The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 8, July 1904 - April, 1905 Page: 320

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Texas Historical Association Quarterly.

ent at, and interpose in the directions of lands,1 and other public
matters to the end that nothing unsuitable or injurious might
occur in the distribution of the same."
According to these same Instructions- it was the duty of the
mayordomo de propios to nmanage the city funds, and to, keep an ac-
count of all receipts and of all expenditures made for the account
of the cabildo. These Instructions would probably serve to define
the functions of the mayordomo and procurador of San Fernando
also, but there is little evidence as to the duties he actually per-
formed. A complaint made against the members of the cabildo
in 1783 by Governor Cabello indicates some, at least, of the duties
performed by the incumbent of the double office as procurador.
The governor stated that because of the absence of this officer the
settlements were not supplied with water from the arroyo either
for drinking or for other purposes-especially for irrigating the
lands from which funds for the villa were collected. Likewise all
bridges over the arroyo and the irrigating ditches of the presidio
and villa were neglected." At San Fernando, it was the duty of
the mayordomo to collect the money arising from the lands be-
longing to the villa,4 but no evidence has been found to indicate
that, previous to 1800, he managed these funds after they were
collected, as the mayordomo at New Orleans was required to do
by the Ordinances and Instructions. In one instance at least,
these funds were turned over to the regidor decano.6 In 1799,
in writing to the governor in regard to the functions of the various
municipal officers of San Fernando, the cabildo stated that it was
the duty of the mayordomo or procurador to attend to everything
conducive to the cleanliness and neatness of the villa, and to col-
lect the municipal funds." This combines the two definitions just
given, and corresponds, in a general way, to those derived from
'Cf. Recopilacion, lib. IV, tit. XII, ley vi.
2266.
Expediente concerning the election for 1784, B6xar Archives.
'Libro de Cavildo, etc., 1742-1749, Nacogdoches Archives.
5Minutes for January 7, 1783, in Libro en que se asienta lo acordado
en el cabildo, etc., 1783-1807, B6xar Archives.
6B6xar Archives.