Water Supply

Letter concerning commercial trade between French and various tribes. Gives distances among San Antonio de Bexar, nacocdochez, Guadalupe; areas analyzed topographically for suitability for livestock farming, water supply; detailed report on types of trees. Local Indian tribes described by location, name derivation, nearness to waterways. Cannot determine how many of these Indians are armed. Mentions Croix, Armat as Principal traders providing weapons to Indians. (O. Velez, February 1990)

Concha submits his diary of campaign against Gilenos. His campaign has only limited encounters with Apaches, finding for the most part only traces both recent and old of Indian occupation. Response from virrey mentions difficulty of controlling Apaches in Sonora, Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Mexico; but that as a result of campaigns such as this, area is now better known, especially with regard to water, pasturage, etc. (D. Marksz, October 1987)

Concerns informe by Cuellar for Sierra Gorda regarding water supplies from Revilla to Nueces. Sierra Gorda ordered him to discover all Indian entry spots on expedition. Accompanying diary describes area saying land is fertile. Suggests establishing town and detachment along Ojos de Agua to prevent Indian influx. Rivers would provide quick transportation to another town down River and would greatly increase defense. Has already spoken with people anxious to establish. says Ten small towns would secure Texas and Coahuila. Planning other expeditions in Santander to propose plans in other areas. Cuellar's diary includes details of expedition, route taken and locations of rivers, streams and springs. Includes geographical description of area. Flat lands, empastadas, changing farther along to more mountainous areas. Virrey responds saying in order to act on suggestion, must also have information on wood, labor, land and populations. (M. Dannemiller, November 1988)

Virrey Amarillas orders gobernadores to prepare report of campaigns with special attention to waterholes and pasture, to be archived and serve as instruction to each new gobernador. Marin del Valle submits such a document to incoming gobernador Portillo. States there are few waterholes, little good pasture; details of hostilities from Cumanches. (D. Marksz, August 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)

Congratulatory letter to viceroy Galvez by gandorilla giving him an ethnographic and historical explanation of provinces of Sonora and Hostimuri including plans for better management of Indians, lands, cattle, grains and transportation routes. (A. Dell'acqua, December 1987)