Ottr Catlzolic Heritage iti Texas
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to the general belief that Alarcon moved the Presidio of San Antonio de Bejar to the same side of the river as the Mission of Valero after Father Olivares accidentally broke his leg in crossing over a provisional and unsteady bridge, we find that it was still on the west side of the river in October, 1724. Father Gonzalez, in his interview with the viceroy and his subsequent recommendations, had strongly urged the removal of the presidio to the Mission of San Antonio de Valero, making one estab- lishment of the two. On April 6, 1724, the viceroy wrote a letter to Governor Perez de Almazan, consulting him about the advisability of putting this proposal into effect. In reply, Almazan pointed out that it would not be well to move the presidio to the mission. He said that the Indians and the soldiers would not get along if both were made to live in the natural intimacy that would result from the new arrangement. In its present location, between the two streams, it was much more secure against surprise attacks by the Indians than it would be if placed on the east side of the San Antonio River. He was not, however, entirely satisfied with its present place and had been exploring the surrounding country for a better site. He informed the viceroy that he was contemplating moving it nearer to the mission but would still keep it on the west side. 56 The Presidio of San Antonio de Bejar at this time consisted of one adobe building, poorly constructed, thatched with grass, nearby a number of miserable huts made of brush. Governor Almazan fully realized how inadequate it was to withstand a regular siege or attack and had already begun to gather the necessary materials to rebuild it. It was his intention, as expressed to the viceroy, to select a better site, and to erect a new building of stone and mortar. By means of mules, _oxen, and canoes, he had assembled a considerable amount of stone for the new structure. His greatest handicap in carrying out his plans was the lack of men. The work so far accomplished had been done with the aid of those persons he had brought from Los Adaes, but they would have to return to their post soon to escort a train of greatly needed supplies for that presidio. He had tried in vain to get Indians from the missions to help on this project under the direction of the soldiers, offering to pay them wages and give them their meals. Most of the neophytes were busy at this time rebuilding the mission pueblos and tilling their farms, and those that could be spared, worked so slowly, being unaccustomed to regular labor, that little or no progress was made. The garrison was constantly kept S6Governor Almazan to the Viceroy, October 24, I 724. San Francisco el Grande .Archive, Vol. i o.
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