Mercury (Quicksilver)

Documents dealing with mining production and worker's situation in placeres. others deal with formation of compania de comercio para el trabajo de las Labores de oro. discussion of finances and labor supply needs. Discussion of Apaches troubling the region; raiding Mule trains, missionaries, and people. Discussion of mining techniques and equipment, and Weather and terrain problems. Fueros discusses need to change production levels and efforts to inspire laborers who are not suited for work. Insufficient amounts of gold for royal fifth at times. Discussion of finances of church construction and refusals to contribute by some people. Discussion of laborer's movements from Placeres to their homes for vacations for planting and harvesting. Discovery of new mines, and water needs in some mines. Discusses various fiscal matters and salaries. (S. Fiederlein, June 1987)

Correspondence between Pedro Fueros and virrey concerning mining operations at la Cieneguilla, Sonora. Includes routine documentation of quantities of gold produced and transported to Alamos, plus accounts of depredations suffered by Indians, settlers and miners at hands of Apache marauders. Also, account of discovery of silver deposits at San Marcial. (J. H. Ochs, August 1987)

(L. L. Woodward, June 1988)

Documents deal with matters concerning: Salaries and distribution of mercury to miners. Inventory and supply of firearms to military and militia. Requests for transfer due to hardships of frontier duty. Reglamentos dealing with commerce between provinces of Luisiana and Nueva Espana. Eventual responsibility of vecinos to take over financial support of militias, perhaps using alcabala as revenue. Shipment of supplies and weapons from Veracruz to Havana and windward isles. Sending troops to Texas and Coahuila. Ff. 216-217 report removal of cadete Bernal from Fronteras for repeated thefts; because of relationship to de Anza, lesser punishment given by stationing him in Manila. Cibolos (bison) to be sent from Texas to king by Goleta Sonora y Tabe. (J. M. Johnson, July 1988)

Documents deal with following topics: Urgency of need for supplying frontier presidios with firearms and causes of delays in shipment from Spain. Military and religious salaries and monte pio for California. Promotions, commissions, assignments and transfers requested because of hardship on frontier for personnel. Request for passport for transfer of recruit to another province. Need for reprinting reglamentos. Alcabala on tobacco, playing cards, gunpowder. Neve named as gobernador of California. Administrative matters concerning postal service, aduana at Chihuahua, supply of mercury for mines and salary and duties of assayer at rosario. (J. M. Johnson, July 1988)

Provincias internas documents regarding military and civil appointments including naming of de Anza as governor of New Mexico as Mendinueta renounces post. Direct order from king to send missionaries and troops to guard new missions in Yuman settlements along the Gila and Colorado rivers requested by capitan Palma. Also, orders issued by Croix for doctors to take care of persons wounded by attacks or accidents before calling justices. Forces requested to escort monies collected as taxes to Mexico City as new issuance of money is coined. (A. Dell'acqua, March 1988)

Documents relaying accounting statements on gunpowder, playing cards, Azogues, Media Annata, bulas received from provinces of Sonora, Sinaloa, Nueva Vizcaya and Californias; these are accounts for years encompassing 1771-1775. Also a letter from Caballero Croix to viceroy in regards to establishment of his salary designated by king. (A. Dell'acqua, March 1988)

Documents relating to visit by subdelegate to inspect sale of gunpowder, tobacco and playing cards by authorized personnel only. Miners were requested to turn in for investigation documents in purchase of gunpowder for use of their mines only (A. Dell'acqua, may 1988)

(A. Dell'acqua, December 1987)

Correspondence regarding transfers of funds between royal treasury offices in order to cover deficits in accordance with plan general. Ff. B183-b186 letters sent to viceroy stating that various intendentes have complied with orders regarding transfers. Ff. B190-b191 drafts of letters from viceroy(?) To intendentes of Durango and Guanajuato confirming payments. Ff. B192-b193 table of annual accounts from Rosario dated 19 January 1790, accompanied by letter to viceroy. Ff. B196-b197, b201-212, 217-218 drafts of letters from viceroy(?) To various officials concerning receipts of transferred funds and orders for more transfers, ff. B219-b220 another table of accounts from Rosario, accompanied by letter. Mention of importing quicksilver from Castilla and Germany. F. B223 is draft of letter from viceroy(?) To intendente of Guanajuato acknowledging transfers of funds. F. B224 is table of accounts from Arispe for 1789-1790. (W. Copas, February 1988)