Intrigued by the [2/5/1706] proposal, Philip V ordered the Cuban engineer, Bruno Caballero, to make a preliminary survey of the Apalache Bay area and to delineate a healthful, defensible site for the new capital. [Note 57: Cedula 2/17/1716] Caballero’s plans were to include a fort with walls 600 feet on a side and a town with wide straight streets— “agreeable to the eye,” adequately drained, commodious for trade, and convenient for the residents. Upon completion of his survey, the engineer was to submit his plans to the Council of the Indies for final approval. [Note 58: Memorias 2/12/1716] The question of removing the capital to Apalache remained under discussion for over ten years. Principal hindrance to quick action was the refusal of Caballero to make his survey. He first claimed that his responsibilities in Cuba were too heavy for him to spend his time making a reconnaissance of the Apalache area and suggested that another engineer be selected to lay out the site of the new town. [Note 59: Caballero to king 12/28/1726] When the king refused to name a replacement, Caballero contrived another excuse; he claimed that illness had forced him into a health spa near Havana. [Note 60: Caballero to king 9/4/1728] (Tepaske GSF)