[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDERS OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

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                        HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 20, 2001

  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the founders of San 
Antonio, Texas, the city I represent here in the United States 
Congress. Friday, March 9, 2001 marked the 270th anniversary of the 
founding of La Villa de San Fernando, the settlement which would later 
become known as the City of San Antonio.
  On March 9, 1731, the Spanish Government founded the first permanent 
civic settlement in what is now the State of Texas. On this day, under 
the stewardship of Spanish King, Philip V, sixteen Canary Island 
families arrived in the territory then known as Tejas to establish La 
Villa de San Fernando. It would become the first civic government in 
Texas.
  In honor of the sacrifices and contributions of the founding families 
of the City of San Antonio, and on behalf of the Canary Islands 
Descendants Association of San Antonio, Texas, I hereby recognize the 
role of the Canary Islanders in the founding of the Villa De San 
Fernando in 1731--later named San Antonio, Texas.
  The founding of the city of San Antonio was achieved formally under 
the law of the Council of the Indies which was the Spanish law 
governing Nueva Espana in 1731;
  With the arrival of the Canary Islanders, having the required number 
of ten families, the number required by the Laws of the Indies, to 
establish a town, the settlers were thus entitled to organize their own 
civil government, to receive lands for the construction of their homes 
and the sowing and raising of crops, to have a church and town hall, 
and to build a town with a public square and regularly planned streets;
  After reaching their destination, following untold hardships, the 
exhausted travelers were received by Captain Juan Antonio de Almazan of 
the Presidio of Bejar; on the following day they were lodged in the 
best houses of the soldiers;
  Following the detailed instructions of Viceroy Juan de Acuna, Marquez 
de Casafuerte the survey and distribution of the lands for the 
establishment of a new settlement was made;
  On March 12, 1731 Captain Almazan took the heads of families to the 
Arroyo (now called San Pedro Creek) and divided the lands among them 
for a later time when they might divide the lands with more care. He 
urged them to plant crops before June 30;
  By July 2, 1731 the settlers gave their efforts to the establishment 
of the proposed town, the church, and the public square;
  On the following day July 3, 1731 lots were distributed to the 
families to build their homes adjoining the church and Casa Real. Then 
a large cross was formed at the main entrance of the Church as the 
center. By completing each of the four squares of the four sides of the 
cross a perfect larger square two thousand one hundred eighty-six varas 
on each side was delineated. The corners were identified by four long 
rocks as markers. A deep furrow was plowed from corner to corner to 
indicate the boundary in accordance with the instructions of the 
Viceroy;
  On July 20, 1731 the first civil government was established when 
Captain Almazan appointed the members of the city council and other 
officers.
  The Canary Islanders who were sent by King Philip V to establish the 
Villa de San Fernando did accomplish and played an important role in 
the beginning of the development of the magnificent City of San 
Antonio, in the region first known as Tejas, which developed into the 
great State of Texas.

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