Summary: Agreement between Austin and Horatio Chriesman for surveying.
This agreement entered into at the Town of San Felipe de Austin
in the province of Texas between Stephen F Austin Empresario for
the settlement of three hundred families in this province and Horatio
Chriesman surveyor, is To Witness—That said Chriesman agrees to
survey such Tracts of Land in this Colony as he may be directed to
Survey by sd Austin and the Commissioner of the Government in
the form and manner which they may direct using the Mexican Vara
as the standard for regulating their chains and running by the true
meridian after Calculating the Variation of the compass—and the
said Chriesman agrees to execute his work accurately and in a good
and workman like manner and to complete it as speedily as possible
establishing Corners with bearing true at each principal corner of a
survey with the initials of the Owners names marked on the bearing
Trees where the Owner is known or erecting sufficient mounds of
Earth in Prairie at least Three feet high and marking every line
not bounded by a River or Creek which runs through Timber so that
it can be easily Traced and followed and finally To make out correct
returns and plots of Each survey To sd Austin on completion of the
work in the manner above stated the sd Chriesman shall be entitled
to demand and receive from each settler pay for surveying their
lands at the rate of five dollars pr Spanish mile payable in property
or three dollars pr mile payable in Cash to be paid by the settler and
for which payment the said Austin is not to be in any manner
accountable or responsible more than to refuse to deliver the titles to
any settler until he brings a certificate from the surveyor or stating
that the surveying fees of his land were paid or settled For the
faithful complyance of all which the sd Chriesman Obligates himself
under the penalty of being liable for any damages which may arise
from a non or incorrect Compliance with this Contract