Texas: the rise, progress, and prospects of the Republic of Texas, Vol.1 Page: 79 of 432

CHAP. II.]

BAYS AND STREAMIS.

27

dred miles, independently of the communications
through its tributaries, which, with moderate improvement
in their channels, will afford six hundred
more. This river derives its name from its waters,
which, especially during the vernal and autumnal
swells, are of a deep crimson, and transfer the
colour to the alluvial deposits on the banlks. A
large proportion of the immigration into Texas is
by the steam-boats on the Red River, the lands on
both sides of which are being settled with great
rapidity. In the disputed territory between the
United States and Texas, along the course of, and
near the Red River, a great number of small lakes
are dispersed, which probably have been formed by
the waters of this stream, forced back by the iimmense
raft which completely blocked up the channel.
The largest of these lakes is Caddo, or Soda, Lake,
near the south-eastern boundary. The greater part
of it is quite shallow, and many trunks of the decaying
trees, which formerly grew upon its present bed,
still project from its waters, rendering its navigation
dangerous. Small steam-boats are almost constantly
plying between the shores of this lake and the portion
of the Red River below.
Caddo River, a branch of Lake Soda, is about
power that the largest tree, however firmly imbedded, was extracted
in a few minutes. Scores of such trees are raised in a
single day, with the assistance of a few hands. The expenditure
for the removal of the Great Red River Raft, with the cost of constructing
a steam snag-boat, to prevent the formation of fresh obstructions,
has been above 300,000 dollars. The working of the
'snag-boat for a necessary term, and other improvements, would
occasion a fuirther outlay to the United States of 100,000 dollars.