TO SAN ANTONIO. 
13 
This place was selected as the most desirable spot 
for a town, on account of its depth of water, and con- 
venience of approach from the gulf. Y essels drawing 
ten feet of water, are said to have passed in without 
difficulty ; and, to use the words of an enthusiastic ad- 
mirer of its position, who doubtless had some interest 
in its success, “it seems to have been intended by 
nature, to rear and sustain a large commercial city.” 
From the several examinations which have been 
made of Matagorda Bay, it appears that the harbors on 
its western shores, the chief of which are La Salle and 
Indianola, possess advantages above those of any ports 
on the Gulf of Mexico, between the mouth of the Mis- 
sissippi and Yera Cruz, with the exception of Galves- 
ton. The whole Texan coast, it is well known, is bor- 
dered by long and shallow lagoons, connected with the 
waters of the gulf by narrow openings, whose position 
is constantly shifting, and which have not always suffi- 
cient depth of water for the passage of large vessels. 
Paso Cavallo, the entrance to Matagorda Bay, is only 
second to that which leads to Galveston Bay. 
In the contest for superiority, Indianola seems to 
have carried away the palm ; for while the highly ap- 
plauded site for the city of La Salle is almost unoccu- 
pied, the former has grown into a large and thriving 
town, second only to Galveston among all the ports of 
Texas. Indianola is now the port for the extensive 
commerce with Western Texas, Chihuahua, and por- 
tions of New Mexico ; a railroad has already been com- 
menced to connect it with San Antonio, the chief city 
of the State, and two lines of steamers plying between 
it and New Orleans will continue to add to its prosperi- 
