Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-24
Exploration OF the niver salado, by an
American Expedition

A letter has been received by the Secretary
of the Navy from Thomas J. Page, lieutenant
in command Of the steamer La Yerba, dated
Santa Fe, August 18th, at which place he arrived
from an exploration Of the river Salado on the
9th of the above named month. The river
Salado empties into the Parana at Santa Fe,
the principal town of the province of the same
name, which is one Of the Argentine Confedera-
ton. Lieutenant Page was accompanied by
Acting Lieutenants Powell and Murdaugh,
Assistant Surgeon Carter and Assistant Engi.
neer Stump, officers of the Water Witch.
He set sail on the 18th July last, in the small
steamer La Yerba, which was procured for this
purpose, and which belongs TO the Paraguay
and United States Navigation Company. BY
the Goth Of July he had assembled the river a
distance of $50 miles, and found il impossible
to proceed further in consequence of the shall
lowness of the river, the water at that point
being only two and-a-half feet deep, and was
still failing. Such is the winding character of
the above named, distance, he thinks that he
was not more than onethird of that distance,
in a right line, from Santa Fe.
The Salado has never heretofore been either
assembled or descended to this point, and the
practicability of its navigation was a problem
unsolved until this exploration. 1t is the most
important river of the Argentine Confederation,
and is the natural outlet for the production of
Salta, Tucman, Santiago, Mendoza, Condova,
and Santa Fe, but the apprehension of en-
countering insurmountable obstacles, and the
fear of Indians, have deprived the inhabitants
of these provinces of its benefits ever since the
first settlement of the country.
The waters of this river abound with fish,
swans, geese, ducks, terrapins, ~nutrias, and the
like, and the adjacent country with deer and
other animals, thus affording to the navigator
an abundance of provision, if he be supplied
with the means Of securing it. Among the
specimens Of birds are mentioned the "black-
neck" swans. The water in parts Of the
river is too much impregnated with salt to be
drunk, but there are fresh water streams
emptying into it, and fresh water may be OBJ
tanned by digging a short distance from the
banks.
The region of country through which the
expedition passed is represented to be beautiful
in scenery and well wooded. The characterof
the soil is alluvial, based on argillaceous
substratum, and tits said that all that is wanted
to transform this wilderness Of country into a
garden is The hand of civilized man. The
government, aware that the resources of this
productive country can be developed only by
the introduction of a foreign population, holds
out to Immigrants the most liberal induce
ments.
Lieutenant Page adds: ~ shall proceed
from here to the head or upper waters of the
Pilcomayo, with the hope Of descending that
river. Its exploration has been attempted by
others, but has never been accomplished. fit
be navigable, a knowledge of this fact would be
Of deep interest to geographical science, and of
infinite Importance not only to Bolivia, but
also to the Argentine Confederation"