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Our Catlzolic H eritage in T exas
would have to be brought from Mexico, because the San Antonio missions could not furnish them now, since they had had to provide the new establishments on the San Xavier River (San Gabriel River) . He closed his petition with a note of warning. He had assured the Apaches that he would let them know the decision within five moons. Urrutia well knew their temper and could foretell what the results of delay would be. 14 Captain Urrutia was convinced of the sincerity of both the missionaries and the Apaches. On December 1, he fonvarded the two petitions to the viceroy, joining Fray Mariano in his request and urging upon the vice- regal officials the importance of granting permission for the establishment of a mission or two on the Guadalupe. 15 To insure an early consideration of the matter he dispatched a special courier. But if Urrutia was convinced of the need for prompt action, his urgent request and the enthusiastic petition of Fray Mariano both failed to arouse the officials in Mexico to action. The matter was naturally referred to the Auditor, who, after some study, made his reply on January 31, 1750. In a characteristically long report, this experienced and logical-minded official discussed in detail the problems arising from the relations with the Indians along the extended frontiers of New Spain. Turning to the petitions of Urrutia and Fray Mariano, he sarcastically observed that a presidio and mission were requested for a group of Indians whose number was unknown, whose actual whereabouts was equally ignored, and about whom nothing definite was known. It was customary, it seemed, to request a presidio, which implied an expense of over twenty thousand pesos a year, for every petty band of roving Indians who had the happy thought of asking or of expressing a desire, temporary though it might be, to live in a mission. It was impossible to authorize any action until a detailed and concrete statement was made concerning the amount and kind of supplies needed for the proposed mission, the number of Indians to be congregated, the number of missionaries required, the site chosen, and the advantages it offered. Captain Urrutia should be instructed that when this information was available and a specific statement was made of the measures he desired, the necessary action would be taken. The viceroy contented himself with this report and ordered that Captain Urrutia and l4Fray Mariano de los Dolores to C~ptain Urruti~, November :29, 1749_ A. G. Af. H . . Vol :28 ff l!8-l:2I. Copy m San Francisco el Grande Archives Vol ~ 4 1stor,a, . , · , . • , pp. 133-137. . lSCaptain Urrutia to the Viceroy, December I, 1749. In lb,d., ff. 123_ 125 _ Copy in San Francisco el Grande Arcl,ive, Vol. :24, pp. 139-141.
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