| Years. | Amt. Mdse. | W'gs. | Men. | Pro's. | T'n to Ch'a. | Remarks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1822 | 15,000 | 70 | 60 | 9,000 | Pack-animals only used. | |
| 1823 | 12,000 | 50 | 30 | 3,000 | Pack-animals only used. | |
| 1824 | 35,000 | 26 | 100 | 80 | 3,000 | Pack-animals and wagons. |
| 1825 | 65,000 | 37 | 130 | 90 | 5,000 | Pack-animals and wagons. |
| 1826 | 90,000 | 60 | 100 | 70 | 7,000 | Wagons only henceforth. |
| 1827 | 85,000 | 55 | 90 | 50 | 8,000 | |
| 1828 | 150,000 | 100 | 200 | 80 | 20,000 | 3 men killed, being the first. |
| 1829 | 60,000 | 30 | 50 | 20 | 5,000 | 1st U.S.Es.—1 trader killed. |
| 1830 | 120,000 | 70 | 140 | 60 | 20,000 | First oxen used by traders. |
| 1831 | 250,000 | 130 | 320 | 80 | 80,000 | Two men killed. |
| 1832 | 140,000 | 70 | 150 | 40 | 50,000 | Party defeated on Canadian 2 men killed, 3 perished. |
| 1833 | 180,000 | 105 | 185 | 60 | 80,000 | |
| 1834 | 150,000 | 80 | 160 | 50 | 70,000 | 2d U.S. Escort |
| 1835 | 140,000 | 75 | 140 | 40 | 70,000 | |
| 1836 | 130,000 | 70 | 135 | 35 | 50,000 | |
| 1837 | 150,000 | 80 | 160 | 35 | 60,000 | |
| 1838 | 90,000 | 50 | 100 | 20 | 80,000 | |
| 1839 | 250,000 | 130 | 250 | 40 | 100,000 | Arkansas Expedition. |
| 1840 | 50,000 | 30 | 60 | 5 | 10,000 | Chihuahua Expedition. |
| 1841 | 150,000 | 60 | 100 | 12 | 80,000 | Texan Santa Fé Expedition. |
| 1842 | 160,000 | 70 | 120 | 15 | 90,000 | |
| 1843 | 450,000 | 230 | 350 | 30 | 300,000 | 3d U.S.Es.—Ports closed. |
The foregoing table is not given as perfectly accurate, yet it is believed to be about as nearly so as any that could be made out at the present day. The column marked "Pro's." (Proprietors), though even less precise than the other statistics, presents, I think, about the proportion of the whole number engaged each year who were owners. At first, as will be seen, almost every individual of each caravan was a proprietor, while of late the capital has been held by comparatively few hands. In 1843, the greater portion of the traders were New Mexicans, several of whom, during the three years previous, had embarked in this trade, of which they bid fair to secure a monopoly.
The amount of merchandise transported to Santa Fé each year, is set down at its probable cost in the Eastern cities of the United States. Besides freights and insurance to Independence, there has been an annual investment, averaging nearly twenty-five per cent. upon the cost of the stocks, in wagons, teams, provisions, hire of hands, &c., for transportation across the Prairies. A large portion of this remaining unconsumed, however, the ultimate loss on the outfit has not been more than half of the above amount. Instead of purchasing outfit, some traders prefer employing freighters, a number of whom are usually to be found on the frontier of Missouri, ready to transport goods to Santa Fé, at ten to twelve cents per pound. From thence to Chihuahua the price of freights is six to eight cents—upon mules, or in wagons.
The average gross returns of the traders has rarely exceeded fifty per cent. upon the cost of their merchandise, leaving a net profit of between twenty and forty per cent.; though their profits have not unfrequently been under ten per cent.: in fact, as has before been mentioned, their adventures have sometimes been losing speculations.[A]—Gregg.
[A] Those who are familiar with Mr. Mayer's very interesting work on Mexico, will observe that a portion of the preceding table corresponds substantially with one presented on page 318 of that work. In justice to myself, I feel compelled to state, that, in 1841, I published, in the Galveston "Daily Advertiser," a table of the Santa Fé trade from 1831 to 1840 inclusive, of which that of Mr. Mayer embraces an exact copy. I have since made additions, and corrected it to some extent, but still the correspondence is such as seemed to require of me this explanation.
[137] With a view to encourage adventurers, the government of Chihuahua agreed to reduce the impost duties to a very low rate, in favor of a pioneer enterprise; and to furnish an escort of dragoons for the protection of the traders.
The expedition was undertaken chiefly by Mexicans; but one American merchant, Dr. H. Connelly, having invested capital in it. I obtained from this intelligent gentleman a very interesting sketch of the adventures of this pioneer party, which I regret that my plan will not permit me to present in detail.
The adventurers set out from Chihuahua on the 3d of April, 1839, amidst the benisons of the citizens, and with the confident hope of transferring the valuable trade of the North to their city. The caravan (including fifty dragoons), consisted of over a hundred men, yet only about half a dozen of the number were proprietors. Though they had but seven wagons, they brought about seven hundred mules, and two or three hundred thousand dollars in specie and bullion, for the purposes of their adventure.
They took the Presidio del Norte in their route, and then proceeding northwestwardly, finally arrived at Fort Towson after a protracted journey of three months; but without meeting with any hostile savages, or encountering any serious casualty, except getting bewildered, after crossing Red River, which they mistook for the Brazos. This caused them to shape their course thence nearly north, in search of the former stream, until they reached the Canadian river, where they met with some Delaware Indians, of whom they obtained the first correct information of their whereabouts; and by whom they were piloted safely to Fort Towson.
It had been the intention of these adventurers to return to Chihuahua the ensuing fall; but from various accidents and delays, they were unable to get ready until the season had too far advanced; which, with an incessant series of rains that followed, prevented them from travelling till the ensuing spring. Learning that the Texans were friendly disposed towards them, they now turned their course through the midst of the northern settlements of that republic. Of the kind treatment they experienced during their transit, Dr. Connelly speaks in the following terms: "I have never been more hospitably treated, or had more efficient assistance, than was given by the citizens of Red River. All seemed to vie with each other in rendering us every aid in their power; and our Mexican friends, notwithstanding the hostile attitude in which the two countries stood towards each other, were treated with a kindness which they still recollect with the warmest feelings of gratitude." This forms a very notable contrast with the treatment which the Texan traders, who afterwards visited Santa Fé, received at the hands of the Mexicans.