The Develo-p11umt of Friction, I820-z835
exports, 500,000. He calculated the exportation of cotton by the settlers in 1833 as approximately 2,000 bales. In both instances the figures are grossly exaggerated, probably twice the actual amount in each case. They are, nevertheless, indicative of the rapid advance made in a few short years. According to Almonte, C6pano on Aransas Bay was the chief port of the Department of Bexar, whi~h included Bexar, Goliad, Victoria, and San Patricio. He both lauded its natural facilities and its strategic location, and urged the establishment of a customhouse at this point. "There are two roads from this port to Goliad," he wrote, "one over which vehicles may travel, and another suitable only for horse travel. The bay is excellent and can accommodate more than one hundred ships. The entrance to the bay can easily be guarded by a small fort at the bar." There were two other ports, he added, Corpus Christi to the south, and Sabinito to the north on Matagorda Bay!' Almonte became enthusiastic over the possibilities of opening direct trade between Durango, Chihuahua, and New Mexico and the outside world through the Port of C6pano by extending the road between that port and Bexar to the other three Mexican states. To what extent he was influenced by Austin, who had long pressed this project as one of his pet schemes, cannot be determined. "Trade by way of this route would be twice as profitable," he observed, "as that carried on at present between New Mexico and St. Louis.... Consider, then, whether it would not be important to open a road that offers no great difficulties.... In order to encourage sea trade between Texas and ports of the Gulf of Mexico, it would be, perhaps, advisable to extend the permission granted to foreigners by the Law of April 6, 1830 ... to carry on a coastwise trade between the colonies in Texas and the ports of Matamoros, Tampico, and Veracruz. Only thus will we suc- ceed in making the Texans build closer connections with the rest of the republic." In the Department of Brazos (which by 1834 included San Felipe, Columbus, Matagorda, Gonzales, Mina, Brazoria, Harrisburg, Velasco, and Bolivar) there were two ports in use though not authorized, Brazoria and Matagorda. Galveston, in Almonte's opinion, however, had the best harbor. He saw that Galveston held several advantages over the other places. The Harrisburg and San Jacinto sawmills, both located a short distance from Galveston, could furnish lumber for a shipyard; and the 41 Juan N. Almonte, "Statistical Report on Texas," translated by C. E. Castaneda, T/111 Quarterly, XXVIII, 198-199.
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