The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918 Page: 244
434 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
10,000 were entitled to two alcaldes, six regidores, and two sin-
dicos; and so on. The duties of the ayuntamiento covered a wide
range, including most of the functions of a modern city commis-
sion and some of those belonging to the country commissioners--
to promote the establishment of hospitals, poor houses and edu-
cational and charitable institutions, and to administer them, when
established; to. license qualified and properly certified physicians
and druggists and prevent others from practicing; to appoint
boards of health, inspect foods, markets, and drug stores, keep the
streets clean, visit prisons, drain lakes and stagnant ponds, and
wage continual war on every menace to the health of man and
beast; to see that streets were straight and ornamented with shade
trees, and wherever possible, paved and lighted; to maintain roads
and public buildings; preserve the forests; punish vagabonds,
drunkards, idlers, and gamblers; promote agriculture, industry,
and commerce; administer municipal funds, which, with the con-
sent of the Governor and Legislature, might be raised by taxa-
tion; establish and supervise primary schools; and take the census
every six months-these were some of the more important duties
of the ayuntamiento.
Austin was at Saltillo in the fall of 1827 and took occasion to
urge the establishment of constitutional government in his col-
ony.79 In response to, his request the Governor, on November 17,
instructed the political chief to order an election for an ayunta-
miento with jurisdiction from the Lavaca to the watershed be-
tween the Trinity and the San Jacinto, and from, the sea to, the
San Antonio. Road. Austin would preside over the electoral as-
sembly and install and administer the oath to the newly elected
officers, and all cases pending in the present alcalde courts would
pass to the constitutional alcalde.80 On December 11 the politi-
cal chief transmitted the order to Austin, and he called the elec-
tion for February 3-4, 1828. Austin realized the importance of
choosing competent men who would take their duties seriously,
"Austin to the State 'Congress, 'October 11, 1827. Austin Papers, mis-
cellaneous.
"8Austin to J. '1I. Bell, January 1, 1828. Austin Papers. Austin sug-
gested Ira Ingram for Alcalde, Bell and William Morton for regidores,
and L. R. Kenney for sindico procurador. Thomas M. Duke, M. B. Nuck-
ols, and Rawson Alley, were being mentioned for places, he said.244
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918, periodical, 1918; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101073/m1/250/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.