Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/31

Rh eastern extension being twice as long as the northern, and distributed among the intended settlers, with the usual reservations for public buildings. In the central part hardly any of the filled canals were reopened, but beyond the main channels were left intact, and spanned by stone bridges. Of the two squares in the Spanish quarter, by far the largest was the former central temple court, serving now also for marketplace, round which were reserved sites for church, convent, gubernatorial palace, town-hall, prison, and other public buildings. The town-hall was begun in 1528, only, and finished four years later, enlargements having speedily to be made. Private houses were erected on a scale proportionate to the means and aspirations of the owner, both large in so far as an abundance of free labor and material was concerned. The main