912
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
standard for regulating their chains and running the true Meridian after calculating the variation of the compass, and the sd Ingram agrees to execute his work accurately and in a good and workman like manner and to complete it as speedily as possible, establishing corners with bearing trees at each principal corner of a survey with the initials of the owners names marked on the bearing trees where the owner is known, or erecting sufficient mounds of Earth in Prairie at least three feet high and marking every line not bounded. by a River or creek which runs through timber so that it can be easily traced and followed, and finally to make out correct returns and plots of each survey to gel Austin-On completion of the work in the manner above stated the sd Ingram shall be entitled to demand and receive from each settler pay for surveying their lands at the rate of five dollars pr Spanish mile payable in property on three dollars pr Mile payable in Cash, to be paid by the settler, and for which payment the sd Austin is not to be in any 1\1:anner accountable or responsible more than to refuse to deliver the titles to any settle1· untill he brings a certificate from the surveyor or stating that the surveying fees of his land were paid or settled, For the faithful complyance of all which the sd Ingram obligates himself under the penalty of being liable for any damages which may arise from u non or incorrect compliance with this contract,- San Felipe de Austin Oct 1■t 1824 SETH INGRAM STEPHEN F. AusTIN [Rubric] AUSTIN TO SUPREME EXECUTIVE POWER OF THE REPUBLIC]. El ciudadano .Mexicano Estevan F Austin con todo el debido respecto hace presente a S A el Supremo Poder Executivo de la Re- publica Mexicana qe. desde afio de 1821 el ha trabajado para poblar las Tierras despobladas de esta Provincia de Texas bajo la autoridad qe confirio el antiguo Gobierno antes de la Revolucion a su Pndre Moeses Austin y confirmado en favor del susfrascrito por el Soberano Congreso Constituyente y Supremo Poder Executivo el dia onze y catorce de Abril del afio de 1823. Estando el susfrascrito el primer Empresario tenia qe luchar contra toda especie de difi.cultades, de erogar grandes gastos ·para establecer una Colonia en un Pays ente- ramente despoblado como este y infestado por todos partes por Yndios bravos por· cuyos motivos y otros qe estan explicadas en los docu- ' . mentos que acompafian esta peticion, me hallo despues de todos mis trabajos reducido a un estado peor qe quando emprendi esta empreza, y considerando qe _la e:xperiencia qe tres afios me han proporcionado
1 See an almost Identical petition, November 6; 1824.
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