Our Catholic Heritage in T e:xas
the college authorized the project and assumed the responsibility of repaying Juan Bautista. These establishments had sustained heavy losses in their temporalities in recent years and could ill afford to give their surplus to the new missions without being reimbursed. Lastly, he begged that the new missionaries assigned for work among the Apaches should be appointed and sent without delay. By the time they arrived everything would be ready for them. "In the meantime," he assured the college, "I shall do whatever is in my power to keep up the work with the help of God."· 21 Site of new missions. The site selected was a narrow valley, resembling a canyon, located about halfway between San Juan Bautista on the Rio Grande near present Eagle Pass and San Saba (present Menard). It was about the same distance from San Antonio de Bejar. The river that flowed through the valley had its source some ten leagues (thirty miles) due north and although it flowed southward through the canyon, it inclined gradually to the east after leaving it. Captain Rabago and the Padres refer to the stream as the New San Antonio River, but it was in fact the upper Nueces. Along the narrow valley of San Jose there were numerous springs that flowed into the river. The valley was from five to ten miles wide and some forty or fifty miles long. It was well protected against inclement weather and surprise attack by enemies, being banked on either side by high and steep hills. In the hills that rose almost to the height of mountains, there were rich mineral deposits, according to the natives and those who had explored the country. Elms, cottonwoods, oaks, pecan trees, and sabines (evergreens) grew along the valley and in the surround- ing hills, furnishing both firewood and timber in abundance. The land in the valley was rich and could be easily cultivated and irrigated. Manuel Valdez and others, who were asked to give official testimony as to its character, declared it was one of the best areas they had ever seen and added that as many as three irrigation ditches could be built to water the land. Corn, beans, and even wheat might be raised in the area chosen for the new missions. It is to be noted that the location for the first mission was equidistant from San Saba, San Juan Bautista, and San Antonio. It was some ten leagues from the Chanas (Llano River) and about the same distance from the Canon de las Lechugas (Fern Canyon). There was one large spring 21 Fray Dh:go Jlmentz to the Guardian and Dlscr,torlo of the College of Queretaro, Novtmber 23, 1761. A.G. M., Historlo, Vol. 28, pp. 195-197. The full text of this Interesting communication la found In Castaneda, Morft's Histor,i of T,xos, pt. 2, pp. 398-400.
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