364 



STATISTICS OF SANTA FE TRADE, ETC. 



uplands throughout all these elevated plains about the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, must, in all probability, remain sterile in consequence of the 

 extraordinary dryness of the atmosphere* Indeed, New Mexico 

 possesses but few of those natural advantages which are necessary 

 to a rapid progress of civilization. It is a region without a single 

 communication by water with any other part of the world, and is 

 imprisoned by chains of mountains extending for more than five hun- 

 dred miles, except in the direction of Chihuahua from which, how- 

 ever, its settlements are separated by a dreary desert of nearly two 

 hundred miles. 1 



" Some general statistics of the Santa Fe trade," says Dr. Gregg, 

 " may prove not wholly without interest to the mercantile reader. 

 With this view I have prepared the following table of the probable 

 amount of merchandise invested in the Santa Fe trade, from 1822 to 

 1843 inclusive, and about the portion of the same transferred to the 

 Southern markets (chiefly Chihuahua) during the same period ; to- 

 gether with the approximate number of wagons, men and proprietors 

 engaged each year : 



Years. 



Amount 

 Mdse. 



Wa- 

 gons. 



Men. 



Prop' 

 ietors 



Train to 

 Chihuahua 



Remarks. 



1822 



15,000 

 12,000 







70 



60 





Pack-animals only used. 



1823 







50 



30 





do. do. 



1824 



35,000 





26 



100 



80 



3,000 



do. and wagons. 



1825 



65,000| 



37 



130 



90 



5,000 

 7,000 



do. do. 



1826 



90,000 





60 



100 



70 



Wagons only henceforth. 



1827 



85,000 



55 



90 



50 



8,000 

 20,000 



1828 



150,000 





100 



200 



80 



Three men killed, being the first. 



1829 



60,000 





30 



50 



20 



5,000 



1st U. S. Escort — one trader killed. 



1830 



120,000 





70 



140 



60 



20,000 



First oxen used by traders. 



1831 



250,000 





130 



320 



80 



80,000 



Two men killed. 



1832 



140,000 



70 



150 



40 



50,000 



( Party defeated on Canadian 2 men 



1833 



180,000; 



105 



185 



60 



80,000 

 70,000 



( killed, 3 perished. 



1834 



150,000 





80 



160 



50 



2d U. S. Escort. 



1835 



140,000 





75 



140 



40 



70,000 





1836 



130,000: 



70 



135 



35 



60,000 





1837 



150,000' 



80 



160 



35 



80,000 





1838 



90,000 



50 



100 



20 



40,000 





1839 



250,000! 



130 



250 



40 



100,000 



Arkansas Expedition. 



1840 



50,000 





30 



60 



5 



10,000 

 80,000 



Chihuahua Expedition. 



1841 



150,000 





60 



100 



12 



Texan Santa Fe Expedition. 



1842 



160,000 





70 



120 



15 



90,000 

 300,000 



1843 



1 450,000 





230 



350 



30 



3d U. S. Escort— Ports closed." 2 



The following valuable geographical information is derived from 

 a statement published by Major James Henry Carleton, United 

 States Army, in the National Intelligencer, and is founded on the 

 measurements made by Captain Alexander B. Dyer, with a viameter, 

 during the march of General Kearney against New Mexico. 



1 See Gregg, vol. i., chapter vii. 2 Gregg, vol. ii., p. 160. 



