Water Supply And Irrigation

Correspondence between viceroy, Garces and de Anza concerning Garces's explorations in upper Colorado River with attachment of letters from fray Escalante about Zunis and area in case Garces travels to New Mexico from Colorado River. Accounts by de Anza on expedition to California, his turning command over to comandante Moncada, refusal of Moncada to travel to San Francisco to explore area for establishment of presidio and missions, de Anza travels with teniente Moraga, one priest and eight soldiers to explore San Francisco bay. de Anza gives an rich description of bay with its good soil, abundance of water, pastures, and wild animals and fish, meeting with Indians who fish with nets and use of balses made with reeds to cross bay and fish. de Anza does not name Indians but describes them as gentle. He also describes area to be rich with woods from which construction of fort would be easy. de Anza establishes places where missions and presidio should be built returning to Monterrey where he requests meeting with Moncada without success. Serra meets with Anza preoccupied with moncadas' attitude with friars and families from Sinaloa, teniente Moraga in letter to Anza believes comandante Moncada has lost his mind which results in his not wanting to follow planned agenda. Documents about rebellion in San Diego are not very clear, de Anza also describes desertions of some muleskinners and two soldiers who steal some horses and moragas capture of desertors in Gila where de Anza punishes them with laboring in construction of presidio and missions in San Francisco. Anza informs viceroy about Garces return to Colorado River leaving him foodstuffs for his sustenance as Anza returns, also fray Exiarc returns with Anza to Tumacacori mission. Capitan Palma and three Yumas with accordance with his people attaches himself to Anza to travel to Mexico. Viceroy answers Anza letting him know he is displeased as Anza did not finish his comission as he left before construction of fort and missions began. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Letters to viceroy by San Fernando settlers requesting and accusing governor of abuses. Governor has taken away water rights given to them by king, imprisonment for some of their members for protesting and not allowing them to leave area to seek medical aid when sick. Also accusing priest of overcharging them for services rendered. Copies of edicts issued by king referring to these issues are included. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Autos and peticiones to viceroy from settlers in regards to equitable division of water for presidios, settlers and missions. Settlers say their use is low but missionaries do not want to share water. Also, settlers want to be able to sell their crops of grains, vegetables and fruits to presidio as viceroy ordered but presidio captains refuse to buy them. Viceroy orders presidio captains and governor of province to comply with orders given. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Documents relating to events in transporting families from canary islands to settle in Texas, lists of materials in clothing and all kinds of tools needed. Lists of supplies of foods, salary to be paid to guide, increase of daily maintenance for every person, census of families with physical description of every individual in expedition, proposals by church to marry every girl from 12 to 18 years of age and every Boy from 24 to 12 years of age. Appointment of priest to cure families, itinerary of trip. Also, lists of expenses incurred in transportation from Veracruz to San Antonio. Maps with planned areas in which such families could settle near San Antonio without conflicting with other settlers in area drawn by marquez de Aguayo in ff. 187. A plan to scale and drawing of proposed Villa to be established in ff. 201 and orderly issuing of lands to be given to families for planting. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Letters relating to re-establishment of presidio and mission de la Bahia del Espiritu Santo to a healthier and better defensive place, capitan Bustillos communicates that Actual site has deteriorated to an irreparable manner lack of wood makes it impossible to repair also for fuel of families there is not enough wood, area is full of swamps and water is not as good. Capitan Bustillos also complains about lack of priest as president of missions refuse to send a religious guide to presidio. Capitan describes a new explored site with plenty of wood, water and rocks to be utilized for construction, two creeks to provide with drinking water and irrigation of lands and site being only six leagues from bay stressing defensive emplacement. If viceroy desires such move it has to be carried out before winter. Capitan also participates arrival of convoy from presidio Adays and San Antonio four months after it left due to heavy rains. Comisario general of missions sends letter to presidente of missions by order of viceroy ordering him to send a priest to take charge of new mission built in new site of presidio of Bahia. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Series of six letters from Corbalan to virrey concerning Indian Marcos and 16 followers at Pitic; withdrawal of expeditionary forces from province; peaceful situation on Apache frontier, as well as in province; reasons for delay in sending financial account of military expedition; response to Bando concerning ship to sail for Havana.

Correspondence concerning hunger suffered by Indians at mission due to drought in region; request for assistance in constructing 'presa' to store water for agricultural use, particularly cultivation of corn; governor explains that situation causing Indians to 'vaguear en el Campo,' compromising religious education; subsequent letters address details of 'presa,' amount of materials needed, cost, location selected; no one contracts to construct 'presa,' governor requests that necessary amount instead be sent directly to 'presidente' of mission; funds approved, almost two years after original request. (L. Kerr, December 1988)

Index of correspondence that concerns the Indian complaints of damage done to irrigation water is ff. 0363; ff. 0364 covers abstract of correspondence that deals with soldiers wives requesting money assigned to them by governor, request granted; ff. 0365 concerns the leave of absence granted to Ramon so that he can be married, mention of the dowry required; ff. 0366 covers the result of a judicial proceeding (indictment) against Esparza for the crime of desertion and his punishment of 8 more years military service; the request of, Sanchez for land for raising livestock near Llera and other areas, justifies his request by citing the strategic utility in closing up two areas of escape for Indians; ff. 0368 deals with documents used in the case of Alvarez in which he murdered his wife, is not entitled to Fuero militar; request by Molina that he be transferred to another area where he owns a ranch that he is in jeopardy of loosing if he does not receive transfer, request is granted and Salcedo allowed to pick substitute from Veracruz; letter that concerns Indian complaint lodged against Castillo in protest of his pushing them off their land. (O. Velez, November 1989)

Reduced Seris planting crops, building acequias at Sierra de la Combeniencia near Pitic. Notes that furiosas crecientes this year have changed course of River, bringing it closer to Seri Pueblo. (T. Sheridan) (1980)

Chrisanto goes to Tiburon, returns with mulato Cavesilla bien malo,5 families- 25 people. Accompanied by 5 Tiburones seeking pardon and permission to remain on Island. All rebel Seris have taken refuge on Tiburon, fearing Piato attack, except Marcos, 4 families, who returned to mainland because of lack of meat on Island. After 2 aguazerus, Anza leaves in pursuit of Piatos. Another detachment pursuing Piatos lose 5 horses who die of thirst while 8 men suffer heat prostration. Water carried in botas. 23 families of suaquis o sibubapas reduced in Belem- only 6 left and they're ready to surrender because of lack of water, death of Thomas, Paderon campaign against Piatos first priority including possible invasion of Cerro Prieto in October. (T. Sheridan) (1980)