011r Catlzolic Heritage in Texas
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request that the missions be either moved or reduced to two, in order that the Villa may have an opportunity to grow. During the heated discussion between Governor Franquis and the missionaries, Father Mariano de los Dolores informed the Guardian of the College of Queretaro that it was strongly rumored that the governor was arbitrarily going to reduce the missions to two. This fear is confirmed in the public declarations of Father Recio de Leon, who emphatically affirmed that the settlers did not have sufficient lands to make an independent livelihood because the missions had appropriated to themselves all the arable fields. With his characteristic tendency to exaggerate, he declared that the missions had at that time (1736) over five thousand head of cattle, that they grazed on the cultivated fields of the settlers, and that the latter were practically starving while the mission Indians and cattle were enjoying plenty. Governor Franquis actually proposed to the viceroy in January, 1737, that the missions be reduced to two. He argued that the five missions were so close to each other and many of them had such few Indians, that it would be better to congregate all the neophytes in two larger establishments. This measure would allow the settlers to occupy some of the better lands now being cultivated by the mission Indians. Fortunately, the proposal was ignored by the viceroy. 60 But as already indicated, the dispute was kept alive by the continued complaints against damages caused by the mission cattle. The matter was submitted to the viceroy on several occasions, but that official post- poned making a decision and the irritation over this vital question grew. On June 28, 1745, while the matter was pending before the viceroy, the Cabildo of San Fernando held a significant meeting. The question of the extension of the city limits was discussed and it was pointed out that there was no room on the side of San Pedro Creek, because the land was poor in that direction. Furthermore the land to the north bordered on the San Antonio and the lands of the missions. Because of the large amount of water taken from the river for irrigation by the missions, and the large number of their cattle which roamed in this area, the lanrls here ·were also practically worthless. It was admitted that there were no fences to keep the cattle out. In view of the circumstances, it was decided to move the section set aside for propios farther north, above 6DBolton, o-p. cit., 26; Fray Mariano de los Dolores to Fray Sevillano Paredes, January 16, 1737; Declarations of Recio de Leon, A. G. M., Misiones, Vol. 21, pp. 191, 283; Franquis to the Viceroy, January 25, 1737. A.G. M., Historia, vol. 524, pt. 3, p. 82 I.
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