Labor Force (Prisoners)

List of procedures to be followed by military responsible for forced laborers in Veracruz; includes description of civil construction; instructions for keeping track of prisoners; and details pertaining to clothing and pay allowance, health care, and visits by women and religious personnel. (L. L. Woodward, September 1989)

Castro comments on Nava's proposals for presidio, asking that cost study be done before he makes decision. Nava gives info on construction materials, details of design of proposed presidio. Suggests that prison labor be used, that funds could be taken from primera volante's fondo de gratificacion; estimates that with those measure total cost for presidio would be 9-10,000 pesos. Includes sketch of proposed presidio with explanation of use of various buildings shown in drawing. Castro adds suggestions to Nava's plan, but judges that presidio would be ineffective due to geography and inability of soldiers to patrol all the area that Indians use; also states that Indians (Tamaulipos) are too fierce to be contained by reduccion. Budget for plan included. Castro chides Nava for stating that northern Villas had no urgent problems with Indians without first visiting area or consulting topographic map. (O. Velez, February 1990)

Series of letters between virrey and real Audiencia primarily captured, imprisoned pending their transferral to Havana; during imprisonment two women die (f.12); Apache Reo imprisoned for robbing habilitacion, sentenced to Ten yrs hard labor; folios of significant information. (D. J. McClelland, March 1989)

Unrelated documents (some incomplete) concerning various aspects of public works. Ff.222-223 Jordan has bought house in Alameda adjoining Santa Isabel convent, asks to have separating Wall removed. F.224 Jose Soto asks that his son (josef, soldier sentenced to Obras publicas) be sent to Hospital; mentions certification of Josef's illness, not included. Ff.225-226 Rodriguez asks that deterioration of her property be repaired (a service apparently included in property taxes). Ff.228-230 suggestions for improvements to roads around Toluca, areas frequently washed out, creating toll bridge between San Martin and Mexico City. Ff.231 traffic in front of San Juan de la Penitencia convent disturbing sick being treated there. Ff.233-235 road under construction between Veracruz and Orizava. F.237 pension paid to dona Victoriana beron India cazique as widowed property Owner. Ff/238-240 construction of public chapel on grounds of San Jose convent; gives some specifics for building materials, architectural details; mentions alabaster from Tizaltepeque to be used, transport of alabaster. F.241 mentions plan for houses to be built in Cultepeque. Ff.242-243 Marulanda complains of no waterline, roads not paved at his house, not worth what he paid unless brought up to standard. F.244 priests of San Camilo complain of lack of maintenance at church making public apathetic, pious intentions impossible. (A. Dean, October 1989)

Ff. 157-158 concern property Briceno bought from Maldonado, now demolished to make way for new road; he paid 130 pesos for it, received 35 compensation. See related documents on ff. 107-113 of this volume. Ff. 162-166 are letters discussing excessive costs of maintenance of prisoners, ways to economize. Ff.164-165 are very detailed description of rations given to prisoners, variations for sick or obras publicas prisoners. Ff. 170-175 concern crowding in prison (Mexico C.), separating more dangerous prisoners from rest for security. (A. Dean, September 1989)

Several years correspondence dealing with treatment of Apache, mayhem perpetrated by escapees; strategies to deter escape; mistreatment of captives re causes of escape-desertion and accountability; funds for sustaining Indian captives; problems encountered with captives in various localities; plans for relocation of Nuevo Santander Apaches to Habana and Vera Cruz separating men, women, children; use of Indian prisoner labor in tobacco harvests. (J. Higgins, March 1989)

Letters concern prisoners Alvares, Ximenex, and Cano, sentenced to 10 yrs. Hard labor in arsenals of Havana and 10 yrs. As presidarios in Coaguila; crime not mentioned. Includes chart of loads carried by prisoners in transit to Coaguila. (S. Gibbs, April 1988)

Concerns certification of mines compliance; poor conditions at mission of Nabogame (few details);appointment of Barri as governor; return of Fayni to Spain; case against Gutierrez of Mapimi (involving commerce); appointment of Alcaldes and other officials at Saltillo; Indian depredations and defenses at Santa Rosa; case of Bustamente; use of prisoners from Durango in hard labor; and various minor related legal matters. (J. Williams, April 1987)

Concerns Indian raids in province; especially those around Parras; provides blow by blow accounts; losses; notes general characteristics of wars; notes various captive Tarahumares put to work at hard labor in prison in Chihuahua city. (J. Williams, March 1987)

Scarcity of grain for distribution. Contributions by inhabitants to buy grain for food and seeds. Construction of dam utilizing prisoners as labor force. Irrigation of lands. (A. Dell'acqua, 4/21/87)