MF1323.1197 Reel 38_0067

California D413 J. A. Dreibelbis Red Bluff, Cal. Mar 11, '61 E

Enc. his a/cs &c for the 3d & 4th Qrs. 1860, and 1st & 2d Qrs '61, together with a/c current and vouchers for amount remitted to him, and applied to the liquidation of old claims, also an abstract of the indebtedness of the several Reserves in the Northern District

Ackd & Aud. Referd Dec 9th 1861

[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE Dec 7 1861 INDIAN BUREAU

Disposed of as Comr noted above & Special [?ty] Same transmitted to 2nd Auditor April 18/62

Red Bluff Nov 11th 1861

Sir

I have the honor to enclose to you in separate packages my account current, and abstracts of disbursements of moneys with all the vouchers and sub vouchers thereunto appertaining, as also a seperate account current with the vouchers for the amount which was remitted and which I was ordered to apply to the liquidation of old claims allowed by the department, If after an examination of the latter account you find it correct, I hope you will be pleased to give me a discharge therefrom in full

I most respectfully ask your forbearance for not having sooner, and not being able still to forward my entire settlement with the department, I have been laboring under much embarassment, In the first place the department neglected to furnish me with any money, except $500 at Washington on the day after I filed my bond, and another five $500 remitted in September to pay my traveling expenses, until the 25th of March, at which time I received a warrant for $12000 without however a word of instruction under what head to disburse it, under the circumstances I presumed it could be nothing wrong to pay it out for any legitimate demands against the Indian department in my District, I accordingly done so, and paid a small amount of debts, which I had been compelled to contract, in order to keep up the Reservations, and I also purchased a few goods to be distributed among the Indians as presents, which I had long promised them, The employees were also in a very destitude condition, indeed dissatisfaction among them, and the Indians prevailed

to such an extent, that I did not know at what moment the the Reservations might be abandoned, in which event the Government property would have been totally destroyed, For those reasons mainly I consented to pay out the money without instructions, and in order to pacify the employees who had nothing paid them for over 15 months previous, nor had the Indians anything given them during nearly the same period, there was however a letter of instructions written prior to the remittance of the warrant for the money, but by some accident was not received by me until the 30th day of September last, at which time it was handed me by Superintending Agent Wentworth, who was so kind as to endorse the reception of it by me on its back, a copy of which I beg leave to enclose herewith, secondly I have not yet got Mr Hansons receipt for all the property on the reserves, in taking the Inventories at first some was accidentally omitted, indeed he has not furnished me with duplicates for any of it, having therefore only single receipted copies, I can only forward copies of them, at this time, and may have to make the circuit of the Reservations again before I will be able to forward all the property returns, which would require several weeks as they are located far apart, and the intervening country is exceedingly mountainous and rugged without roads, and of course difficult to travel particularly at this season, I hope however to be able to arrange it with Mr Hanson without having to visit them again

You will also pleas find enclosed Abstract of the indebtedness of the several Reserves in the Northern District, and to whom due, which accrued during my term of Office, for nearly all of which the Claimants hold accounts with my certificates one account in favor of Doct Cuinan is not included in the Abstract as I could not ascertain the amount, it is for medical services rend,

on Mendocino Resv from Oct 1st 1860 to July 22nd 1861 I think & I certified to two copies but mislaid the one I retained, as soon as I can ascertain the amount I will transmit it, for my contract with him pleas see my report of 21st November 1860, there are also a few accounts not included in the abstract against the Klamath Resv which the claimants have not yet presented to me, but will also transmit them as soon as they are received and examined

I beg leave on this occasion to suggest most respectfully the necessity of paying those demands as it will be found indispensable to the Credit and well being of the Reserves and the Indians that public confidence should again be restored, in order if nothing further than to enable Mr Hanson to conduct Indian Affs creditably alike to the department and to himself, I regret to be compelled to admit that the public have lost all confidence in the Indian Department in California, and no matter, however upright and well intentioned my successor may be, he will surely encounter almost insurmountable difficulties in their future management, because of the hitherto inexcusable neglect of your immediate predecessors to furnish means to enable superintendents and agents to make legitimate and absolutely necessary expenditures and to meet payments of Just demands promptly

I have the honor to be Sir very Respectfully your Obt and humble Servt Jno A Dreibelbis late sup'g Agt Ind Affs nor Dist Cala

Hon Wm P Dole Commissioner Ind Affs Washington City D.C.