The Evening News. October 3, 1916.

11. Making a Living In the Pueblo. Part I.

If you had come to San Jose from Spain and 1777, how would you have made a living? There was only a little group of houses with tule roofs back of where the Hotel Vendome now stands. There was no irrigation system, no roads. It was a hard struggle for the colonists, but this was how they managed.

Each colonist was given by the government a lot for building a house, as well as free wood. Rather ironically was added "free water." Certainly the colonists had plenty of water. For five years a colonist paid no taxes. The Spanish government provided him with seed, implements and live stock, all of which had to be paid for within five years from the produce of the land. The first two years each colonist received payment from the government of $116.50 annually. The next three years this was reduced to $60.00. Payment of the subsidy was made in clothing and other necessities.

Everyone worked, but wages were not high. When the colonists needed workman they went out and threw a riata over an Indian's head and dragged him into the Pueblo. Of course, catching an Indian, and making an Indian work were two entirely different matters. After an Indian was flogged into industrial efficiency he was given 25 cents for a day's work to be divided between extra food and clothing or blankets. The most energetic Indians sometimes were paid one-third of the produce for their labor.

Some of the public buildings in Monterey were built by a hundred San Jose Indians who were escorted to Monterey by a "boss." The Indians worked very obediently in Monterey. They did not revolt because they "liked the sea bathing." The Indians were the first Californians too appreciate Monterey as a summer resort.

Often the white people felt that the Indians received more than their share. The governor at Monterey, for example, earned but $4000 a year. The officers received so little that their wives had to take in washing to keep up appearances. A common soldier was paid little more than a hundred dollars a year.

The Governor had great difficulty in making the Pueblo colonists industrious. The colonist, too, had his trials. He was obliged to sell his produce exclusively to the Presidio at a price fixed by the government. Even his time was not his own. He was compelled to keep himself and horses in readiness for military services. Besides, he was obliged to work on roads, ditches and public buildings for nothing.

A colonist who failed to cultivate his land lost the improvements as well as the land. In 1796 sheep-raising was introduced in San Jose. Each colonist was compelled to keep three sheep for every one of the larger cattle. However, they were allowed to have only fifty large cattle. Strong governments in those days did not permit their power to be threatened by tyrannical private monopolies.

(To be Continued)

Transcribed by Claire Martin, for the Santa Clara Co. CAGenWeb Project. 2007.

Return to When San Jose Was Young Index.