Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-02-27
from the National Tniellgencer-l
SOUTH AMERICAN ENPL9RA.

NJ
Letters have been received at the Navy De
partment from Lieut.. Thos j. Page, in COM
mand of the United States steamer Water Witch,
dated Buenos Ayres, December Is, 1866, which
gives additional information in relation to the
exploration of the river Salado, upon which
work Lieut.. p. has been engaged for some time
back. 1t will be recollected that we published
some extracts of previous letter from Lieut.
p, dated the 22d of October last Since then,
in the further examination of the river Salado,
its nayigablity has been found to extend up to
place called San Miguel, in the province of
Salta, q distance by land of about 100 miles a.
bovc the point at which the descent of the river
was commenced on the 18th of September last
This gives to the provinces Of Salta, Injui, and
Catamarca, the benefit of nearer approach TO
navigable waters.
The enthusiasm of the authorities and people
OF the different provinces through which the
expedition passed Santa Fe, Santiago, Tucu-
man and Salta) on the discovery of the naviga
bility of the Salado is said to have been beyond
description. Thsy characterize this discovery
rs the opening ola now era in the prosperity Of
their country and as the third great epoch-frSt
their independence; cd, the downfall Of Rosas;
Sd, the discovery OF nayigability of the Salado.
The vast importance, in commercial point Of
view solely, which attaches to the navigation of
the Salado Is matter of clear demonstration.
The difficulties and expenses attendant upon the
present unwieldly conyeyances by which the
products ofthe provinces are transported to mar
ket, 20 trusted with the facilities offered by the
Saado, exhibit result which proves incontesti-
bly, the advantages that can be derived from its
navigation. The prevalence of this opinion is
such that the removal of the town of Santiago
at some future period to the banks of the Salado
IS seriously talked ST, and orders have already
been issued from other provinces for the pur-
chase oflands on thisriyer
1t Is stated that a new channel was discovered
leading from the confluence of the Paiana and
Uruguay rivers into the river Plate. This chan
mel is described rs having two feet more water
in it than the old one, and is more easily enter
ed. The island Martin Garcia, now in the pos
session of Buenos Ayres, commands the old chan
mel most ettectually. Through the new channel
vessel may pass at the distance of one and a
quarter miles from the island The new chan
mel passes between Martin Garcia and the Banda
Oriental; whereas the old one passes between
Martin Garcia and Buenos Ayres, and the island
! being claimed and now in possession of Buenos
AYreS that government asserts the right Though
1t has not attempted the exercise ofthat right by
force) to control the navigation of that channel
The treaties existing between the United States
England and France, on one side, and the Ar
gentine Confederation on the other, relative to
Martin Garcia, will, without doubt, always Sc
cure the free navigation of the rivers Parana and
Uruguay; but the discovery of this new chan
mel deprives Martin Carols of the Importance at
tached to it previously as military point COM
handing the navigation of those rivers, and also
deprives the government of Buenos Ayrcs of the
argument she has urged asserting exclusive ju-
risdiction over the old channel Ceding to Buc-
nos Ayrcs the claim She asserts to Martin Gar
cha, the new channel becomes the common
boundary between two foreign States
! Spanish nan-of-war schooner was rescued
from total loss by the Water Witch She had
run aground in attempting to enter the chan
mel off Martin Garcia, and would soon have be-
come a wreck but for the timely aid of the
Water Witch.