Technology

Details of Principal concerns and needs for California establishments. Detailed information on climate, agricultural conditions, pasturing livestock, geographical measurements and features of terrain, arable lands, irrigation, social and safety measures for settlers/recruits, food and other supplies for population, horses and mules. Other documents list family relationships and Vital statistics of colonists requesting land tenure rights, lists of types and numbers of cargo animals for missions, planned distribution of & place purchased of these & smaller domestic food/clothing animals. Description of geography, Flora and potential for irrigation of rivers in region. Founding and contruction of presidio San Joseph (Guadalupe). (J. M. Johnson, January 1989)

Correspondence deals with improvements to streets to reduce noise and improve traffic flow, bridge repair with detailed measurements and contributions toward these. Discussion of drainage problems, including closing acequia with cost of such provided by Ortiz. (J. M. Johnson, January 1989)

Correspondence to viceroy concerning problems of bridges and acequias, drainage of public works projects. Folios 243, 249, 257 written by nuns (abadesas) recounting rise of water level, smell and possible disease to convent. Also, inability to pay contribution due to lack of income by convent. Other documents discuss financial matters of payments by finqueros, and specify areas and houses responsible to contribute. Remedies listed to resolve drainage problems to neighborhood, but also benefits to be gained by project and street paving. (J. M. Johnson, January 1989)

Denunciations to intendente, relayed to viceregal officials. Miners overworked, poor drainage in mines and stealing from poor. Meson de Teotihuacan similar complaints and neglect of payment of Arancel customs tariffs. Atotonilco*)

Improvements to real palacio: tear down walls and shacks aroung area for aesthetic and security reasons, pave Santa Isabel street. Budget estimates for each job and types of workmen. Construction in Chapultepec(que) of system of arches for water delivery from Santa Fee, and ideas for use as park. Report by engineer comments on earthquake danger, house construction, details on geography of area, filtration system. Responses by viceroy, some marked secret. (J. M. Johnson, December 1988)

Documents stress bureaucratic and financial problems completing projects since death of Gordonez. Officials respond by references to past autos; comments by viceroy, some marked secret. (J. M. Johnson, December 1988)

Report on poor state of wooden bridges in area of osolotepeque across two rivers. Will benefit haciendas, owners to contribute to expenses for construction of stone bridge. List of hacienda owners and lessees with quotas due for each. Indians to do labor; punishment for those refusing. (J. M. Johnson, December 1988)

Codina writes to viceroy of need for bringing water to two outlying areas of Guadalajara. Difficulties in completion of present projects due to financial and bureaucratic problems. Plans to marry; requests return to Spain. Pagazaurtundua to be replacement. Ff. 127-130 biographical details of training, work in Spain and new world. Because of health problems requests transfer to Spain, not Guadalajara. Discussion of Codina's salaries and turning over projects to Pagazaurtundua for completion. Chihuahua petitions for immediate replacement; Valparda asks for position. Many documents refer to past administrative and fiscal ordances. (J. M. Johnson, December 1988)

Prelate and cabildo of Guadalajara urgently request viceroy to name engineer for work in city and region. Effects of drought forcefully described. Codina requests passport; details work experience in Spain and new world. Officials discuss length of time for completion of projects and responsibility for Codina's salary. Reference made based on king's decree of 1787, deciding salary questions of cuerpos de artilleria and ingenieria for all the indias. (J. M. Johnson, December 1988)

Documents deal with all aspects of installation of lighting, purchasing, importing glass lamps from Spain, problems of technology, difficulties to be avoided based on prior experiences. Detailed description of placement, further illumination planned, specific contributors for expenses. Ff. 74-75 typeset decree of 1783 and 1785 outlining reasons for project; reaffirmed by officials with comments by viceroy to be still in effect. (J. M. Johnson, December 1988)