MF1323.1197 Reel 39_0534

California L200 E. Steele San Francisco, Cal Oct 30, '63

Enc. copy of late Sub. Agt. Hanson's letter to him rel. to Indian Goods turned over to the Contractor for the delivery of Cattle in payment for the same and horses & Buggy be longing to the Indian Service &c

Ansd Nov 30th 1863

[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE NOV 25 1863 INDIAN BUREAU

Mr. Comm

Office Indian Affairs, Northern District, California San Francisco Oct 30th 1863

Sir I herewith transmit copy of a letter received by me from my predecessor Hanson on my return from a tour of the Reservation.

I have received none of the goods referred to neither do I find any invoices in my office by which I can judge of the amount sold. I have written to the [illegible] [illegible] for information as to the kind & amount sent to them for restitution. As soon as an answer is received I will advise the department.

As per the subject of the horses & buggy I have taken the advice of U. S. Dist Attorney and he instruct not to pay charges & take the payments - if they are held by any one, other than [illegible].

For that [illegible] I shall immediately [illegible] Yuba City -

Your Obedient Servant E Steele Supt Agt Indian Affairs N. D. Cal

To Hon Wm P Dole Comissioner of Indian Affairs Washington D.C.

Copy of letter from Geo M Hanson To E Steele Oct 13th 1863 Recd Oct 24th

"Yuba City Oct 13th 1863"

"Hon E Steele"

"Sir" "I deem it my duty to inform you as I have the commissioner at Washington met owing to the new arrival of funds to pay down on contract for cattle #220 of which were delivered in Round Valley Aug last, I give my check for the Sum (they came to (over $4200) in anticipation of the arrival of the money at an early day. Mr. Hamblin (the contractor) promising to withhold the check until I would inform him of the arrival of the money. Mr. H then in exchange for the check exec-uted Vouchers to me for the same which I accounted in my monthly returns of August. And was then personally held to him for that much money & not having it to pay him, he offered to take at cost the bal of the indian goods which I shipped to this place for the indians collecting in Butte & then I had there. So I let him have them on account as far as they go and am held to the Govmt on my bonds for the same, the entire amt purchased was $14300 which I had ordered, What are not shown in the Issue at Smiths River, Round Valley & Mendocino or turned over to you I will be charged with of course I was compelled on honor to do at least this much for Mr. Hamblen or he would have been ruined as he was indebted for some of the cattle he had purchased

Several other vouchers were taken in same way by me in exchange for checks to be presented after the arrival of the money anticipated (which has come to you) amounting in all to about $9500 which shows plainly in my last quarterly a/c currant with U. S. sent to Washington and among there were vouchers from Bryson & Milendy Supervisors $900 each & some 6 or 7 laborers amounting to over $1200 more. Mr. Bryson & others at Smiths River withheld theirs from a former deposit in order to use the money for buying horses for Smiths Run River & now God only knows when they will get their money - I had no other alternative than to do as I have done. I was bound to have cattle in Round Valley before the rains set in & the indians in that Valley eat 4 times as much beef as all the others together (over)

2 "I fully notified the department of these purchases to the time of delivery & payment by sending them the copy of contract time of payment delivery of cattle vs to the two bids only, which I had accepted (Hamblin for R Valley) & Mr. Frame for Smith River. Mr. Gibs for Mendocino So high I did not accept & intended sending part of Hamblins to Men'

On 30th Sep Hamblin delivered 245 head more at R Valley & has only Recd of Dr. Mclendy as Supervisor for them. That claim will have to be settled in Washington I suppose

Mr. Hamblin wishes to know if you will receipt to him for the bal of the cattle when he takes them over & recommend the payment at Washington. If you will do so and also with Mr. Frame at Smith River the same closes all my cattle contracts - 335 head yet due from Hamblin & from one to two from Mr Frame of Mr Bryson has closed the contract as I directed him - I have 3 horses & a buggy on hand yet belonging to U. S. Subject to charges of over $200 in currency for funding & repairs - Two of the horses not paid for in like manner to the first lot of cattle.

Hamblin has sent the goods to Wash or thinks he can sell them for cost and carriage.

Please let me hear from you and after I fear you will have trouble with the military

"Yr Obt Sevt" G. M. Hanson" late "Supts Agt."

The above is a correct copy of a letter received by me Oct 24th 1863 from Geo M Hanson late Superintending agent of Indian Affairs for Northern District of California. E Steele Supt Agt N.D. Cal Indian Affairs.