1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 344 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to 1-4 recognize the families from the Canary Islands who played a 1-5 historic role in the founding of the Villa de San Fernando in 1-6 1731; centuries later, this small settlement has become the 1-7 City of San Antonio; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Under the direction of King Philip V of Spain, 1-9 10 families from the Canary Islands traveled to the province 1-10 of Tejas in 1731 to establish the Villa de San Fernando; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Their journey included many hardships, but the 1-12 families eventually made it to Tejas and were received by 1-13 Captain Juan Antonio de Almazan of the Presidio of Bejar; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Originally housed in the homes of soldiers, 1-15 the settlers were heartened when Viceroy Juan de Acuna, 1-16 Marquez de Casafuerte, sent detailed instructions for the 1-17 survey and distribution of lands for a new settlement; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The Law of the Council of the Indies, the Spanish 1-19 law governing Nueva Espana in 1731, allowed the 10 families to 1-20 organize their own civil government, to receive lands for home 1-21 construction and farming, to lay out a public square, to plan 2-1 streets, and to build a church and town hall; and 2-2 WHEREAS, On March 12, 1731, Captain Almazan took the heads 2-3 of families to the Arroyo, which is present-day San Pedro Creek; 2-4 he proposed a preliminary division of the lands, until a later 2-5 time when the settlers might make a more detailed allotment; he 2-6 also urged them to plant crops before June 30; and 2-7 WHEREAS, More than three months after Captain Almazan 2-8 brought the settlers to Arroyo, they had made plans for a town, 2-9 church, and public square; on July 3, 1731, the settlers 2-10 distributed lots to families who would build their homes next 2-11 to the town church and the Casa Real; a large cross was formed 2-12 at the main entrance of the town's church, and the boundaries 2-13 of the town were delineated; and 2-14 WHEREAS, On July 20, 1731, Canary Islanders established the 2-15 first civil government in their new home when Captain Almazan 2-16 appointed the members of the city council and other officers; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Texas history has been influenced by many 2-18 different cultures and peoples, and it is enlightening to know 2-19 more about those men and women who established the towns and 2-20 villages that would later become thriving, modern Texas cities; 2-21 now, therefore, be it 2-22 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-23 77th Legislature, hereby recognize the important role that 3-1 the Canary Islanders sent by King Philip V of Spain to Tejas 3-2 played in the development of the City of San Antonio; and, 3-3 be it further 3-4 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared to 3-5 inform all Texans about this interesting note in Texas history. 3-6 Van de Putte 3-7 ______________________________________ 3-8 President of the Senate 3-9 I hereby certify that the above 3-10 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-11 on February 26, 2001. 3-12 ______________________________________ 3-13 Secretary of the Senate 3-14 ______________________________________ 3-15 Member, Texas Senate