Civil Offices

Index to correspondence concerning Leal's actions chasing rebeldes (same incident was covered in folios 0097-0107). Petition by Gonzales de Burgos for job as administrator of customs house in Saltillo or any other vacancy in rentas. Detailed employment history for Gonzales de Burgos; comments by Plo y Alduan, Bagues y Marco on his aptitude, dedication, other personal attributes. Letter by Gonzales de Burgos discussing vacancy created in real Caja de Durango by death of Bagues y Marco. Salcedo rejects petition. Gonzales comments on unlikelihood of getting job as promised by director de alcabales due to employment situation in Provincias Internas; complains that his income has dropped 75% while size of his family increases. He asks for 5-6 month leave to recover from illness; certification from doctor. Request rejected by Ahumada, ply y Alduan. Bonavia says he will provide full pay if comandante general agrees to grant leave. (O. Velez, January 1990)

Letter from Salcedo to virrey Lizana, concerning the american decision not to interfere with Spanish colonies. Letters concerning the replacement of the governador general de las Provincias Internas Nemesio Salcedo by his successor Luis de Alava. (T. Kahana January 1988)

Documents concerning foundation of missions of Jesus and San Francisco Xavier in Coahuila; discuss Indians' petition for land and indoctrination in catholic faith, search for appropriate mission location. Also, Ramon's auto de Fundacion of mission San Cristoval accomplished while returning from campaign against Tobosos. (J. H. Ochs, December 1987)

Rodriguez Gallardo's deposition and remarks to informe written by visitor of Jesuit missions in Sonora. Issues discussed include consolidation of dispersed pueblos de indios; military escort for religious entradas into frontier areas; definition of indios vagantes; reasons for Pueblo desertion. Cites various articles from recopilacion de Leyes de las indias concerning reduction of Indians to mission life. author suggests that 2,000 pesos be sent to governor of Sinaloa to combat Apaches and that Barrancas of Sierra Madre be cleared of small Tarahumaran rancherias, and Indians gathered to be settled in larger pueblos. Also discussed are issues of election of Indian civic officials, regional officials to oversee Indian communities, Indian labor at missions, and punishment of mission Indians. Included is definition of siembras de comunidad versus siembras de Iglesia; number of Indians needed for a Pueblo to be legally recognized. Also, suggestions concerning land tenancy, education and repartimiento system in Sonora. (J. H. Ochs, November 1987)

Series of documents dealing with recovery of money owed to the government by captain Urrutia. Document shows charts with lists of generos mismanaged by Urrutia in San Antonio de Bejar. Series of testimonies from soldiers and other people, about supplies that Urrutia handled in Bejar. Document shows facturas of presidio supplies. List of soldiers from Bejar given. (M. Marrquin, September 19890)

Ff.204-208 discuss possibility of building wooden obstruction to divert Teocelo River in two paths across Barrancas (for irrigation, communication); mentions building short road between Teocelo, San Bartolome. Ff.209-211 are vague letters concerning pulque procured for public works, costs thereof. Ff. 212-213 mention cleaning drains at Aragon. F.214 mentions tax on powder. Ff. 216-221 list detailed reasons for reducing federal funds to municipal works of Alameda, Quaximalpa (inaction of civil servants, nothing getting done).

Correspondence between Croix, virrey, king, Galvez, others, in which determined that 'secretarias' of comandancia general have same right to privileges, salaries, promotions within 'real hacienda,' as 'secretarias' of virreynato. Issue begins with Croix requesting that virrey send copies of all reales Ordenes, etc. Regarding structure, treatment of secretarias in virreynato in order to 'extenderlas en los Propios Terminos' to those of comandancia general. Hierro advises virrey (See marginalia of Croix letter), confessing that extent of Croix's, secretarias' rights unclear, that Croix has promoted independence of region but now wants financial help from virreynato. Previous 'reales Ordenes' reviewed in order to solve dilemma; Croix, and officials whose futures rest on decision, plead with virrey. 'relacion de Merito,' recommendations, brief employment histories of several secretarias provided by Croix, Corvalan in hopes of promotion. Galvez determines that secretarias of comandancia general deserve same salaries (increases to come from 'fondos sobrantes' in virreynato), eligibility for promotion within virreynato; king, not virrey, will consider promotion of officials from comandancia general. 'estado' (folio 62) lists present and proposed salaries of secretarias. (last 32 folios of sequence (folios 32-64) contain many duplicates of decretos, letters, etc. Seen earlier in expediente. See sequence 6 for continuation of issue.) (L. Kerr, April 1989)

Croix proposes establishment of comandancia general with Durango as headquarters due to great distance and inefficiency of governing Provincias Internas from Mexico City; reasoning includes efficient control of rich natural resources, necessity for outpost on borders to guard against foreign conquest of territories; suggests establishment include Casa de Moneda and Silla episcopal to convert Indians and minister to settlers effectively; also need for troops and comandante general for effective protection. (D. J. McClelland, January 1988)

Francisco Xavier Goni purchased ship (San Judas Fadeo) in the canaries and sailed for Havanna then Ostiones with load and passengers. After leaving Havana ship sank. Only few crew lived and told what happened. Documents verify discovery of wreckage parts and auction of same. Ff.131 appears to quote laws concerning finding of unclaimed objects. Ship's Matricula, ff. 155-156. Wages paid for unearthing of wreck, ff.111-114. Possible document of boat purchase by Goni, ff.162-163. Steal some of the wreckage from beach and were killed. Request made for money for Goni's widow, Maria Hernandez Goni. Ff.204 contains verification of the Goni's marriage, names their parents. (S. Langmack September 1989)