rero holding that position in 1839-40. At the same time the mission was made nominally head town of the partido, though there was as yet no sub-prefect here; the municipal chief transferred his office also to Dolores from the presidio, where, in theory at least, it had been before; and the contra costa ranchos were cut off from the jurisdiction of San Francisco and given a juez de paz of their own. Meanwhile the town authorities granted seventeen house lots at Yerba Buena in 1836-40, and three lots at the mission in 1840.
The subject of municipal government at San Francisco in these years assumed later an importance not dreamed of at the time, from the fact that a great town grew up on the peninsula. Local authorities continued to grant lots as a matter of course down to 1846 and later, and after the American occupation the question whether lands not so granted belonged to the city or to the United States came up for settlement. This is not the place to record the litigation in its many phases, but brief mention cannot be avoided. It was finally decided, after unlimited discussion extending through many years and several adverse decisions, by the land commission, California
to build at Visitacion. Dept. Rec., MS., x. 12. May 26th, Guerrero publishes a bando of police regulations. Dept. St. Pap., Mont., MS., iv. 100. July 15th, Guerrero makes known to the prefect the desire of citizens to settle at the mission, favored by himself as also by the prefect, and Nov. 30th by the gov., who authorizes the granting of lots at the mission, 50 varas in extent, the settlers to use for their cattle the surrounding lands except S. Mateo and the coast, but not to disturb the Ind. or embarrass the administrator as long as the community exists. Id., v. 102; xvi. 24. Many other routine communications of the year from Guerrero to prefect in Id., v. 92-110. Alvarado's idea, Miscel. Hist. Pap., MS., no. 24, is that the above movement was merely a transfer of the juzgado, or municipal headquarters, from presidio to mission; and this, I think, was what was practically effected, there being no change of pueblo or thought of a new pueblo proper.
1840. Guerrero still juez de paz. Feb. 1st, accepts the continuation of appointment. Feb. 2d, writes to prefect on his proposed plan of Dolores so as to regulate the granting of lots which the gov. has authorized. He will make the church the centre, and will repair some of the ruined buildings which the vecinos have occupied for many years. He desires the administrator to give up or lend a room for a jail. Many other routine communications of the year. Dept. St. Pap., Mont., MS., v. 110-13. Lots were granted this year at Yerba Buena to Leese, J. A. Vallejo, J. B. Cooper, J. Vioget (2); and at Dolores to L. Galindo, C. Valencia, and F. Gomez.
