01'r Catleolic Heritage in Texas
Antonio. He should, therefore, prepare the houses where they should be lodged and every provision necessary to supply their immediate wants should be made according to the very definite instructions given by the viceroy. 49 lnstmctions for stervey of town site. In a long and detailed dis- patch, the viceroy gave minute details for the survey of the location where the settlement was to be established and the procedure which was to be followed in distributing the lands assigned to the city. As soon as possible, after the arrival of the Canary Islanders, the governor was directed to examine the land which was immediately to the west of the presidio, about a musket shot's distance. Here, he declared, there should be a low hill which formed a plateau upon which a beautiful city could be laid out. He pointed out that the settlers could go from this location either to the presidia! chapel or to the Mission of San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo without having to cross the river, in order to comply with their religious duties until they could build a church of their own. Detailed instructions were given for the survey of the central square, on one side of which the church was to be built and on the opposite the Casas Reales, with other public buildings, as indicated in the attached plan of the city. From the main entrance of the church as a center, the remainder of the town proper was to be laid in accordance with the pre- arranged design. Beyond the city, to the north and south of the pre- sidio, the farm lands must be surveyed into plats of approximately equal size in order that these might be distributed among the fifteen families. Still farther away lands suitable for grazing would be located where the colonists could keep their horses and cattle. The lots in the immediate vicinity of the main square were to be given to the more prominent families. Each of these groups should be placed in possession of its lot and urged to start building a home at as early a date as possible. In the interim, each family could pitch, in the center of the field, its tent with which the head had been supplied. Sufficient areas of land should be laid out not only for the new settlers but for such families as might want to join them. The buildings were required to have symmetry of design and each house should have interior patios. Nearby should be placed corrales where the horses and other animals might be kept. The homes should be close enough to each other so that in 49Para que el Governador dela Provincia delos Texas, y por su ausencia . . . el Capitan del Presidio . . . Reciban las quinze familias . . . les ten~ p_revenido lo necessario para su substento . .. November 28, 1730. A. G. N., Histor,a, Vol. 84.
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