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El Paso Historical Government Documents |
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"The Plaza and Church of El Paso" by A. de Vauducourt. From Congressional Serial Set Volume on 1850s Survey of Mexican boundary.
El Paso Salt Wars
Colonel Edward Hatch's letter reported what he found after his arrival and investigation of the events that took place in December of 1877. Charles Howard, who for a long time had stridently claimed ownership of the San Elizario salt lakes, pressed charges against a caravan headed to extract salt from that site. His actions provoked a mob that held him in a ranger's fort for four days. The episode ended in the shooting of Howard and two of his companions by members of the mob, which included Texas citizens of Mexican decent and Mexican nationals.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. Also in print at Special Collections -Rare (6th floor), call number F394.E4 U58 1878. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
This is considered the most cited document in historical accounts of the El Paso Salt Wars. It is approximately 170 pages long (this site has digitized the first 19 pages). In it, government officials attempt to piece together all that went on from the beginning of the feud in the late 1860 to the murder of Luis Cardis in October 1877 and the death by firing squad of Charles Howard in December 1877. The investigation that gave birth to this document was considered necessary because the Salt War riots were viewed as possible detonators for larger hostilities between México and the U. S.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
•El Paso County records. Deed Record I, May 1877. Pages 5-8.
This document records some of what happened when judge Gregorio N. García failed to show up for his court duties because he was being held by a mob for refusing to grant an arrest warrant against Charles Howard, one of the main characters in the El Paso Salt War saga. These pages were meant to be written in the El Paso County Criminal Court records, but presumably, due to the chaotic state of things, the county clerk recorded them in the county records.
Location at UTEP Library: Special Collections-Rare (6th floor), call number MS 132.
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Fort Bliss
Senate report (Jan., 1879) that resolves to establish the Fort Bliss military post in El Paso after the events of the Salt Wars. The document concludes that if Fort Bliss had been active before the incidents, the Salt Wars would have never happened.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
Senate executive document (Jan., 1879) discussing the necessity and money issues related to the re-establishment of Fort Bliss in the vicinity of El Paso, after the events of the Salt Wars.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
House report of April, 1898 stating that the “old abandoned military reservation known as Fort Bliss” will be donated to the El Paso County.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
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Establishment of Mail-route to El Paso
•Mail-letting on route from Santa Fe to El Paso, New Mexico, letter to post master General. S. ex doc. 5 (42-1) (Serial number 1466)
Senate executive document (1871) discussing the bids received to establish mail-route from Santa Fe to El Paso. Includes list of bids with names of bidders.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
•Resolutions of Legislature of Texas for Establishment of Mail-stage route from St. Louis to El Paso S. mis. doc. 40 (36-1) (Serial number 1038)
Senate document requesting that a postal connection be established between Austin and El Paso utilizing the El Paso-St. Louis mail-route.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
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Explorations of Mexican Boundary
•Boundary between United States, Texas and Mexico. H. rp. 151 (28-1) (Serial number 445)
Report (Feb, 1844) meant to accompany House Bill 139. It mentions that by virtue of several previous treaties with Spain and México, and because of events in Texas, the boundary line between Mexico, Texas and the United states was to be marked with out delay.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
•Report, with map, on Mexican boundary. S. exdoc. 55 (33-2) (Serial number 752). (50 pages plus maps)
Report by A. B. Gray regarding an expedition ordered to mark the line between Mexico and United States. This expedition was ordered as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Text and maps include El Paso border area.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
•Survey of Mexican boundary, vol 1: Narrative and Geology
These extensive reports contain information on the details about the expedition ordered to mark the line between Mexico and United States. It talks about the journey's difficulties, obstacles and experiences in general, and includes sketches and illustrations in color portraying the peoples of the land and the landscape. Contains comprehensive and detailed results of the geological explorations and includes a generous section with plates of rock formations and fossils found in and around El Paso and the rest of the boundary line.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
•Survey of Mexican boundary, vol 2, pt. 1: Botany.
S. exdoc 108 (34-1) (Serial number 833) |
H. exdoc. 135 (34-1) (Serial number 862) |
Part 1 of volume 2 of the survey report contains all the information the expedition found on vegetation in El Paso and the rest of the border area, from the Pacific to the Gulf of México. It includes lists of plants and corresponding illustrations.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
•Survey of Mexican boundary, vol 2, pt. 2: Zoology
S. exdoc 108 (34-1) (Serial number 834) |
H. exdoc. 135 (34-1) (Serial number 863) |
This part of the survey report contains the zoological findings of the expedition. It includes lists of species with corresponding black and white sketches of each animal.
Location at UTEP Library: In print at Special Collections-Cage (6th floor), call number Y 1.1/2. In micro-opaque card format at Government Documents section (1st floor). Viewers and scanning facilities for micro-opaque cards are available at the CPM department (1st floor).
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For comments or suggestions about this page contact
Saidah Ochoa at sochoa@libr.utep.edu