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Exploratio11s a11d Settlements A long tl1e Rfo Grande
San Juan Bautista on the Rio Grande (near Eagle Pass). His recom- mendation was given serious consideration by the viceroy and his advisers and the erection of the proposed presidia was approved on June 11, 1726. But the plan was abandoned on May 27, 1727, when Viceroy Casafuerte ordered the erection suspended because of the low state of the viceregal treasury. Although the work of construction was postponed, a second recommendation of Rivera was, however, ordered to be executed. The result was Berroteran's expedition the following year which proved a dis- appointment. After much discussion of its relative significance in attain- ing the objects desired, the viceroy, on June 17, 1730, issued orders to the Governor of Nueva Vizcaya instructing him to make arrangements for a new expedition to be undertaken at a more propitious season of the year. 2 Five years elapsed before any action was taken to carry out the instructions of the viceroy for a new exploration. During this time repeated complaints, particularly from the Governor of Coahuila, were made to viceregal officials. Thefts and murders by raiding parties of Apaches from the unexplored region became more frequent and extensive. The matter was referred to the Fiscal and the Auditor, who pointed out that the establishment of a presidio at a suitable site between San Juan Bautista and La Junta de los Rios had been approved in 1726 and that the erection had been suspended for lack of funds, but that in view of the urgent need of such an establishment an exploration to determine the proper site for it should be ordered. Selecting a site for Presidio del Sacramento, 17 35-36. On September 28, 1735, the viceroy ordered Governor Blas de la Garza Falcon, of Coahuila, in company with Captain Joseph Musquiz, to organize an expedition to undertake the exploration of both banks of the Rio Grande north from San Juan Bautista and to determine a suitable location for the establishment of the new Presidio del Sacramento. He was to follow the route of Captain Berroteran and examine the banks of the river with care, noting the physical characteristics of the country and the trails used by hostile Indians in making their accustomed raids upon the frontier outposts. In selecting a site for the new presidio he should take into consideration first of all its strategic position with reference to the most frequented trails of the Apaches. The primary purpose of the presidio was to check their incursions. The site should also have an _ 2 c. E. Castaneda, The Winning of Teras, 1694-1731, 335·347; the Viceroy to the King, July 2 7, 1740, A. G. I., Audiencia d6 G11adalaj11ra, 67-1-38 (Dunn Tran- scripts, 1715-1741), 1-8.
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