History of California, Volume II, Part 19

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 826

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Statistics of live-stock show that the province had in 1810 about 160,000 head of large animals-132,000 cattle, 25,000 horses, and 3,000 mules-and the same number of small animals, chiefly sheep. Details re- specting the animals of the rancho del rey with its branches at each presidio are very incomplete; but I suppose it contained from 11,000 to 13,000 head of horses and cattle, the sales of which yielded a net revenue of about $1,200 a year. The position assumed by the friars and approved by the governor respect-

12 Feb. 22, ISII, Arrillaga to Sanchez. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 11. To the viceroy in 1817, the governor speaks of the revolution as the cause of the suspension. Id., ix. 161-2. So did President Tapis in his Informe Bienal, 1811-12, MS., SS, and Bandini, Hist. Cal., MS., 115-16. Sanchez had applied in 1807 for retirement from the naval service. His petition was sent to the king in 1810, and in ISI1 he was granted retirement with two thirds corporal's pay on condition of dedicating himself exclusively to the hemp culture. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 301; Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 127. What became of him I know not. Neither does it appear what was done with the large surplus of hemp left on the habilitados' hands in 1810.

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ing damage done by cattle was that animals found in the fields by night might be killed, and no compensa- tion could be claimed. 13 It appears that for each res- strangely enough the English language has no word to express the singular of cattle-slaughtered two reals had to be paid as a tithe, and it was a disputed ques- tion whether the buyer or seller was to pay it.14 A

peculiar custom was that which induced individuals not caring to lead a ranchero's life to give a mission a number of cattle or sheep on condition of receiving a regular supply for meat. Thus Captain Argüello gave Santa Bárbara a hundred sheep and was to re- ceive one every week during his life.15

The most important topic to be noted in connection with stock-raising, however, was the slaughter of horses from 1805 to the end of the decade to prevent too rapid an increase. President Tapis seems to have been the first to suggest this measure in March 1805. The suggestion was followed, though how many horses were killed and whose horses they were, does not appear. 16 There is also evidence in the records that some horned cattle were thus slaughtered. In May 1806 Ignacio Vallejo went to San José by Arrillaga's order and assembled a council composed of the town officers and eight prominent citizens to decide how many horses were really needed and to make arrange- ments for killing the rest. It was determined to reserve twenty-five mares, working horses, and mules

13 S. José, Patentes, MS., 27-9.

14 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 168-9.

15 Arch. Sta B., ix., 492-3.

16 March 1, 1805, Tapis to Arrillaga. Arch. Sta B., MS., vi. 35-6. Some horses killed this year. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 122. Langsdorff learned from Arrillaga in the spring of 1806 that the cattle had become so numerous at San Francisco, Sta Clara, and Sta Cruz that he had sent out soldiers and killed 20,000. Voyages, ii. 170. In a petition of the Russian-American Company to the Spanish court it is stated that immense herds of wild cattle and horses range through the country as far north as the Columbia, and that an annual slaughter of 10,000 to 30,000 head has been ordered. While Rezánof was in California several hundred were killed merely for their skins in which to pack bread sold to the Russians, the meat being thrown away. Potechin, Selenie Ross, 2, 3. F. S. García states that as early as 1807 the soldiers found large numbers of wild horses and cattle on their expeditions into the interior. Tay- lor's Discov. and Found., ii. No. 25.

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for each owner, or 800 for the whole pueblo. The missions were also authorized to kill intruding horses. By June, 7,500 animals had been killed, and the measure seems to have caused much relief. The slaughter was extended to the horses of the rancho del rey, but no figures are given. In 1807 similar orders were sent to Branciforte and Santa Bárbara, and early in 1808, 7,200 horses had been killed in the latter district. An additional slaughter of 3,302 horses at Monterey is recorded in 1810.17

Commercial regulations and methods experienced no modifications of importance. The most exciting element was the contraband trade with American vessels, a topic on which I have already given all accessible information in connection with each voyage. It is enough to say here that missionaries and set- tlers bartered their otter-skins and other products for miscellaneous articles and money brought by the Americans whenever the opportunity presented itself, sometimes with and sometimes without the consent or knowledge of the local authorities. The opportu- nities were not frequent, and for obvious reasons there are no figures extant; but the aggregate amount could not have been large, though Shaler in 1805 estimated that $25,000 was left annually by the traders in the two Californias. Trade with the Russians in 1806 amounted to nearly $6,000, and the contraband nature of the operation was mitigated by the governor's ap- proval.18

17 May 7, 1806, Arrillaga to comisionado of San José. May 11th, Guerra to Id. S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 94-5. Decision of the junta May 14th. Id., iii. 96; Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxxvii. 6, 7. June 5th and March 24th, Castro to governor. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 77-S. July 27th, order to kill horses of royal rancho. S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 95. Nov. 30, 1807, governor to Com. of Santa Bárbara. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 122. July 16th to comision- ado of Branciforte. Sta Cruz, Arch., MS., 19. 1808, slaughter at Santa Bár- bara. St. Pap., Miss., MS., iii. 52. June 25, 1810, slaughter at Monterey. Estudillo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 96.

18 Items on smuggling. May 15, 1805, viceroy to governor, contraband goods belong to the faithful subject of the king who may seize them, or at least their full value. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 60; Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 68. April 14, 1803, Id. to Id., sends royal order of Aug. 10, 1802, urging great care to prevent smuggling. Prov. St. Pap., xviii. 267. Nov. 26, 1804, gov. advises viceroy of contraband goods by the Concepcion, hidden at Santa Bar-

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Respecting commercial operations carried on by means of the San Blas transports, aside from the regular supplies of presidios and missions, there are occasional notes preserved in the archives, but no statistics. In 1801, with the viceroy's approval, an attempt was made to export wheat from California to San Blas by certain men not named who had made a contract to supply the vessels of the department with galleta, or ship's biscuit. The settlers were called upon by Arrillaga for a statement of the quantity they could furnish and the price. In reply the set- tlers of Los Angeles and the rancheros of that region offered 2,270 fanegas at $2.50. There is no record that any shipment was made, and no reason is given for the failure of the project. This same year, how -. ever, the officers of the transports were ordered to take on board at San Blas only such supplies as were necessary for the voyage northward, in order that provisions for the return voyage might be bought in California; and accordingly in August and September Captain Saavedra obtained supplies, chiefly of flour, for two vessels. The mills of San José were kept running day and night, but there seems to have been

bara and Ortega's rancho. April 9, 1805, viceroy wants to know more about it. Id., xix. 50. Dec. 22, 1806, Gov. to commandants, urging obedience to the laws. Has heard that maize and cattle from California have been soldat Cape San Lucasand in the Sandwich Islands. Id., xix. 112-13. Oct. 27, 1807, viceroy to Gov., the king has ordered a system of premiums which will close the port to smugglers; therefore the order of 1805, giving contraband goods to those who seize them, is repealed. Id., xix. 203. Cancelada, Ruina de la Nueva España, 47-52, writes in 1811 of the commercial advantages of California which are being wasted through the foolish policy of Spain. He says that in six months of IS09, 11,105 packages of produce, with $4,187 in money, were brought in nine vessels from the Californias; and mentions an American ship which brought a cargo to California about 1808, thereby doing an injury of $300,000 to Mexican manufactures. Khlébnikof, Zapiski, 145-6, gives the fol- lowingas the prices paid and received on this occasion: flour, per arroba (25 lbs.), $1.50 to $2; lard and tallow, $2; salt, 25c .; wool, $2; dried meat $1; wheat, per fanega (about 1.5 bush.), $2; barley, $1.50; pease and beans, from $1.75 to $3; otter-skins, each $5. Russian goods: linen per piece, $31; canvas, $25; thick cloth, per arshin, $3; cotton handkerchiefs, $1 to $2; needles per thousand, $4; Siberian boots per pair, $5; crosscut-saws, $15; axcs, $1.50; ticking, per arshin, 50c. In 1803 a reduction in the prices of many articles from the last arancel was suggested but there is no record of any action. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 246. In 1809, a year of scarcity, the tariff prices were considerably raised. Id., Ben. Mil., xxxix. 6.

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considerable difficulty in getting all that was re- quired.19

In April 1803, the viceroy issued orders calculated to favor trade by the transports and to reform certain abuses. It seems that the officers and crews had, contrary to the naval regulations, been accustomed to monopolize the California trade. They were now strictly prohibited from trading at all, or from refus- ing to carry the goods of traders and private persons, which must be taken on board whenever there was room after the supplies of presidios and missions had been provided for.20 As to the advantage taken by private individuals of this regulation very little can

19 Feb. 4, 1801, viceroy authorizes exportation of 1,000 fan. or more of wheat for S. Blas. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxxii. 2. Feb. 11th, Arri- llaga ordered by V. R. to call on the settlers for a statement of what they can do. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 71. April 10th, Arrillaga's communica- tion on the subject, with documents on past subjects. S. José, Arch., MS., v. 6-13. July 20th, list of names sent to Gov. from Los Angeles, with amounts each can furnish. The Ortegas took the lead with 300 fanegas. Among the rancheros were Félix, Nieto, the two Verdugos, Reyes, and Polanco, offering from 100 to 200 fan. each; and 16 others, most if not all settlers in the pueblo, offered from 40 to 200 fan. each. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 50. Aug. and Oct. 1801, communications between commandant of Monterey and comi- sionado of S. José about the supplies for Saavedra's vessels. S. José, Arch., MS., v. 4, 5, 13, 14.

20 April 30, 1803, viceroy to the comisario of San Blas. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 80-4. It was ordered at the same time, however, that private goods must pay regular rates of freight, as must also mission exports, the invoices of mission and presidio supplies being exempt. June 20, 1803, Arrillaga to comisario of S. Blas to similar effect. Arch. Sta B., MS., xii. 15, 16. July 4, 1804, Gov. to viceroy in answer to a communication on the same subject dated May Ist. In taking articles from California the product of tithes and other royal property must have the preference. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 45-6. July 2, 1804, vague reference to an order to formn puertos menores in Califor- nia. Id., ix. 44. Some chalk sent to Cal. in 1803. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 295. Four hundred and ninety-one otter-skins shipped from San Diego in 1803. Dept. St. Pap., Pref. y Jusg., MS., v. 77. June 30, 1806, President Tapis to padres, announcing that mission exports will be received by the ves- sels in proportion to the number of head of live-stock owned by each; but any mission sending less than its proportion might cede its surplus privilege to another. May 7, 1807, this principle was applied when the vessels could take but 1,300 packages. Arch. Sta B., MS., x. 147-50. April 25, 1808, no anchorage charges at Acapulco, San Blas, or Californian ports. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 244-5. Admiralty dues exacted (?). Id., xix. 300. 1808, another call upon San José for wheat and flour for the transports. S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 92-3. Sept. 7, 1808, tribunal de cuentas decides that no coin need be sent to California for the purchase of supplies, as loans can be had from the padres, repayable at S. Blas. Supplies bought must be of good quality and less than tariff rates may be paid in years of abundance. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 239-41. Goods not properly registered subject to confis- cation. Id., xix. 270.

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be known; but various accounts and invoices of goods from Mexico and Tepic, preserved in the archives of the family, show that from as early a date as 1808 José de la Guerra was in the habit of receiving quite extensive consignments. He had an uncle in trade at the city of Mexico, whose clerk he had formerly been, and it is not unlikely that the ventures were on joint account of the two.21 Goycoechea in his report of 1805 called attention, as others had done before him, to the necessity of an outlet for California produce, and proposed that a separate vessel be devoted to that special purpose. The vessel was not forthcoming.22

Financial statistics may be expressed in round num- bers, with a not altogether satisfactory approximation to accuracy, as follows: Annual appropriations from the royal treasury from $63,000 to $86,000, the in- crease of force in 1805 costing about $23,000;23 amount of supplies in presidial warehouses as per annual inven- tories, $60,000 to $90,000; amount of supplies received annually from the missions and paid for chiefly in drafts on Mexico, about $18,000. Supplies from the pueblos, of which there are no accounts, besides doubt- less some additional supplies from missions, were paid for in goods. Of these goods about $8,000 or $10,000 worth came each year from San Blas, and the rest, including a small quantity of silver coin, from Mexico in irregular amounts varying according to needs from $20,000 to $100,000.24 Revenue was derived from different sources approximately as follows: sales of cattle from the rancho del rey, $1,200; sales of tobacco in the form of cigarros and puros and polvos25-that is, cigarettes, cigars, and snuff, for the Spaniards did

21 Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 30-4, 36-40.

22 Goycoechea, Medios para el Fomento de Cal., 1805, MS., 24-5.

23 The exact figures in 1805 were $63,930, and in 1808, $S6,012.

24 References for presidial accounts have been given in connection with the local annals of each presidio. Most of them are found in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxix .- li.

25 It is to be noted that the Spaniards used the term cigarros for the small paper-covered rolls of tobacco commonly known as 'cigarettes' in French and English, using the diminutive cigarritos only occasionally and colloquially,

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not chew the weed-$7,000; postal revenue, $400;26 tithes, $2,500;27 sale of papal indulgences $450; total, $11,550, not including the revenue from gunpowder and playing-cards28 which in the later years of the decade may have increased the sum to $12,000, paid by drafts of the habilitado of Monterey as adminis- trator of revenue on the royal treasury, which drafts were charged in the next year's invoices.

In October 1801 the viceroy ordered Manuel Cár- caba, the first habilitado general of Californias in Mexico, to delay his proposed departure to Spain until a successor could be chosen, it being deemed inexpedient to intrust the large amount of appropria- tions to an official acting ad interim. At the same time instructions were sent to California to have an

while our 'cigars' were known to them as puros. Nov. 2, 1801, governor com- plains of scarcity of tobacco in California. Dec. 22d, viceroy sends a report from the director de tabacos, who says that there were in California Jan. Ist 69,653 papers of puros and 83,322 boxes of cigarros which he thought would be enough; but he has sent 24 cases, containing 108,360 papers of cigarros, as an additional supply. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 151-2, 1801. Capt. José Arguello administrador general de la renta del tabaco. Id., Ben. Mil., xxviii. S. Net proceeds of sales for 1805, $7,659. Id., xxxiii. 11.

26 1804, José Arguello administrador de estafeta. Prov. St. Pap., Presid., MS., ii. 39. July 20, 1807, governor to commandant of Santa Bárbara. Mails arriving at the presidio must be despatched in 24 hours, with a note in the itinerary showing time of arrival and departure. Also a guia de retorno. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 117. Nov. 9, 1807, orders for courier escorts to remain with the guard of a station until the escort to the next station returns to relieve them. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 207.

27 Jan. 3, 1805, he who does not deliver the tithe cattle at the gate of the corral for the purchaser will have to pay for delays or expenses. S. José, Arch., MS., ii. 84. 1805, tithes on 205 head of cattle, increase of this year, are $27. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 182. Of taxes other than tithes there is very little on record. July 1, 1802, bishop transmits an order imposing a tax on certain inheritances; S. Antonio, Doc. Sueltos, MS., 36-7; Arch. Sta B., MS., v. 68- 73; vi. 298-303. Dec. 31, 1804, governor orders that the tax of 25 cents on each res killed be no longer exacted. S. José, Arch., MS., ii. 83; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 168.

28 Feb. 20, 1807, recommendation that powder and cards be put on the same basis as tobacco, the administrator's commission to be 8 per cent on powder and 5 per cent on cards, of which other habilitados were to get 5 and 3 per cent respectively on sales away from the capital. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 190-5. Sept. 3, 1807, habilitado of Monterey to factor de tabacos at Guada- lajara. As it has been decided to place powder and cards in estanco, he asks for 60 arrobas of fine powder and 30 gross of cards. Estudillo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 115. Jan. 7, 1808, comisionado of S. José may sell powder to settlers at $1 per pound, always recording the quantity sold and the buyer's name. S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 72. Aug. 8, 1808, powder to be added to tobacco administration. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 108. 1809, playing-card revenue: 720 packs sold at 50 cts .; commission, $28.75. St. Pap., Sac., MS., v. 111.

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election held at once, since the general was to be elected by the commissioned officers of the four pre- sidios and was to retain his rank and place on the rolls of his company. The vote was unanimous, except that of the candidate himself, for Goycoechea of San- ta Bárbara, who was notified of his election in June and sailed from San Diego in October 1802. In 1804 his salary for the whole term was fixed at $1,200 per year; and he held the position until appointed gover- nor of Baja California in September 1805.29 Captain Pablo Vicente de Sola, the same who afterward came to California as governor, was named to hold the office temporarily, and again the Californians were called to express their choice. A formal consent was forwarded for Sola to serve ad interim. A new election was held in 1806, and in November of that year Captain Rodriguez of San Diego sailed for Mexico to assume the position early in 1807.30 Rodriguez quarrelled occa- sionally with various officials in Mexico,31 though he seems to have given satisfaction to the habilitados; but in May 1810, the four years' term having appar- ently been adopted, he was defeated as a candidate for reelection by Lieutenant Guerra y Noriega.32 Sail-

29 Oct. 26, 1801, viceroy to Carcaba. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxxvi. 54. The Argüellos and Ruiz vote for Goycoechea. Others leave the choice to Arrillaga. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxxii. 6, 10-13. Goy- coechea goes to Mexico. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 90, 92. July 31, 1804, viceroy fixes salary at $1,200. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxxiv. 1. Made gov- ernor of B. California, 1805. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 10-12. The viceroy expresses satisfaction at his management, leaving his bondsmen secure. Aug. 16, 1806, allows him to be sworn in as governor of B. California in Mexico. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxii. 26.

30 It seems that before Sola's appointment it had been proposed to appoint José Francisco Rodriguez, to whom, however, the officers of California objected. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 59. Sola's appointment known in California, Sept. 1805. J. V. Arieta was to act in Sola's absence. Id., xix. 12, 72; Prov. Rec., MS., x. 4, 5; ix. 69. Sept. 20th, Arrillaga calls on the commandant to decide if Sola shall serve as interino or proprietario. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 12, 13. Oct. 16th, the Argüellos approve of Sola as interino. Id., xix. 41. Sola assumed the duties in December 1803. Id., Ben. Mil., MS., xxvii .; Prov. Rec., MS., viii. 81. Jan. 2, 1806, Arrillaga to viceroy, thinks an clection should be held every four years. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 72. Rodriguez elected and his departure. Id., ix. 94; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 103. Sola still acting, Jan. 1807, and Rodriguez in July. Id., Ben. Mil., MS., xxxvii. 36-7.

31 Guerra, Doc. Ilist. Cal., MS., iv. 172, a private letter of Arrillaga.

32 Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 121, 126. He was notified to prepare for departure

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ing on the transport of that autumn, Guerra was captured by the insurgents of San Blas and did not succeed in reaching the city of Mexico. Meanwhile Rodriguez died in September, and José Ignacio de Ormaechea was named to serve ad interim.33 In meth- ods employed by the habilitado general in the for- warding supplies and keeping accounts there are no important changes to be noted; nor is there anything of general interest in the application of those methods, but I append a few minor items. 34

In 1800, as we have seen, the effective military force in California was 372 men, including 60 invalids. During this decade the company of Catalan volun- teers was withdrawn, and the cavalry companies were increased by about 90 men. In 1810 the total force was 412 men, classed as follows: 1 lieutenant-colonel, 2 captains, 1 absent in Mexico, 1 surgeon, 4 lieuten- ants, 4 alféreces, or sub-lieutenants, 9 sergeants, 31 corporals, 4 cadets, 242 privates, 3 mechanics, and 1 bleeder-or in all 302 men of the presidial companies, 95 invalids, and 15 artillerymen.35 The reënforcement

and furnished with a passport on Aug. 31st. Guerra, Doc. ITist. Cal., MS. iii. 214; Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 6.

33 Nov. 21, 1810, decree of viceroy. It is also ordered that the man elected in California must give bonds of $6,000, and that two men in Mexico be elected at the same time as the general, one of whom may take his place in case of death. A new election is ordered. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 288-9.

34 Among the presidial supplies for 1800 needed are named white sugar, panocha, rice, shrimps, pease, peanuts, tamarinds, honey, and brandy. White sugar in loaves was often packed in grass and wrapped with palm-leaves and hides. Panocha sometimes came in baskets lined with cloth. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 2, 3. June 30, 1802, Sanchez complains that the habilitado of Monterey overcharges for cloth. Id., xviii. 215. Luggage of officers and recruits transported free, and necessary expenses allowed in the memorias. Approved by viceroy Feb. 11, 1803. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 171-4. April 27, 1805, President Monterde of royal board of auditors informs Arri- llaga that accounts of each year must be sent in first three months of next under penalty of suspension of salary to offending officer. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxxiv. 28. June 12, 1805, tribunal de cuentas decides that without the viceroy's orders no extraordinary expense, for presidial repairs, etc., can be incurred. Certain items of accounts diapproved. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 67-8. Feb. 18, 1807, memorias for California must be sent to San Blas from Mexico in December, and the vessels to sail in February. Id., xix. 210; Id., Ben. Mil., xxxvii. 46. Feb. 22, 1809, habilitado cannot make any payment or incur expenses, except in very urgent circumstances, without the commandant's approval. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 131.

35 This is the statement for Dec. 1, 1810, in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil.,

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of 1805 included three captains, one for each of the pre- sidial companies except that of Monterey, but one of the three served in Mexico as habilitado general. No successor to Carrillo was appointed, and thus Captain José Argüello was the only officer of that rank actually serving in California during this decade. The chief events of the period from a military point of view were the battle at San Diego with the Lelia Byrd, the departure of the volunteers, the reenforcement of the presidial companies, and the formation of a company of militia artillery in 1805,36 all of which have been sufficiently described; and in the current communications on matters of military system and routine I find nothing that requires notice here.

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History of California, Volume II, Part 19

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 826

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 826