Population

Letter from Herrera informing Onesimo that the fever has returned to Pilon, Linares and Salinas causing deaths and illness, fears that the disease may spread more rapidly due to hot Weather climate; presence of druggist in Cadereyta had prompt effect in terms of the illness; in Linares a junta de caridad was established to help fund the costs of treating the sick; Rio acknowledging orders to communicate the status of disease in his college of Guadalupe; Garrido responding affirmatively to virrey's plea for help from mission personnel in aiding those areas suffering from disease commits his colegio Apostolico de pachuca in this effort; letter mentioning plea to real padre custodio del tampico in regards to providing assistance in combating disease; Calleja relating to virrey that he has received correspondence from governors in areas that for the most part say that the disease has abated substantially; Yrart responding to Calleja that he has not been able to compile the list of those affected by disease that Calleja requested because the justicias have not provided him with lists he needs; letter mentioning how the disease has struck especially hard in Cadereyta, plans to have medicine available for free, Linares had the good fortune of having a French doctor in area when disease struck and he was able to assist people stricken, in fact was detained in area until his work was completed. (O. Velez, October 1989)

Concerns the outbreak of an epidemic of malignant fevers that was expected to subside once winter started, in some towns the sickness has killed off one fourth of the population; mentions report submitted by Calleja that deals with the political economic aspect of this problem, advises junta provisional be established for purpose of enacting measures which would allow funding to be made available for medicines, this letter signed by members of the real tribunal y audencia de la contaduria maior de Cuentas; letter requests information on the state of the illness in terms of the number of people currently suffering and at what stage is the sickness, public funds are made available for the fight against the epidemic; expressing concern that the cost of fighting epidemic not be borne soley by public funds; mention of junta provisional which will set out the ways the public funds will be spent on this problem; information that will be acquired by Calleja, type of illness, its origen, method of cure, aid that would be helpful; mentions the reluctance of some people to take medicines that they are familiar with; specific example of 3 people who would not take the medicine, would only take liquid forms that they were familiar with and which were narcotic, attributes this fanaticism with exotic medicines to the Europeans living in the area. (O. Velez, October 1989)

Legal dispatches of laws and precidents by which several towns surrounding Santa Barbara are apportioned land; specifies that land rights of mission and private landholders be respected; land available because of removal of barbaros; only Spanish, approved by Jesuits, allowed access to land (p. Coyle January 1990)

Informe concerning monetary malpractices in Missiones. Describes overpricing of articles by Jesuits in order to obtain 150% more money than Baja California, and thus be able to attract a larger population by means of a higher pay, changing servant status into muleteer status in some presidios in order to be included in military payroll, a number of mistakes in previous calculation explain how a round figure of four thousand pesos per presidio is requested by Monterrey, and three thousand by San Francisco and San Diego while they really should get 1600 and 1200 respectively, and futile efforts to bridge the differences. Detailed description of difficulties in every day life in Alta California, trying to justify a raise in pay. Letters granting a total of five thousand two hundred pesos for the four presidios and a raise of four hundred pesos for clothing. Letter describing living conditions and architecture of presidios in Alta California, arguing that it will be cheaper to rebuild than to repair. Letter from Monterrey complaining about difficulty in finding Indians to repair the presidio due to the cold winter. Letter requesting revision of final figures to presidios in Alta California, since Fages (who had the decree) passed away. Description of Californias demography. Letters informing payment to Santa Barbara's presidio. (T. Kahana, sept.1989)

Letters and relaciones sent from Monterrey concerning expenses incurred in presidio including those caused by fire, in previous folios (332-337) a specific fire in Monterrey is mentioned. Letter concerning administrative affairs of factories in Alta California and the production of tobacco, letters about increasing population of the area. Document listing artesans, their location and wages. Death certificate of Sangrador. Letters and documents certifying money supply for Monterrey. (T. Kahana September 1989)

Document gives figures for total amount of revenue produced in salt industry in this area. Mentions role played by Barlovento River in economic development of area. Mentions bad effect of salt in water supply on agriculture. Some settlements in area have expanded to degree that they are exposed to Apache attacks, no troops for protection. Proposal for compania de sugetos along coast from Veracruz to Balisa, or else have real hacienda fund development of fishing industry; also wants more Naval activity. Detailed accounts of economic potential of fish species in these waters. Area between interior and costal settlements must be populated to contain Apaches; details best ports along coast for bringing Spanish settlers in to populate said area. Attention must be paid to northern frontier as U.s. is gaining strength in world trade, makes good use of Indian relations to conquer new territory. Only important trade with northern Indians is in fur, but american mining ventures will tend to result in permanent villages, to detriment of Spanish. Examples of situations in which use of fuero militar has helped establish successful settlements. author favors paid milicias provinciales only when fighting to help populate areas. Government help to settlements will depend on productivity of areas. Noriega favors putting Escandon in charge of these projects. (O. Velez, March 1990)

Primarily copies of correspondence between Bonavia, Cordero, Salcedo and virrey regarding defense of Texas border with Louisiana and plans to increase military personnel, artillery, bestias, almacenes, cuarteles, arms, etc. To effectively defend against U.s. land encroachment; included are various letters, to ship military supplies, discussion of local economies and how they will withstand such a population increase (Soldados), discussion of mistakes made by expedition of troops in 1806 and need for better planning and supplies this time, a brief discussion of factories to be established to employ various Indians in region; reference to four packages of gazetas de Nuevo Orleans and fact that communication with Louisiana is prohibited; one letter describes tribes of Indians in region and their way of subsistence (brief but informative); of particular (D. J. McClelland, may 1989)

Very interesting copies of correspondence between Salcedo and Bonavia regarding defense of land bordering with U.s. And much discussion of U.s. Military potential and mention of some U.s. aggression; at core of correspondence is concern that Spanish military not powerful or well organized enough to defend north provinces against americans; discussion of fidelity of Indians shifting to americans due to corruption by merchants; much discussion of logistics, statistics, hypothetical situations; it is agreed that artilleria volante desperately needed among 154, 158, 160-163. (D. J. McClelland, may 1989)

Varied correspondence between virrey and others primarily regarding poverty of families of auxiliary troops stationed in Texas, requesting Socorro; complaint of priest that soldiers expected to provide for families and pay for troops supplies out of their own salaries, leaving them even poorer; interspersed among these are various letters and notes regarding food shortages among Indian and Ladino populations, capture of two doctors, one French, one Anglo (very informative), and an interesting rhetorical letter to virrey regarding poverty of above families and Indians, war with the French, prisoners mentioned above, population of Texas, etc. (D. J. McClelland, may 1989)