VALLEY OF THE RIO GRANDE. 187 
The river near the town varies in width from 300 
to 600 feet. It is muddy and sluggish except during 
freshets. In no place, between its source above Santa 
Fé and its mouth, is it spanned by asingle bridge. It 
is easily forded at El Paso, and probably for two thirds 
its length, the greatest depth of the water where it is 
crossed being only from two to three feet. Still, there 
are places, even near E] Paso, where it is much deeper. 
The ford changes more or less every season. In some 
places there are quicksands; in which wagons sink so 
deep, that they are extricated with the greatest diffi- 
culty, and are sometimes lost. The freshets that take 
place are owing to the melting of the snows in the 
Rocky Mountains. These are not of yearly occur- 
rence; for during the summers of 1851 and 52, there 
were none. The river not only did not swell or over- 
flow its banks, but in the former year it became quite 
dry near El Paso, all the water being transferred to 
the acequias. 
A mistaken idea prevails in regard to the great 
advantage of artificial irrigation over that of natural 
rains. It is true that where the cultivator can depend 
upon an ample supply of water at all seasons in the 
irrigating canals, he possesses an advantage over him 
who relies exclusively on nature. But the misfortune 
is, that when water is most needed, the supply is the 
scantiest. In February and March there is always 
enough for the first irrigation. In April and May the 
quantity is much diminished; and if the rise, expected 
to take place the middle of May, fails, there is not 
enough to irrigate properly all the fields prepared for 
it. The consequence is, a partial failure of the crop. 
