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On leaving the San Saba we crossed the divide separating it from the Llano. This portion of the country was much like that ere reaching the San Saba, but not quite so rugged. Descending from the divide, we followed the valley of Honey creek, one of the branches of the Llano, until we again carne into Lieutenant Bryan's road, about sixteen miles from the crossing of the Llano. We then continued along it until we reached San Antonio. The distance from the Horse-head crossing, on the Pecos, to San Antonio, by this route, was three hundred and forty-six miles. We arrived at this place on the 20th of January, having travelled a distance since leaving it of nearly thirteen hundred miles.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

N. MICHLER, Jr.,

Brevet 2d Lieut. Top. Eng.

SAN ANTONIO, April 16, 1850.

SIR:

I have the honor to transmit herewith a sketch of the river Colorado, from Austin to its mouth. Although the scale is not large enough to show distinctly the character of the channel, it is as large as the means of conveyance .(the mall) will permit.

The examination of the river was made by Lieutenant W. F. Smith, assisted by Messrs. R. A. Howard and J. F. Minter.

There are three sorts of obstruction to the navigation of the Colorado. 'The. (so called) raft, snags, and overhanging trees. The removal of these would make the river, in ordinary stages, practicable to Austin for boats drawing two feet water.

The raft occurs in eleven separate parts, the aggregate length of which is 3,569 yards. It is seven miles from. the head of the first to the foot of the last portion, and eleven miles from the last point to the mouth of the river.

The expense of clearing this part of the channel is estimated at $30,000 by a person who was for several years engaged in the removal of the Red river raft. The necessary machinery would cost, he thinks, $20,000 more.

Between the head of the raft and Bastrop there are fifty four clusters of snags the clusters, as well as the snags, generally small. Between Bastrop and Austin the, channel is in three places choked with fallen trees; and in three other places large boulders occur, which should be removed.

Between Austin and Lagrange, large trees overhang the channel. The cost of their removal could not exceed; 500.

To open the river to Austin, then, the cost would be about $56,000, viz:

If machinery now owned by the United States could be used, $20,000 would of course be deducted from this estimate.