m 



184 '^he Philippine Journal of Science wis 



1881, the municipal board was unable to borrow, even at 8 

 per cent, for reconstruction and extension.'^ 



The insular government first borrowed from the fund in 

 1786, ostensibly to buy rice. As they showed no desire to 

 repay, the city, after waiting patiently for twenty-four years, 

 at last, in 1810, demanded the money. This demand passed into 

 the hands of the tribunal cle cuentas, who put them off on the 

 ground that they were unable to estimate the original cost of 

 the rice, because they had not a sufficiently large staff to examine 

 their accounts from 1785 to 1810. Finally, a partial repay- 

 ment was made in 1811, and the rest returned in 1815, and with 

 this the municipal board had to be satisfied.^^ 



Further loans in 1805, 1806, and 1807 brought the same results. 

 On these occasions, the government tried to evade payment on 

 the ground that war was impending, and it was only the energy 

 and persistence of Gregorio Zarza Dias that prevented loss.^° 

 In 1836 a loan for the coinage of copper money was more satis- 

 factory. It was repaid monthly at 6 per cent." 



Notwithstanding their willingness to utilize the money at the 

 disposal of the city, the central government would not invest 

 their own funds for municipal purposes, and the proposal that 

 the city should be allowed to borrow 12,000 pesos to construct 

 reservoirs to assist the poor, and provide water "in case of war," 

 never passed out of the region of discussion.*^ 



The consulado in 1804 received 333 pesos to dispatch the 

 frigate Concepcion. Consequently, in 1812, they again applied 

 for 1 per cent of the Carriedo fund to send the corvette Fideli- 

 dad to Acapulco to look for the San Fernando, which was over- 

 due and was expected to bring authentic news as to the state of 

 the revolution in the South American republics. The city con- 

 sulted the law faculty of the University of Santo Tomas, and 

 on their report in favor of a grant of 200 pesos, the grant was 

 accordingly made.*^ 



"Ibid. (1881), 205. 



" In all, 5,056 cavans had been bought at a cost of 10,481 pesos, 1 tomin. 

 Liquidacion de los 10,481 pesos, 1 tomin que se destinaron al Posito para 

 la compra de arroz a fin de precaver los eventos y escasez de este grano, 

 y aliviar al publico en los casos que ocurran — 1789. Actas de Manila 

 (1810), 198-200; (1811), 152-156. 



"Ibid. (1805), 178; (1806), 144-145; (1807), 128-131, 136, 138, 139, 

 140-141. 



"Ibid. (1836), 29, 51, 60-61, 91. 



"Ibid. (1806), 85, 101. 



''Ibid. (1812), 131, 134, 154-163, 176. 



