Mines

Reports by asesores, visitadores, regidores suggesting high; 2, spread of disease among cattle and sheep which causes hair to fall out; 3, sterility of seeds provided for planting; 4, Indian depredations; 5, Estanco de sales competes with local salt industry; 6, moral degeneration and lack of discipline of troops in Nuevo Santander. To deal with last problem, suggest payment in cash be terminated to prevent rampant gambling among troops. Repeat of accusations against Gonzalez Santianes that he has not done enough to prevent Indian attacks. Notes throughout state of poverty in Nuevo Santander, except for discovery of mineral de tamaulipa (?). Beginning folio 235, detailed lists of livestock stolen from inhabitants of Altamira between 1768 and 1772. Followed by Series of less detailed accounts of livestock theft and murder committed against various Villas and rachos in area. (A. Tukey, July 1989)

Gonzalez Santianes defends himself against accusations of failing been a long history of Indian hostilities in the area dating long before his command. Contends that Indians in area have been reduced, but that they continually engage in robberies against missions because missionaries often renig on promises of payment for labor services, and otherwise mistreat Indians. Contends that frequency and level of raids under his administration have been exagerrated, and that all such acts have been adequately responded to with military force. (A. Tukey, July 1989)

Receipt of testimonies regarding Serrano request for mission in San Carlos and location of possible construction. Mention of friendly Indians who sell fruit and deer skins and return the horses they find. Chosen location does not have enough water for present cultivation, suggestion and advantages for cattle and rainfall agriculture of location near Gabia. Indians of Rancheria Tira la Piedra accused of robbing travelers and Mule drivers, inspite of large corn production. Discussion of combining 3 rancherias to populate mission and necessity of Indians population to work nearby mines. (L. L. Woodward, may 1989)

Esquivel should continue as administrador de justicia y minas de San Nicolas in spite of his mining activities and discoveries. Death of Esquivel; sostres named judge. Virrey responds that law prohibiting judges to own businesses within their jurisdiction. (L. L. Woodward, December 1988)

Summary of testimonies about Escandon's record in completing orders to pacify and reduce Indians and settle Nuevo Santander by officers and settlers and their charges against him. Funds spent, mistreatment of Indians, assassination of 5 capitans, use of Indians to work Escandon's land, build his Palace, and increase his wealth. Real cedula ordering pacification of Nuevo Santander delayed in its completion. Activities of Escandon include use of military funds, Indians reduction, founding of 14 settlements with population count of number and families and troops in each (f.8); plus 6 more settlements founded which were not in original budget of 115,000p. Complaint of not achieving increased agricultural production in spite of having fertile land, water; availability of minerals and salt. History of Escandon's earlier military record, reopening of missions. Problems resulting from drought. Espenses of military salaries and sinodos to missionaries. Annual costs in pacification process. Cost of settling 15 families from canary islands in Texas (ff.17). Organization of troops and distribution among settlements; distribution of lands. Difficulty of defending property under Indian hostilities. Complaint that Escandon's soldiers instead of gathering Indians together killed them inhumanely when they asked for peace. Murder by capitan trasieria and soldiers of slave and silversmith not punished or investigated by Escandon; Escandon named capitans and paid them salaries of 500p. (ff.33). Alvares' attempts at populating Rio Verde, movement of people, costs, problems with hostile Indians, mosquito plague (ff.56) order not to let Laredo capitan admit Apaches even though they offered peace (ff.57). Escandon prohibited commerce; payed soldiers in goods. Mining of silver without paying royal fifth (ff.63). Escandon has made few or no reducciones since 1746. List of 9 places on coast where Escandon says he has reduced total of 1,258 Indians and gives names of ethnic groups and number baptised in each location (ff.64). Service record of Escandon since he began service in Yucatan, distinguished service in Sierra Gorda as sargento mayor, teniente until 1746 (ff.68). Provides total inventory of livestock in 20 settlements. Movement of Escandon (Villa), Reynosa, and Burgos settlers to new Parajes (nuezes, Tetillas, Encinos). Molina reinstated as capitan; Barbara Resendi's complaints against Escandon (ff.83)(ff125). Charges against fray Garcia as being hipocrite receiving double salary (ff.91) description of reason for failure of mission for Cocos in San Saba due to murder of missionaries (ff.112). Apaches do not want to be reduced, only want peace and commerce with Spanish (ff.113). Even when they offer peace, Escandon gives them motives to be insolent. Murder at Rancheria of smallpox infected and other Indians by capitan went unpunished (ff.120). Massacre of Janambres on road to Horcasitas (ff 121). Paz not punished for murder of Indians (ff.122). Guevarra's murder of reduced Indians of mission of Santander unpunished. Cordova's mistreatment of Indians in Rio Frio (ff.124). Use of Indians Sihui, janambre as work force, Indian death due to hard labor (ff.125). Attempt to reduce Pames threatening to drive them to the coast. Indians paid 4p month plus rations for corn growing and also grew their own crops (ff.131). Escandon allowed people exemption from debts in order to populate settlements. Escandon's appointing as capitans convicted murder. Escandon refused to release Sanches Borriego who was involved in riot of Coahuila to Serma. Two destructions of Pizones' church in Santa Rossa and Taumave missions. Taking of Indian lands to give to Carmelita priests for 10 years. No payment of Diezmos for farmland; Diezmos payments of hollas, Mier, and Revilla. Escandon nor captain Vasques Borrego payed Diezmos for their large cattle haciendas. Gives cost of campaign against Indians of north and Apaches who attacked Taguacanas. Defense of Escandon's choice of capitans and families to populate settlement in that it is difficult to find cultivated people like those from the capital--they must come from the provinces. Description of Tanambre November 1754 destruction of mission Ruvoroso near Escandon; only 4 escaped including missionary. Complaint of Tanambres robbing, Murdering. Escandon captured tamambre rebles and sent them to Querataro prison. Tamambres and Tonases sent to Querataro as labors, servants and for convents. Marcos Molino's case in which he worked for Hidalgo for 15 years without payment. (ff.163) use of hard labor as punishment as well as death sentence. (L. L. Woodward, November 1988)

Series of letters from Castro to the viceroy concerning a varieties of issues such as, status of mines in Santa Rosa, marriage licences, business licences, release of soldiers suspected of crimes and negligency, promotion of official as intendente de puerto Rico, approval of military assistant for the governor, Baamonde request degree of Colonel. (M. Marroquin, March 1989)

Concerns letters reporting the need for a new church since much of the province's life depend on it, I.e. Indians being baptized, taxes, agriculture, Diezmos y primicias etc. Budget for new construction is 44,000 pesos. Notice that Indians are constructing a new church given. Old church destroyed by earthquake. (M. Marroquin, June 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*)

Concerning: visits to mines and mission at which Indians peacefully employed; testimonios about visits to mining region and particular mines, identifying those in area knowledgeable about minerals and mines, those considered 'peritos' (skilled laborers); information about mines gathered from conversations with 'veedores' (overseers) of mines, particularly concerning 'catas' (test pits) and location and size of any new 'vetas' (veins) found; spiritual education of Indians; sentencing of criminal (L. Kerr, October 1988)

Continuation of correspondence with Escandon concerning affairs along Costa del Seno Mexicano; epidemic of unspecified disease which has caused suspension of labor in mines of Sierra Tamaulipa; damage to corn crops and livestock caused by drought in 1764; petitions virrey to promote to rank of Mariscal; sends expedition to survey northern coastline of Nuevo Santander. Expedition describes complex system of outer sand banks, discovery of Island off of San Juan mission near mouth of Nuezes discovery of wreckages of English and French ships. Also includes accounts of establishment of three Villas along coast between mouths of Rios Grande and Nuezes, and of theft of livestock by Indians inhabiting Sierra Sihuy. (A. Tukey, July 1989)