USA > Arizona > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 37
USA > New Mexico > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
croft's N. Mex. Miscel., MS., 1-2, 13-17; Hunt's Merch. Mag., xi. 475, 501-17; Marmier, Voyageurs Nouveaux, ii. 29-64. See also references of the following notes.
30 Storrs' Santa Fé Trade in 1824. He gives the route as from Ft Osage w. s. w. to the Arkansas; up the Ark. N. of w. 240 miles; s. to the Cimarron; up the C. w. 100 miles; and s. w. to Taos. Gregg, i. 24-5, implies that the wagons reached Sta Fé, and his map shows no route to Taos. Storrs ac- companied the caravan, and his narrative, or statement, drawn out in govt investigations, was published in Niles' Reg., xxvii. 312-16, as also in govt doc., as cited in the next note. It was the best account extant before that of Gregg, who consulted it, and who had also a diary of Marmaduke, later lieut .- gov. of Mo. The year's caravan consisted of 81 men, 156 horses and mules, and 23 wagons, making the round trip in 4 months and 10 days. Storrs, however, speaks of 4 parties starting in Feh., May, Aug., and Nov .; and gives the product of the year's trade as $180,000 in gold and silver, besides $10,000 in furs.
31 The bill was approved on March 3d. The only objection urged in con- gress was to the survey of a road in Mex. territory. U. S. Govt Doc., 18th cong. 2d sess., Sen. Doc. 7, p. 1-14; Sen. Jour., same sess .; Cong. Debates, 1824-5, p. 109-10, 342-8, 356-61; Annals of Cong., 1824, p. 2703-4; Benton's Debates, viii. 106, 126-34; Niles' Reg., xxvi. 263-4; xxvii. 250-1, 301, 312-17, 348, 351.
334
A MEXICAN TERRITORY.
New Mexicans were not less eager than the Americans for the protection and development of trade; and in June 1825 Manuel Simon Escudero of Chihuhua was commissioned by Governor Vaca to visit St Louis and Washington.32 The same year a treaty was made with the Osages by the payment of a small sum; and the survey of the road was begun, to be completed- that is the route partially marked by a series of mounds-from Fort Osage to Taos two years later.33 It does not appear, however, that the traders ever made use of the road as surveyed, preferring to follow the earlier trail, with such modifications as the condi- tion of grass and water suggested.
Meanwhile, the trade grew in proportions, and the caravans made their yearly trips 34 without notable ad- ventures, except that the Indians-probably not with- out fault on the part of the traders-became increas-
32 Escudero, in Pino, Not., 76-7. Not much is definitely stated as to the nature and results of this mission, but the assurances from U. S. authorities and Mex. minister were encouraging. E. arrived at St Louis iu Oct. Niles' Reg., xxix. 85. In 1824 the gov. of N. Mex. was said to have announced his intention of marching with 1,500 men to Council Bluffs to secure trade, pacify Ind., etc. Id., xxvi. 252.
33 The U. S. commissioners were Benj. Reeves, Geo. C. Sibley, and Thomas Mather; and the surveyor J. C. Brown. This road struck the Arkansas near Plum Buttes, and followed it up to Chotean Island; thence s. to the Cimar- ron; up the C. 87 miles; thence to Rabbit-Ear Creek, and continuing west- ward entered the mts near the source of Ocate River, terminating at Taos. Warren's Memoir, 26-7. Gregg and Prince, however, state that the road was never marked by mounds beyond the Arkansas, and only in part to that river.
34 In 1825 a party left Sta Fé in June, and arrived at Franklin in Aug., with 500 mules and horses, being attacked by the Osage Ind. A caravau also left Franklin in May with 81 men, 200 horses, and $30,000 in goods; much suffer- ing. There were already complaints that the trade was overdone. Niles' Reg., xxix. 54, 100. 263. Another, of 105 men, 34 wagons, 240 mules. Money scarce, but mules and horses to be had for $10-20 to $20-30 cash, for goods at 100 per cent profit. Id., xxviii. 309. In 1825-6, Dr Willard went with a car- avan from St Charles to Sta Fé, and thence to Chih .; and his Inland Trade with Mexico was published in 1833, as an appendix to Pattie's Narr., 255-300, being mostly occupied with descriptive matter. In 1827-43, Collins, later supt Ind. affairs in N. Mex., made several trips. Ind. Aff. Rept Joint Com., 1867, p. 330. Brief account of caravan of 1827, in Niles' Reg., xxxii. 292. There were 53 wagons, the largest number yet. The return cargo in 1829 was $240,000. Id., xxxvii. 230, 274. In 1829, Capt. Austin was to go up the Rio Grande with a steamer and schooner, to open a new ronte for trade. Id., xxxvi. 424. In a later memorial of the Mo. assembly-U. S. Gov. Doc., 26th cong. Ist sess., Sen. Doc. 472, p. 8-it was stated that 1828, when 200 wagons car- ried $500,000 worth of goods, was the year of greatest prosperity, followed by a rapid decline; but this does not seem to agree with Gregg's figures. Acc. to Ritch, Bent's fort on the Arkansas was established in 1829.
335
GOVERNMENT ESCORTS.
ingly hostile, being ever on the watch for small detached parties imperfectly armed or not sufficiently vigilant. Thus a party in 1826 lost 500 horses and mules, and one of 1828 over 1,000 animals, having, besides, three men shot. This caused a renewal of demands for gov- ernmental protection; and the committee on military affairs having reported to congress in favor of a mov- able escort rather than a fixed garrison, Major Riley was ordered to escort the caravan of 1829 to and from the Arkansas, with four companies of the 6th infantry from Fort Leavenworth. Soon after the traders left the troops at the Arkansas, they were attacked by the Indians, losing one man; whereupon, Riley came up and guarded the caravan for a short distance into Mex- ican territory. The troops waited at Choteau's island till October, and the returning caravan was escorted to this point by a Mexican force under Colonel Vizcarra. Though there was some further discussion of the mat- ter in congress, the escort was not continued.35
In 1830 oxen were first used by the traders, the experiment having been successfully tried the year before by Riley's supply train. 1831 was the year of Gregg's first trip, and of Jedediah Smith's death. 36 There were also hostilities on the Canadian in 1832-3, several men being killed; but in 1834 an escort of 60 dragoons under Captain Wharton was again furnished. The revolt of 1837 did some injury to the American traders, since the property of their richest customers was confiscated; but they had no success in obtaining
"' Rept of cong. committee, in Amer. St. Pap., Mil. Aff., iii. 615. Riley's Report of Nov. 22, 1829, in Id., iv. 277-80. See also Niles' Reg., xxxvi. 182, 199-200; xxxvii. 230, 274, 291, 405, 419; xxxviii. 57, 101. There was some unfavorable criticism of the action of govt in furnishing 4 comp. of troops to protect a trade of $200,000, as favoring commerce over other industries. In 1830 there was an investigation, and a bill was passed to 3d reading providing 10 comp. for this service. In 1827 there had been an effort to induce Mexico to pay for robberies by Ind. in Mex. territory. Id., xxxii. 79.
36 See Hist. Cal., iii., for Smith's Cal. adventures. He joined the caravau of which Smith, Sublette, and Jackson were chief owners. He and a clerk were shot by the Comanches, while separated from the main party in search of water. J. J. Warner, still living in Cal., 1886, was a member of the same caravan. Remin., MS., 5-11. Chas Bent is named as capt of a caravan of 93 wagons in '33, escorted by a comp. of rangers; and Kerr as capt in '34, with 8200,000 in specie. Niles' Rey., xliv. 374; xlxii. 147.
336
A MEXICAN TERRITORY.
indemnity from Mexico. In 1837, however, the fron- tier custom-house of Taos was opened to foreign trade.37 From 1838 the Missouri traders, through their assem- bly, governor, chambers of commerce, and senator, made earnest efforts to secure from congress a custom- house on the Missouri River, with privilege of draw- back and debenture for foreign goods, claiming that the trade had constantly diminished since 1828, and could in no other way be restored. A bill in their favor was tabled in 1842, but in 1845 another was finally passed.38 In 1839 an attempt was made by Mexicans, with the aid of H. Connelly, an American merchant, to divert the course of trade from Santa Fé to Chihuahua direct. A caravan of 100 men made the trip through Texas, and returned to Chihuahua in 1840 without any serious casualty ; but the attempt was not repeated.39 For a short time in these years Governor Armijo tried the experiment of collecting as duties $500 on each wagon-load of goods; but the size of the wagons that began to be used soon prompted a return to ad valorem duties.
We have seen that the Texan attempt of 1841 to wrest the Santa Fé trade from the United States was not successful;40 and the troubles experienced by the caravans of 1843 at the hands of Texan robbers have also been recorded. Notwithstanding these outrages,
37 Decree of Feb. 17, 1837. Prieto, Rentas, 204; Arrillaga, Recop., 1838, p. 187
38 A memorial of '38 says that only 7 wagons started in '37, and the trade was surely ruined by competition with goods introduced with drawback priv- ileges via Matamoros and Vera Cruz from U. S. ports. U. S. Govt Doc., 26th cong. Ist sess., Sen. Doc. 472. See also Id., H. Ex. Doc., 191; Id., H. Jour., 27th cong. 2d sess., p. 877, 1478; Id., 28th cong. 2d sess., H. Jour., pp. 361, 432, 576; Cong. Globe, 1841-2, Index. 'Chih .; ' Id., 1844-5, p. xi .; Ben- ton's Debates, xiii. 752; Niles' Reg., lxiii. 15; 1xviii. 119. Mention of caravans of '39 and '41 in Id., Ivii. 133, 1xi. 209, including a letter from one of the Cal. emigrants, perhaps Toomes or Given.
39 Gregg's Com. Praires, ii. 163-4; Niles' Reg., Ivi. 261, 403; Ivii. 216. A caravan under Pickett and Gregg is also named as leaving Van Buren, Ark., in May for Chih., with an escort of 40 U. S. dragoons.
40 See p. 319 et seq. of this volume. The return of the caravan of '41 in Sept. is noted in Niles' Reg., 1xi. 100. A party of Mexicans came with it, bringing $80,000 to purchase goods. The caravan of '42, Mex. and Amer., started in May with 62 wagons, 800 mules, and $150,000 in goods. The expenditure of $5,000 by the Mex. for wagons and harness at Pittsburg gave the papers of that town a chance to puff its prospects. Id., Ixii. 19, 192.
337
PATTIE'S ADVENTURES.
the year's business was very large and profitable;41 yet President Santa Anna, by a decree of August 7, 1843, elosing the frontier custom-house of Taos, put an end to the Santa Fé trade, much to the disgust of New Mexicans as well as Missourians. "Should the obnoxious decree be repealed, the trade will doubtless be prosecuted with renewed vigor and enterprise," writes Gregg; and it was repealed almost before it had gone into effect, on March 31, 1844, so that the trade of 1844-6 was as large as ever, though selling prices, and therefore profits, had been constantly di- minishing for fifteen years.42
Besides the regular traders of the caravans, there were others, who resided permanently or for years in New Mexico; also many fur-trading trappers and miscellaneous adventurers, whose experienees would fill a most fascinating volume, as, indeed, in one case -that of James O. Pattie-they have done. Pattie and his father, with others whose aim was Indian trade and trapping, came to Taos and Santa Fé with a caravan of 1824, and for four years engaged in a series of the most remarkable rovings within and be- yond the limits of Arizona and New Mexico. Fre- quent encounters with hostile Indians and bears diversify the story of long journeys and the many perils of a hunter's life; while the claimed rescue of Jaeoba, daughter of an ex-governor, from the savages, adds a slender thread of romance. Finally, in 1828, the Patties arrived in California, the elder to die, the younger to continue his exploits, as fully recorded in another work of this series. Probably in the east, as
+1 Many items in Niles' Reg., lxiv .- v. It appears that after the Texan troubles of May-June, another caravan of 175 wagons left Independence in August, still escorted by Capt. Cook. There was some complaint against this use of troops. U. S. Govt Doc., 28th cong. Ist sess., H. Ex. Doc. 2, p. 63.
42 Prieto, Rentas, 201; Greggs' Com., ii. 177; Niles' Reg., lxv. 166; Ixvi. 281, 352; Ixvii. 133, 385; Ixviii. 31, 148; Ixix. 416. The custom-house had been only nominally at Taos, goods being really entered at Sta Fé. The business of '44 was estimated at $750,000, but this year and the next there was some loss of animals, and traders were also perplexed by rumors of im- pending war. A caravan left Chih., in Dec. '45, being at Sta Fé in Jan., and at Independence in Feb. '46.
HIST. ARIZ. AND N. MEX. 22
.
338
A MEXICAN TERRITORY.
certainly in the west, there is much of exaggeration, not to say falsehood, in the story of personal ad- venture; but there is sufficient groundwork of fact to make the story valuable as well as fascinating.43 Benjamin D. Wilson was another of the pioneers who had a varied career as trader and trapper in Arizona, New Mexico, and Sonora, before coming to settle in California.44
Communication with California began in 1830, when José Antonio Vaca visited that country with a small party of his countrymen, and Ewing Young, with a company of foreign trappers; possibly including Kit Carson, made a fur-hunting tour in the western valleys.45 In 1831-2 three trapping and trading parties made the journey under Wolfskill, Jackson, and Young, the first-named opening the long-followed trail from Taos north of the Colorado River. From this time the route was travelled every year, often by parties of only a few individuals. Trade between the two territories consisted of the exchange of New Mex- ican blankets for Californian mules and horses; and it
43 The Personal Narrative of James O. Pattie, of Kentucky, during an ex- pedition from St Louis through the vast regions between that place and the Pacific Ocean, etc., etc. Edited by Timothy Flint. Cincinnati, 1833, 12mo. For more bibliographic details, and a full account of Pattie's Cal. adventures, and his return by sea and land via Mexico, see Hist. Cal., iii. 162-72. The following is a chronologie outline of P.'s movements in 1824-7; July 1824, left Council Bluffs; Nov., arr. at Sta Fé, via Taos; also engaging in Nov. in an Ind. cam- paign, for the rescue of Mex. prisoners. From Nov. to April 1825 he made a trapping trip down the Gila and up its different branches, returning to the copper mines, where his father remained. In May he made another trip down the Gila, to bring furs that had been cached; in June-July visited Sta Fé, and spent the rest of the year at the copper mines, acting as a guard, his father renting the mine and remaining there. In Jan. July 1826 he went down the Gila to the Colorado junction, up the Colorado and across the Rocky mts, trapped on the Platte, Yellowstone, Clarke's fork of the Colum- bia, and Arkansas, returning down the Rio Grande to Sta Fé. In Sept .- Nov. 1826 he went to Janos, across Sonora to Guaymas, and back via Chihuahua and El Paso to the mines. From Nov. to April several minor Indian-fighting and hunting tours were made; and in May-July 1827 he went to Sta Fe, El Paso, and Chih., in a vain pursuit of an agent who had cheated his father at the mines out of all his wealth. Finally, in Sept. the two Patties organ- ized another trapping party, and in Dec. were on the Colorado, whence they presently went west, and falling into the hands of the Mexican authorities, were carried as prisoners to S. Diego.
++ Wilson's Observations, MS. Coyner's Lost Trappers probably narrates ad- ventures of this period chiefly, rather than of the earlier dates given in the book. 45 Hist. Cal., iii. 173-5.
339
THE CALIFORNIA TRADE.
must be confessed that the traders soon earned a most unenviable reputation. There were many hon- orable exceptions; but most of the trading parties were composed of New Mexican, foreign, and Indian vagabonds, whose object was to obtain mules, without scruple as to methods, often by simple theft, and oftener by connivance with hostile Californian tribes. In 1833, especially, they caused a great excitement, and some of them, including Villapando, their leader, were arrested at Sta Fé.46 In 1835-7 John A. Sutter, afterward famous in California, was engaged in trade at Santa Fé; in 1841 the Workman-Rowland party brought many foreign and native New Mexicans to California; in 1842 a large trading party under Vigil included some twenty families in quest of homes, most of whom came back to settle in the San Bernar- dino region ; and down to the end of the Mexican rule the movement of traders and emigrants continued.47 Among native New Mexican settlers in California were members of the Vaca, Peña, and Armijo fami- lies, while many well-known Californian pioneers had spent some years in New Mexico.43
Industrially, there was for the most part no change, except a slight deterioration in some branches, from the unprosperous conditions of former years. Of home records on the subject I have found none of any value; and while Gregg and his followers, in connection with commercial annals, give excellent reviews of the country's industries or lack of them, their remarks would apply as well to the Spanish as to the Mexican
46 Hist. Cal., iii. 386-8, 395-6. Charlefoux was a Canadian in command of 30 or 40 ' Chaguanoso ' or Shawnee ' traders,' who took some part in the sectional politics and warfare of Cal. in '37-8. Id., iii. 495, 518-20. About these matters I find nothing in N. Mex. records.
47 Hist. Cal., iv. 124-5, 276-8, 342-3, 387.
48 Among these may be named Cyrus Alexander, D. W. Alexander, F. Z. Branch, Lewis Burton, Moses and 'Kit ' Carson, Wm G. Chard, Job F. Dye, Wm Gordon, Isaac Graham, Wm Knight, J. P. Leese, J. L. Majors, Wm Pope, Antoine and Louis Robidoux, John Rowland, Isaac Sparks, J. J. War- ner, Isaac Williams, B. D. Wilson, John R. and Wm Wolfskill, Wm Work- man, Ewing Young, and Geo. C. Yount. See Hist. Cal., Pioneer Register, for biog. sketches of these and many more.
·
340
A MEXICAN TERRITORY.
period, being confirmatory of what I have written in earlier chapters. It is possible, however, that the decadence noted, as in sheep-raising and the manu- facture of blankets, was more apparent than real, be- ing founded on an exaggerated idea of what had been accomplished in the past.49
In mining, though nothing appears respecting the famous copper mine of the south-west, except the somewhat doubtful statements of the trapper Pattie,50 some progress was made, since placeres of gold were successfully worked in two districts some thirty miles south-west of Santa Fe. The 'Old Placers' were discovered in 1828, and the 'New Placers' in 1839. The former yielded from $60,000 to $80,000 per year in 1832-5, and later considerably less. At the latter sprang up the town of Tuerto, with 22 stores in 1845, when the yield of both districts is given as $250,000. The metal was very fine and pure, but water was scarce, the chief reliance being on the artificially melted snows of winter; apparatus was primitive, consisting of the batea, or bowl; and prejudice against foreigners prevented the introduction of improved methods. At various other points, as near Taos, Abiquiá, and Sangre de Cristo, gold was found, and mines were perhaps worked for a short time. No silver mines were worked in the Mexican period.51
49 Gregg, Com. Prairies, i. 189, says that 10 or 20 years ago, that is, in 1824-34, about 200,000 sheep were annually driven to southern markets, and sometimes, perhaps, as many as 500,000; and sheep were still the principal article of exportation. Narbona, in Pino, Not. Hist., 24, gives the live-stock of the country in 1827 as cattle 5,000, sheep and goats 240,000, horses and mules 3,000; total value $221,650.
bu Pattie, Narrative, 71-81, 112, 115, 123, 129-32, says that the mine was worked by a Spanish superintendent, Juan Onis, for the Span. owner, Fran- cisco Pablo Lagera. 'Within the circumference of three miles there is a mine of copper, gold, and silver, and besides, a cliff of load-stone. The silver mine is not worked, as not being so profitable as either the copper or gold mines.' The Ind. were very troublesome, and the trappers did good service in keeping them in order, by force and treaties. Finally, the Patties leased the mines for 5 years, at $1,000 per year, and the elder P. remained there, established a stock ranch on the Mimbres, and made money. But in 1827, when he thought of buying the property, a rascally Span. agent, intrusted with $30,000 in gold, ran away with the money, and ruined Pattie. At the same time the owner was exiled as a Spaniard, and it is implie.l that the mines were abandoned.
51 Grejg's Com. Prairies, i. 162-77; Prince's Hist. Sk., 241-3; Meline's 2,000
341
EDUCATION AND MISSIONS.
In educational matters a slight increase of interest is to be noted, though with very meagre results. In 1826 the diputacion territorial was about to establish some kind of a college at the capital, under the pro- tectorship of Agustin Fernandez de San Vicente; and from 1827 to 1832 archive records show the existence of primary schools at several of the principal towns; but in 1834 there was no school at Santa Fé, and probably none elsewhere, as the diputacion announced that there were no funds, and called upon the ayun- tamientos to reopen the schools, if possible, by private contributions. 52 About 1834 a printing-press was brought to the country, and with it in 1835 Padre Martinez issued for four weeks at Taos the Crepúsculo, the only New Mexican newspaper of pre-Gringo times. 53
The missions continued as before, there being no formal secularization, but were missions only in name. The government still paid-or at least made appro- priations for-the sínodos of from 23 to 27 Franciscan
Miles, 171-2. These and other writers cannot refrain from comparing the poor showing of mining industry at this time, not only with the developments of later years, but with those of the 17th century. Gregg even attempts to make of Gran Quivira in the s. E. the ruins of an ancient mining city. I have already expressed the opinion that nothing more than prospecting was done by the Spaniards. The salinas of the south-east yielded an unlimited supply of salt.
52 Arch. Sta Fé, MS., including 'estatutos para el régimen de la escuela general.' Schools opened at 6 A. M. in summer and 7 in winter. 30 scholars at Cañada in 1828. Marcelino Abreu teacher of a Lancasterian school at Sta Fé in 1829-30. A report of Narbona, 1827, in Pino, Not. Hist., 56-7, indi- cates 18 schools and 17 teachers at Sta Fé, Vado, Cochiti, Cia, Sandía, Ala- meda, Alburquerque, Tomé, Belen, Laguna, La Cañada, S. Juan, Taos, and Abiquiú; but very likely only 5 or 6 of these had any real existence; for Barreiro, Ojeada, 43, names for 1832 only Sta Fé, with $500 assigned for teachers' salary, S. Miguel, Cañada, Taos, Alburquerque, and Belen with from $250 to $300 each. Prince, Hist. Sk., 239, tells us that Gov. Martinez was a special friend of education, sending young men to Durango and Mexico to be educated, hesides establishing govt schools at Sta Fé. Ritch, Aztlan, 249, speaks of private schools established by Vicar Martinez at Taos, by Padre Leiva at S. Miguel, and by other priests. All writers note the prevalent ig- norance of the New Mexicans and the absence of books, also noting the facts that there were still no physicians or lawyers in the country.
53 Gregg's Com. Prairies, i. 200-1; Prince's Hist. Sk., 234. Gregg says the editor's object was to get himself elected to congress, in which effort he suc- ceeded. He also states that some primers and catechisms were printed on this press before 1844; but I have never seen any of these early productions. In the newspapers of 1876 is noted the death of Jesus M. Vaca, who was a printer on the Crepúsculo.
342
A MEXICAN TERRITORY.
friars; but these were for the most part acting curates at the Mexican settlements, making occasional visits to the Indian pueblos under their spiritual charge. Only five of the latter had resident missionaries in 1832.54 The Mexican congress in 1823, and again in 1830, decreed the carrying-out of the old Spanish order for the establishing of a bishopric; but nothing was effected in this direction. Among the vicars appears in 1825-6 the name of Agustin Fernandez de San Vicente, the famous canónigo who had visited Califor- nia in 1822 as the commissioner of the emperor Iturbide. In 1833 the bishop of Durango visited this distant part of his diocese, and his reception is de- scribed by Gregg and Prince as having been marked by great enthusiasm.55
The population has been given as 30,000 whites and 10,000 pueblo Indians in 1822. In these 24 years I suppose that the white population was somewhat more than doubled, and that of Indians slightly dimin- ished; or that the total in 1845-6 was not far from 80,000, though there is one official report that makes this total much larger.16
54 Barreiro, Ojeada, 15, 39-41; Escudero, Not. Chih., 31. Yearly appro- priations for the stipends. Correo de la Fed., Oct. 14,'1827; Mex., Mem. Hac., 1826, doc. 15; Id., Mem. Just., 1831, annex. 8; Id., Mem. Hac., 1832, doc. N; Id., 1837, annex. F; Id,, 1844, presupuesto 7. The no. of friars 27, with $8,880 in stipends includes El Paso, Narbona in 1827 gives the number of curates as 17. The statement of Ritch, Aztlan, 249-50, that before 1846 all the padres from abroad had been supplanted by native-born New Mexicans seems doubtful. Aug. 26, 1842, order of the president authorizing the gov. and junta to grant lands of the Ind. pueblos where there were few Ind. and many vecinos. Pinart Col.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.