rather favorable. He is not exposed to the rigors of the elements, and particularly during the last few decades the hygienic conditions have been brought to a high standard.

It is a fact that progress during the last 50 years has been pushed along lines even more important in their way than the increase in tonnage, the cheapening of product, or the raising of the standard of quality. The captains of industry in mining have, like others, displayed increasing care of their armies of men.

It has become an axiom with every enlightened manager that every means which shall render more satisfactory the surroundings of the worker is bound to tell upon the results of their labor. A comparison of our modern mines and plants with those of former decades, of which some even now survive, proves what attention is paid to making the conditions under which manual labor is performed as tolerable as the circumstances will permit. There has been a tremendous improvement in this direction, and it does not lessen the achievement when we frankly acknowledge that it is largely due to the recognition

of the fact that progress in this direction pays handsomely.

Let me go a step further, and that is to make the claim that the crowning glory of the efforts to improve our mining and metallurgical industries has been that they have contributed their full share to the development of this materialistic age. They have helped to bring within the reach of an ever-growing circle of people not alone the necessities, but also many of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. Let me confess that it seems to me the greatest and most commendable of achievements to raise ever so little the mass of humanity in civilization, and that is what progress in the mechanic arts during the past century has accomplished in a striking manner. Start the masses on a higher plane--level them up. The great genius may not tower so far above them as once he did; but that is again in harmony with our democratic institutions. Let there be an increasing equality of opportunity, even though it makes the struggle fiercer and fiercer, if only public conscience will demand with sterner emphasis that the methods for achievement be lawful and fair.

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N the 19th day of November, 1674, Don Antonio Balcarcel Rivadaneira Sotomayor, alcalde maior of the town of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de la Nueva Estremadura (now Monclova), having de

cided that the good of his majesty's service required a military organization to show the force and arms his majesty could bring to resist the Indians, who might not wish to live peaceably under the royal protection and who by their

example would seduce into rebellion barbarous tribes from whom injury to the royal service might be apprehended, resolved, under the authority of his royal commission and in the name of the king, to have the royal standard raised. After assisting at the holy sacrifice of the mass he gave the order and said: I consign this royal standard to the keeping of Fernando del Bosque, a Spaniard of the greatest experience and trustworthiness; in whom are united all the qualifications and parts required, and in the manner that I should and ought and find occasion to as conquistador of the new conquest and settlement; and in the name of the king I elect him to be such royal standardbearer for this new conquest and settlement, and in it shall be accorded to him all the preeminences and privileges allowed other royal standard-bearers of like new conquests, having and holding him for such royal standard-bearer. And he shall use and exercise such office as he can and ought in all things and causes connected therewith.

To this the said nominee assented and received said royal standard and offered to serve his majesty voluntarily and of his own will, without regard to any salary or pay therefor, and he made oath in the following form: I swear and make homage according to law, one, two, three times; because, being out of Spain I ought to do it the more to hold and to guard this royal standard in peace and in war; working solely in the service of the king until the time shall come when I must die upon it, and when in obedience to the royal command whoever may be present shall carry it to the one that shall next be charged with its keeping. And I will fulfill all that a faithful vassal and loyal hidalgo should.

Father Juan Larios had been lately appointed by the Franciscan order comisario misionero for the region beyond the Rio del Norte, and had been

directed to carry his work of evangelization to the savage tribes inhabiting it. He and that other intrepid priest, Father Manuel de la Cruz, had already entered Texas several times. Father Freyes, the historian, says that Father Manuel de la Cruz penetrated into the country as far as the Medina River. He had remained over the Rio del Norte with a tribe called the Boboles, but being informed that the Yrbipias had planned to capture him by command of a god that they had, this god being a man who had ordered them to bring the daring missionary before him to answer for his temerity in coming into the country, the Boboles defended the priest, by command of Don Estaban, chief of the Gueiquesales. This chief with six Indians of his tribe came to see General Balcarcel, and, being asked his purpose in coming, said that he and his tribe desired to become Christians and to receive religious instruction, and he had come in the name of the following tribes, all of whom were his friends and allies the Gueiquesales, Manos Prietas, Bocores, Siaexer, Pinnancas, EscabacaCascastes, Cocobiptas, Cocomaque, Oodame, Contotores, Colorados, Babiamares, Taimamares. These tribes had received religious instruction from the missionaries, and on one occasion they had protected them from the Vrbipias, who wished to capture Father Manuel de la Cruz when he was on the other side of the Rio del Norte.

On the 13th of January, 1675, another Indian, who was a Christian and called Francisco, belonging to the tribe called Bagnanames, accompanied by the chief of his tribe, who was called in the idiom of his people Yosame Carboan, and eighteen warriors and three women, came to see General Balcarcel. All of them were brought by the Christian Indian, Francisco, from the mountains called Dacate in the Indian language, and which are about thirty leagues on the other side of the Rio del Norte.

They said that they were tired of wandering through the mountains and dying like animals. On the 26th of January, 1675, there came to General Balcarcel Pablo, an Indian chief of the nation called Manos Prietas, and with him eight Indians of the Gueiquesales, the Bapacorapimancos, and Espopolames. These, being examined, said that they were Christians and had been baptized by Father Juan Larios, and they had come to make their submission to the king. On the 29th of April, 1675, this same Indian Pablo came and brought with him 232 persons, great and small, as follows: 120 warriors, 65 women, and 47 boys and girls. They had come to ask to be placed in settlements, and said that they had left a large number of their people congregated together toward the Rio del Norte; that they were very numerous; they could not tell how many. These were followed by other chiefs living beyond the Rio del Norte, all of whom asked to be placed in settlements and to have missionaries sent to them.

General Balcarcel, having established his settlement of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Estremadura, in December, 1674, commenced building a church, which was soon completed. Royal orders had been issued to push the conquests as far as possible, and to gather the Indians together into settlements, where they might receive religious instruction, cultivate the soil, and live peaceably under the royal protection. General Balcarcel, in compliance with this order, determined to send an expedition, under military command, along with Father Juan Larios, who had been appointed and directed to proceed at once to the conversion of the barbarous Indians living beyond the Rio del Norte. The military commander of this expedition was Fernando del Bosque, the royal standard-bearer, and Father Juan Larios, accompanied by Father Dionisio San Buenaventura, both of the

Franciscan order, was to have charge of all matters pertaining to the missionary purpose of the expedition. With these there were ten other Spaniards— an interpreter of the Spanish and Indian languages, Don Lazaro Augustin, himself an Indian, and Juan de la Cruz, of the Boboles, his ensign, and 20 others of his tribe who were most faithful to the Spaniards, and 100 warriors of the Gueiquesale tribe accompanied the expedition.

They were ordered by General Balcarcel to proceed to the Nadadores, and beyond as far as the Sierra Dacate, and to instruct the Indians to plough their lands and to cultivate them, and live industriously, and they should go to such places as the good service of their majesties required, and they should instruct the Indians in the Holy Catholic religion, and should take royal possession of all parts of the country visited, and take note of the longitude of the rivers, and of the trees, forests, and mountains, and should count the people, great and small-men, women, and children.

JOURNAL OF FERNANDO DEL BOSQUE, ROYAL STANDARD-BEARER, IN COMMAND OF THE EXPEDITION

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April 30, 1675.-Left the town of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe of this province in obedience to the order of the alcalde maior, Don Antonio Balcarcel Riva de Neira Sotomayor; traveled along the river below the town toward the north, and having reached a place called Pajarito, on the river, about six leagues from the town, we found it unpossessed and without any signs of having been recently inhabited. We took possession of it in the name of the king our master, Don Carlos II, whom God defend, and in sign of possession we erected a high wooden cross, and at this place we saw many fish in the river and caught some. We gave it the name of San Felipe de Jesus.

May 2, 1675.-On the first of May

left the place called San Felipe de Jesus, always traveling toward the north, along the same river for about four leagues, where it joined another stream, which we traveled along, still toward the north, leaving on our right hand in the direction of the sunrise a range of high hills with sharp peaks, and passing beyond them we reached the ford of a river called the Nadadores, which place we found unpossessed and uninhabited. We took royal possession of it in the name of the king. Today religious instruction was given to the Indians, who were fishing in the stream, which was full and swift. There were poplars and forests of mesquite along its banks. This place is about ten leagues from Sau Felipe. We erected a high wooden cross on the bank of this river and named the place San Francisco del Paso. We saw taken from this stream turtles and many large fish.

May 4, 1675.-Having left the place called San Francisco del Paso on the Nadadores, and having crossed the river and traveled toward the north, having all the time a high and long sierra on our left (this long chain ran from south to north), after traveling about four leagues we came to a creek at a long ridge; there was running water in it, and our Indians called it in their language Toporica. We took royal possession of it in the name of the king, and in sign thereof erected a high wooden cross. We gave this place the name of Santa Cruz.

On the same day, month, and year, having left the place called Santa Cruz and having traveled about four leagues toward the north, still having the said chain of mountains on the same side of us, we reached a creek below a ridge and in front of a peak. There was running water in it and a growth of tule. We took possession of this place in the name of the king and gave it the name of Santa Catalina Martyr. We erected a high wooden cross and performed the

other acts necessary to the assertion of our rights of possession. Religious instruction was given to the Indians.

May 5, 1675.-Left said place called Santa Catalina Martyr and traveled about six leagues toward the north, having the sierra already mentioned always in the same position. We reached a broad river with groves of very large poplars, cedars, and mesquite, with extensive and beautiful plains of green grass; a delightful place. The Indians said it was called the River Savinas, or, in their language, Muero. We gave the name of San Antonio. It was uninhabited. We took possession of it in the name of the king, our master, and in sign thereof erected a high wooden cross. There were fish of all kinds in this river and in abundance. Religious instruction was given to the Indians by the missionary fathers.

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May 7, 1675.-We left the Rio San Antonio and traveled toward the north. About 12 leagues from said Rio San Antonio de Savinas we came to a watering place, to which we gave the name of San Ilefonso. We found it uninhabited, with only the ruins of two grass huts. We took possession of it in the name of the king, our master, and in sign thereof erected a high wooden cross. We gave this place the name of San Juan Evangelista. The missionary fathers gave religious instruction to the Indians.

May 9, 1675.-Having left the place called San Juan Evangelista and traveled toward the north about 6 leagues, across a plain with clumps of mesquite trees, we came to another watering place, in which there was tule growing. It was between high ridges, with groves of oak trees. We found it uninhabited and took royal possession of it in the name of his majesty and for said conquest, and we gave it the name of San Raymundo de Pena Fuerte, and in sign of possession erected a high wooden cross. Religious instruction was given to the

Indians by Father Dionisio San Buenaventura.

May 10, 1675.-Having left the place called San Raymundo and traveled toward the north about 3 leagues, we reached a river that ran from west to east, which our Indians said was called Agua Azul (Blue Water). There were a great many fish in this river of all kinds, and it was a very beautiful place, with many poplars, willow, mesquite, and guisache trees and plains of green grass. It was uninhabited and we took possession of it in the name of the king, our master, and in sign thereof erected a high wooden cross. We called this river Rio de San Josefa. The missionary fathers gave religious instruction to the Indians.

May 11, 1675.-Having left the place called Rio de San Josefa and traveled about 3 leagues toward the north, through a very grassy plain, with many mesquite trees, we reached a very broad, full, and swift river, its width being about 400 varas. This our Indians said was called the Rio del Norte. We found it uninhabited and deserted but for a few ranches of those Indians who construct their huts of grass; as we had traveled above the ford, our Indians determined to cross where the river was divided into three streams. It was necessary to construct rafts of wood to cross over the middle one. In crossing the first the water reached above our stirrups and almost to the covers of our saddle trees. It was 200 varas wide and a vara and a half in depth all the way through, and there were willow trees on its banks and on an island in the middle. It was very pleasing, and there were many large fish and turtles caught, to which we bear witness, having held them in our hands. We took possession in the name of the king, of said river and territory. This stream appeared to run from west to east. We gave it the name of San Buenaventura, and in sign of possession erected a high

wooden cross. Father Dionisio San Buenaventura gave religious instruction to the Indians.

May 13, 1675.-Having left the place called Rio San Buenaventura del Norte and traveled toward the north about 4 leagues, we reached a creek between some ranges of hills, where we found 54 Indian warriors of the Yoricas and Jeapes tribes, with loads of buffalo meat. We examined them through Don Augustin, the interpreter, in their language and the Spanish. Having asked them many questions, they said they had come to kill buffalo to get meat for the sustenance of their families and ranches, and having no food in their country, necessity had compelled them to come so far in search of it; that there was a great number of them, they could not say exactly how many; that they desired to become Christians and to be placed in settlements and receive religious instruction from the missionaries; that the fear they had of other tribes, who were their enemies, had prevented their going to seek them; that two of their number had been killed, those who had done this being the Ocames, Pataquakes, and Yrbipimas; and that in proof of their submission to the king, our lord, they would go with us as far as the Indian tribes of the Sierra Dacate and Yacasole, and they would send to their ranches for their people to come out to wherever our chaplain could give them religious instruction. We named this place San Gregorio Nasianseno.

May 14, 1675-We started, having with us the Indians of the Yoricas and Jeapes, already mentioned, and traveled from the place called San Gregorio Nasianseno for about three leagues toward the north. We reached a watering place in a plain without other trees than mesquite. We found it uninhabited and unpossessed. We took possession of it in the name of the king, and in sign of possession thereof erected a high wooden cross and named the place