Wood

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)

Documents contain information resulting in formal establishment of Padilla. Escandon and others conduct review of area. Description of well-drilling and associated difficulties. experiencing severe lack of rain. Discusses also land, climate, other advantages, need for mission, and distances to other Villas. Contains complete list of families and members of Escuadra including names, ages and property owned. Discusses conditions and obligations of residency. In general has sufficient water, good land, abundant timber and fish. Ciprian says need to give Indians corn, clothes, and tools to keep pacified because generally untrustworthy. says good idea to build separate mission where water plentiful. Reports by others contain similar information. Escandon gives instructions for upcoming year concerning Villa, Indians, cattle and property. Includes city plan with surrounding rivers. (M. Dannemiller, April 1989)

Documents contain information resulting formal establishment of Santa Maria. Provides good geographical description of area and distances to other Villas. Escandon went to recognize families joined by olarazan. Escandon and others conduct review of well and other conditions. Contains complete list of families and members of Escuadra including names, ages and property owned. Description of relations with Indians. says San Marcos has most abundant water. Contains description of possible drilling depths and composition of each level. Review of timber, minerals and land says all plentiful. Cold climate. Commerce with Llera possible for supplies and minerals. Need mission for Indians congregated in area. Escandon officially establishes sta. Maria close to San Marcos. Provides instructions for construction of homes, provision of more cattle and seed, and for administration of property and mines. Contains city plan. Last document contains list of Villas established in Nuevo Santander including captains, missions, Indians, families, soldiers and Patron saints. (M. Dannemiller, April 1989)

Documents concern information resulting in formal establishment of Santa Barbara. Escandon and others conduct review of residents, Indians, mission, climate, crops and general advantages of area. Includes complete list of all residents and members of Escuadra including names, ages, marital status and property owned. Also, 10 families live around mission with same privileges as those in Villa. Mentions Indian groups in area. Reviewers say Santa Barbara one of most important establishments in Colonia as stop-over place and has most fertile lands and most abundant timber. Provides distances to other Villas. Discussion of moving mission to Alberca which Escandon later approves. Escandon gives instructions for construction of homes and a road to Llera. says gambling and liquor to be outlawed. Contains record of admission of one family to Villa. Provides instructions for administration of both Villa and mission. Contains map, city plan of town including surrounding rivers. (M. Dannemiller, April 1989)

Concerns autos, plan and conditions for establishment of Llera. Escandon, with assistance of others, conducts review of land, population, possibilities for agriculture, availability of water and pastures for cattle in order to determine if formal establishment appropriate. says very little corn in area, only nine fanegas for all. says lots of lime, sand and wood for construction. says land is fertile and climate is good. Abundant water for irrigation. Gives instructions for introducing Indians to ways of Spanish. Discusses their treatment and political relations. Also includes complete list of civil and military residents, names, ages and property. Gives instructions for formal establishment of town and includes city plan. Mention use of special paper for autos. (M. Dannemiller, March 1989)

Concerns autos, plans and conditions for establishment of San Fernando by Escandon. Escandon, with assistance from others, conducts complete review of area including population, squad, land, climate, Indians and agricultural feasibility. says abundant Cal, Piedra, and sand for construction. Also, abundant fish and good pastures. Discusses treatment and education of Indians. Considering new mission establishment. says lack of food sustenance makes permanence difficult. List of all property in the town including horses, cattle and mules. Includes map of city with place for church, convent, and Plaza and illustration of rivers in around town. Mentions use of special paper for autos. (M. Dannemiller, March 1989)

Miners and vecinos state that new discoveries in Sierra de Tamaulipa in last 4 years provide legal standard of quality (6 ounces of silver for each load of metal), and proportions given for other qualities which exceed legal standard. Costs of firewood, transportation and other costs make it difficult to make profit. Need for greater population; enemy Indians have returned with depopulation in center of Sierra de tamuaulipa and Apostate Indians raiding surrounding area. Complaints of Nava's offering low price for silver and using Alcavala money to buy silver (attractive to miners as it saves transportation cost and robbery risk. In Guadalcazar, nephew of Nava levied 10 real Alcavala. Nava's influence with governor allows him to exploit situation. Charges that document supposedly from miners and vecinos is really false, need to interview witnesses. Description of founding of San Carlos in 1666 and formation real de San Joseph. Description of San Carlos church and other structures. Advantages of having established beneficio de metales at San Carlos. Suggestion of miners working metals in their own home in areas nearer to mines. explains how to contruct a galeme. Control of silver and transport to San Luis Potosi treasury. Noriega charges list of witnesses is incomplete, and agrees to provide documents to Bucareli. Testimonies on metal profits, Nava's conduct, discussion of abundances of metal, wood, water, ovens, transport costs, and amount of metal resulting after processing. List of owners on mines, number of workers on each, and ounces extracted per load (Leyes) of metal, and economic class of miners. List of depopulated mines. Also list of owners of patentes, galemes, and metal processing equipment (basso, dissetisor) according to location. Ocotillo and Barreta listed as most abundant wood for processing metals. Discusses price of production relative to output of metal. (L. L. Woodward, October 1988)

Concerns ratification for de la Bodega y Quadra, Quiroz and Hezeta continue in departamento de la Havana. It is said that during the war no expeditions will be made. Concerns petition of soldiers to take care of wood which is said has been stolen from San Blas. Because of having been found doing illegal commerce around coast of Guachinango and tuxpam, Rubert, blarre, and others are sentenced to work for three years in departamento de San Blas. Concerns notification to Arteaga by which he is given permission to travel to Ahualulco. Concerns de la Bodega y Quadra to give up the comandancia of departamento de San Blas to virreynato (it is likely that he is going to be replaced by Arteaga (See folios 561-580). Concerns Arteaga's petition to become captain of fragata; and response approving the petition. Concerns arrival and departures of ship la Goleta. (R. Gomez, may 1989)

Accounts, receipts of food supplies, gifts given to allied Indian nations in Nueva Mexico. Includes lists, prices and quantities of these goods. Also, copy of order approving delivery of food supplies to these Indian groups, plus list of these groups and number of individuals entering and leaving Santa Fe. (J. H. Ochs, may 1988)