THE AUSTIN PAPERS 253 There are flue situations on the .waters of Galveston Bay for saw Mills-plenty of Pine, Oak, etc. some cyp[r]ess and cedar- I think lumber will be a good article to the me.xican ports, and at this time land can be got well timbered- A. steam saw mill _i_s building on a tide water stream of Galveston Bay in my colony-all the machinery is out and the frame etc is ready to put up- It is build- ing by the Harrises o:f Orleans-they go on slowly and are very short of funds-it is quite uncertain when it will be ·completed- :My brother and John Austin own the best situation on any of the tide streams o:f that bay for the lumber business, but they have not capital to make use of i_t as yet- I have not been able to se11 the Gins-they are not the right kind-perhaps they might be sold in th_nt quarter-none but Carvers gins of the best kind will suit _the cotton farmers here-they nre at my Brothers in Brazoria- If John Austin goes to :Matamoras I will write again and I am very anxious to see a copy of the memorial you speak of and 'any information on that subject will be interesting to me I am truly . your friend and relative and hope you·will give my cabbin a passing call before you return to the U. S. s F AUSTIN P. S. I have it in contemplation to open a road direct from here to P(J,880 del Norte, and Santa. Fe, with a view to turn the trade which is·now carried on to those places from Missouri, to the port of Galveston- Some examinations have already been made as to the practicability of a waggon road, and they are very satisfactory, as to the Santa Fe route, but there is doubt whether a suitable Gap in the mountains on Rio Puerco east of El Paso, can be found that will admit of a road to that place- Should you fit out any exploring or other parties to that region, I wish you would insert in their instructions to examine whether there is a practicable route through the mountains, East of El P(J,8so, to the open prairies in the head of Colorado or Brazos o:f Texas- The whole trade of the chihuahua and sonora and New :Mexico regions must ultimately enter in one of the ports of Texas, either Galveston or Matagorda-I prefer the former as a harbor and am of opinion that I could get authority to establish a town there, If so and your views incline this way I w.ould join with you on equal terms- John Austin is from Nor.wich Connecticut- What relation is that family of Austins to us-or is there any relationship 1 he is 11 very correct and ·persevering man- Victor Blanco the Lieutenant Governor o:f Coahuila y Texas wished to purchase ~ gin l-0.st year, and h~ wro~e me that several could be so~d at.Monclova. and Santa. Rose. also Ignacio Arispe of Saltillo I think might possibly b~y one • STEPHEN F AUSTIN
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