. The Southern States. ers where Bowie fell and whereCrockett fought his last fight for libertyand independence. Soon after the arrival of the colonistswho laid ofi^ the Plaza of the Constitutionand erected the old San Fernandochurch, already alluded to, the greatfertility of the land along the San Anto-nio river and its susceptibility to irriga-tion, together with the rumors of richsilver mines at no great distance in theinterior, growing out of information de-rived from the Indians, began to attractattention and settlers poured into thecountry, so that it became necessary toestablish other m
. The Southern States. ers where Bowie fell and whereCrockett fought his last fight for libertyand independence. Soon after the arrival of the colonistswho laid ofi^ the Plaza of the Constitutionand erected the old San Fernandochurch, already alluded to, the greatfertility of the land along the San Anto-nio river and its susceptibility to irriga-tion, together with the rumors of richsilver mines at no great distance in theinterior, growing out of information de-rived from the Indians, began to attractattention and settlers poured into thecountry, so that it became necessary toestablish other missions and presidios asa protection to these settlers in the culti-vation of the land in vegetables andcereals for the support of the rapidly in-creasing population. Accordingly, prep-arations were made for the erection ofthe Mission San Jose de Aguayo, pro-jected some years prior during the offi-cial term of a governor of Texas of thatname, but not then built on account of THE OLD SPANISH MISSIONS OF SAN ANTONIO. 581. THE ALAMO. the hostility of the Indians and the diffi-culty in procuring the necessary garri-son, because of the great need Spainthen had for her military forces in otherquarters. This was designed to be, andwas in reality, the most elegant and beau-tiful of all the Texas missions. Cele-brated architects were sent over fromSpain, and years were spent in carvingthe statuary and elaborate ornamentalworks upon the building. This orna-mentation is only imperfectly shown inthe engraving, as the photograph wasmade after the building was in ruins anddespoiled of much of its pristine eleganceand beauty. This building was not com-pleted until 1771, and should be in amuch better state of preservation, butneglect, aided by the corrosive touch oftime and the hands of vandals, has de-spoiled it of its exterior beauties by de-facing the statue of the Virgin Motherand Child and other figures that adornedand graced its beautiful front. Yet inviewing it, those beautiful lines of
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubj, booksubjectagriculture
