Almaraz to Cayetano Romero , Secretary, December 26, 1879

Mr. Almaraz to minister of foreign relations.

Desiring to comply, to the best of my ability, with the instructions which you were pleased to communicate to me by your note No. 7, dated the 9th of August last, directing me to prepare a report upon the true situation, and other circumstances of an island in the Rio Grande which is used as a place of refuge for smugglers, according to the statement of the chief of the customs, section of Camargo, I have the honor to inform you that I have been to visit the aforesaid island, and to measure myself the depth of the two branches of the river which form it.

The island is, indeed, very near to the town of Roma, opposite to the Ameriean rancheria called Los Saenz on one side, and on the other being opposite to the Mexican ranehes called Guardado and El Morterito, which is about 2,500 meters in length, and about 200 in width in its broadest part, and owing to its situation is really very favorable to smuggling operations.

I measured the depth of each channel of the river fourteen times in different places of its longitudinal extent, and obtained the following results, which show the differences in depth.

Sounding of the northern channel, American side: 1 m., 16; 1 m., 24; 1 m., 47; 1 m., 51; 1 m., 72; 1 m., 78; 2 m., 35; 2 m., 70.

Sounding of the channel on the Mexican side: 0 m., 71; 0 m., 89; 0 m., 96; 1 m., 05; 1 m., 32; 1 m., 40; 1 m., 52.

This latter channel, according to information, sometimes becomes dry, while the other always has water. From all this it appears that the deeper of the two channels of the Rio Grande, which form the island, is the one on the north, and according to the fifth article of the treaty of friendship and limits of 1848, and article 1 of the treaty of Mesilla, that the island is to be considered as a part of our national territory. As to the history of the island, I have gathered the following data:

The Rio Grande was formerly divided at the island into three divisions or channels, one of them being central and following the original direction of the river, and two being lateral and separated, one towards the north and the other towards the south, after which they again met, leaving between them two strips of land, one of which was considered American and the other as Mexican soil, their owners belonging to the two nationalities.

In the year 1865 there was a large freshet in the Rio Grande which caused various changes in its current, among which was that the two strips of land in again becoming united formed the present island. I myself have seen marks of the former division of the island, which was still very apparent, and I have passed through the former channel of the river. When the two parts of the island became united their various owners privately agreed to own, in equal parts, that which had recently been formed. They soon disagreed, however, and had recourse to the law and terminated their dispute by means of the written agreement which was authenticated before the court at Mier.

I had not asked the court at Mier for any information with regard to the truth of this, because I did not know whether such a proceeding on my part would be approved. I think, moreover, that if such a document is necessary, it will be obtained more readily by your department.

I must inform you, in conclusion, that I was accompanied during my examination of the island by the chief of the customs section of Camargo and by Don Juan Villareal, a respectable person, who is the judge of the civil register at Camargo and likewise judge of the supreme court of the state of Tamaulipas, and that we proceeded with the utmost discretion, preferring to make our journey on the Mexican side, although it was thereby rendered longer and more difficult.

I renew to you the assurances of my most respectful consideration.