P1·e,paring to Weatlier tl,e Storm, Ii90-1800
197
safe, its citizenry would relax all vigilance and become more indolent and indifferent than ever. 66 When Ramon Castro assumed command in 1792, he wrote Viceroy Revillagigedo protesting the abandonment of the project to strengthen the fortification of San Antonio. He argued that Ugalde and Munoz were correct in maintaining that this frontier outpost should be adequately fortified. He explained that there were eight and one-half lots along the west, the San Pedro Creek side; five lots on the north, and six on the south; that since each lot was sixty varas, the wall on these three sides would be eleven hundred seventy varas. The height of the proposed wall, including the foundation, was to be four and a quarter varas, and its thickness three-quarters of a vara. Each lineal vara of the proposed wall, if built according to specifications, would take four and one-half curt loads of rock. Castro assured the viceroy that the estimate of the cost made by Huizar was reasonable. With regard to the few jacales recently built near San Pedro Creek. these occupied ground protected by a bulwark erected by Castro when in San Antonio the previous year, at which time also the new powder magazine was constructed near the creek. Castro sent a map with his report, concluding it with a criticism of the objections raised by Posada to the proposed improvements. 67 But Posada was unconvinced. He was personally hurt by Castro's insinuation that it was not his business to inquire about river soundings. He warmly replied that Law 72, Title 2, Book 2 of the Ltrws of t/ze Indies authorized him to ask for such information; that it also empowered him to pass on military matters. To prove that he was correct in his opinion, he recommended that the whole matter be referred to the capable and well-known engineer, Miguel de Constanso, and to Jacobo Ugarte.~ Diffic1'lties witle tlee citrate of San Antonio. 'When Bachiller Francisco Gomez Moreno, curate of San Antonio, took an active part in siding with Governor Martinez Pacheco against Manuel Munoz in 1790, it was not the first time that the parish priest found himself in difficulties. Like 66 Dictamen del Fiscal Posada, May 31, 1791. A. G. M., Historia, Vol. 93, pp. 67-69. 67 Ram6n Castro to Revillagigedo, May 15, 1792. A. G. M., 1/isloria, Vol. 93, pp. 71-79. 61 Dictamen del Fiscal Posada, June 26, 1792. A. G. ,ti., HisttJria, Vol. 93, pp. 180-182. The report of Constanso and the map of Castro may some day be found in the archives in Mexico.
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