the tops. II 10 a limestone region
saw people making lime there. aaa
Mr.. BaADLEy. Where?
Ans. Near Laguinillas.
Cues. Did you notice general thing the gee
logical character Of the rocks of that country!
Ans. did not particularly.
Rues Did you not see the rocks ~ you rode ove
them on the road?
Ans OF course did.
S"ss. AND the country appeared to you to
generally limestone country?
Ars. IL seemed TO ne to be So
Qsss. DO you speak the Spanish lauguage9
Has. do -
h..~