Building Materials

Index and extractions of expedientes, introduced by Ugarte y Loyola, containing abundant administrative, military and religious information about provinces Coahuila, Nuevo Leon y Nuevo Santander. This particular Series deals with legajo 13, quaderno 10, 1766. Upon orders of Galvez, Ugarte y Loyola submits index to Nava who remits them to Castro. Topical listings in indice include missions, new Orleans, presidios, prohibition of saltpetre and gunpowder, governor salaries, building materials, criminals, tobacco, desertion, Yslas Blancas, campaigns against Indians, house sales in Penzacola, virreys, Santander, pearls, and mines. (J. Hiller, June 1989)

Letter by Ansa (Elder) concerning expedition to find suitable land route to California from Sonora. Discussion of whether or not California is Island. Mentions discovery of native silver in Pimeria Alta. Brief, detailed description of ruins 15 leagues from Janos toward Gila River, building materials, proportions, artifacts; likened to Palace of Madrid. In Margin is related letter by Civan concerning Jesuit missionaries in California, Pimeria. Mentions some English exploration of California (Drake). Mentions locations, with latitude, longitude, of Indian tribes of northern Nueva Mexico; conversion of some of these. (A. Dean, August 1989)

Around midnight on August 31, 1805, steady rain breaches Arroyo, floods Croix. Casas moves entire population first to Piedras, then to Forlon (between Llera, Escandon), only defensible high-ground in area. Speaks of three years of extraordinary dryness, one of excessive rain. paperwork to make move permanent, report on natural resources of Forlon. Calleja objects that settling in Forlon leaves ranches near old Croix sin auxilios espirituales, ni temporales, open to attack by Tamaulipos; requires Villa be reestablished at Piedras, but promises to allow new Villa at Forlon if more than 30 people want to stay. Much debate of relative merits, disadvantages of each site; detailed geographic description of Forlon to demonstrate superiority to Piedras, signed by many vecinos. Order given to move everyone to Piedras, but some refuse to leave Forlon. All religious effects moved back to Piedras. Yturbe gives official threat that anyone remaining in Forlon will be rigorously prosecuted (may - F.193). Inventory of all church property (f.203). Garcia de Leon describes in detail what layout of new Villa should be (f.207). Map of nueba Villa de la Purissima Concepcion de Croix; key lists residents of each lot, proportions of lots, streets, Plazas (f.210). Chart listing property, mostly different kinds of livestock, of each inhabitant (f.211). (A. Dean, July 1989)

Laurrari reports of delay in March due to abundant water in Santa Rosa Valley. Reports of lag in Coahuila construction in comparison with that of Nueva Viscaya, where mission Indians are forced to work; Coahuila has only poor-working vagabunds to accomplish goals. Detailed project reports include measurements. (J. Hiller, July 1989)

Letter to Revilla Gigedo regarding facade of church in Monterrey started by previous governor of California (Fages). Letter ordering suspension of all work on facade. Letter from Velasquez of new design of the facade. Letter requesting clarification of orders since Romeu died. Informe of expenses incurred in construction of new facade of church in Monterrey, includes detailed description of goods and work performed (folios 467-478). Letters regarding payment of money for new facade. (T. Kahana, September 1989)

Letters concerning expenses of San Francisco's factory for years 1789-1794. Documents and letters related to deliveries made by presidios in California to ships and individuals. Commissioner of San Blas promises to pay immediately his debt and ask in the future to send him an invoice with the goods. Letters mentioning amount of money alloted to each presidio. Document containing detailed accounting of San Francisco's factory, presidio and church. Letters concerning expenses of presidios Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Francisco and Monterrey. Letter explaining extra expenses incurred in Monterrey due to fire in presidio and detailed description of repair work and daily life of Indians employed to do it (folio 335-337). (T. Kahana September 1989)

Documents contain information resulting in formal establishment of Horcasitas. Reports on conditions of people, mission, Indians. Ciprian says Indians should be moved to Tamaulipa and provided with clothes, tobacco and machetes so can open road to Sotolamarina. Reports on present advantages, Fabricas and crops. Considering new location for mission. Escandon goes on expedition with soldiers and friendly Indians to explore area. Indians gave warm welcome. Description of Indians. Feast of beans, squash, yams, corn, platano. Abundant minerals. Good land and water. Contains list of families and Escuadra and property. Discusses conditions and obligations of residency. Abundant saltpetre adn good pastures. Campaigns against Tanambres. Description of homes and town. Distances from other Villas. Escandon gives instructions to increase residents. Includes city plan. (M. Dannemiller, April 1989)

Main theme of documents is secularization of missions, positive, negative effects of it. First group of folios, however, concerns construction of church at Ygollo, project commissioned to several craftsmen whose work is later found shoddy; governor demands revision of architectural plans, assessment of work to date; new master 'albaniles' hired; new plans (folio 3), itemized cost of supplies, salaries submitted; Pison Indian, Balthasar de la Cruz, major proponent of project; he and Young Boy only Pisones remaining at mission, Pames in area not interested in church. Topic of documents shifts as discussion turns to inventorying of 'temporalidades' at several abandoned/secularized missions, including that at Ygollo, now controlled by 'justicias'; 'frayes' assigned to travel to missions and inventory goods, including cattle, furniture, tools, etc.; delayed by severe drought; inventories finally taken; also included are accounts of cattle, etc. Received, purchased from missions by 'ministros.' following inventories, discussion of decadence suffered by missions since their secularization ensues; no longer able to convert, 'reduccir' Indians, buildings in poor physical condition. Final folios include 'memorias' dealing with issues mentioned above. (L. Kerr, June 1989)

Detailed testimony of Moreno. Notes that Indian spies keep apprised of affairs by posing as day workers in presidios and villages. Detailed discussion of Rio's and Moreno's crimes, including affirmative testimonies by other Spanish. Other Indians (tortuga, Luis, Bustamante) are convicted of spying and rebellion. Details Apache subsistence-- planting of corn, beans squash, eating of robbed horses and cattle. Meat distributed by leader Calaxtrin in times of need-- notes differential distribution of horse meat by occupation. Records that Apaches do not have formal homes (with exception of Calaxtrin, who has Adobe). Describes Apache movement for water by moon phases and hostilities, and how Apaches recover their dead to bury in Sierra Chivato. Recounts Apache 3 day use of hallucinogenic Peyote after a raid in which Apaches kill horses to cripple forces, eat neck meat of horse, break joints of cadavers and bury cadavers in a round pit covered with soil and rocks. Account of typical Spanish weaponry (shields, leather jackets, whips (?), fire, pikes) and of Indian weaponry (bow and arrow). Detailed account of Indian battle tactics and sale of robbed horses to the north. Mines at real del oro (?) Closed due to Indian threat. (S. Gibbs September 1989)

Concerns increasing sales tax by 2 and maintaining privilege of exemption of reventa. Virrey grants pardon for several imprisoned smugglers. Serna and Echeagaray reprimanded and released from prison by Castro. says needs housing for soldiers since shacks are subject to fire. Also, primera compania needs additional storage. Includes letter from guerra relating troop movement. says Camoteros are friendly but can't be convinced to aggregate to nearby mission. Suggests construction of new mission. Lack of soldiers prevents campaigns against Apaches. Suggests building bastion at presidio for more protection. Castro mentions formal recognition of Texas' Mineral wealth. Concerns annual report of recent measures taken to increase population, agriculture and roads. Concerns proper treatment and relations with Lipanes. Castro delegates request by virrey for audit of guerra and Serna's expenses to San Maxent. Includes San Maxent's evaluation and documentation of expenses. Acknowledges orders for building school in Granada, relieving governors of responsibility of paying Media anata and prohibiting minting of coins. (M. Dannemiller, October 1988)