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OFFICE INDIAN AFFAIRS, NORTHERN DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA San Francisco, Nov 3d 1863
Sir
I herewith forward copy of a paper sent me by Mr Battaile.
The cattle [illegible] as [illegible] are in fact taken The cattle are at a low [illegible] and are [illegible] The case of [illegible] with Mr. Hanson & Battaile returned at the net of sixty cents pr head per month until they are paid for. The cattle are much better to my judgement than there [de??] [illegible] The draft has not been honored. There are many drafts of Mr. [illegible] out [illegible] which parties claim they have given him [illegible]. This fact [illegible] the administration of my offie quite embarassing as by the regulations of the Treasury department my check has to be made passable to the [illegible] to whom the money is to be [de?] & cannot be drawn in my own name. Parties did not give rights to take drafts on the Assistant Treasurer as they have already suffered that way. I cannot give draft & claim the receipt after the draft is paid. Consequently I am obliged to borrow to make my paymentsin my own name & then check to "A. B" or Brown & at the money be drawn to pay my loan. This is a tax upon my [illegible] very inconvenient. I [illegible] that some instructions may be issued so that I can [illegible] in my own
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name and take the necessary money [illegible] with me to meet the [illegible] of this District as I do not wish to contract a debt [illegible] the term I very [illegible] the office.
Employees have another serious objection to taking drafts as they are obliged to pay from two to five per [illegible] to get them collected & many [illegible] expenses
Very Respectuflly Your Obedient Servant E. Steele Superintending Agt Indian Affairs N. D. Cal
To Hon. Wm. P. Dole Commissioner Washington D. C.
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Round Valley Oct 10th 1863
To E Steele Esq Superintending Agt Northern Dist Cal.
Sir On the 21st August last I made sale & contract with your predecesser Hanson as represented by enclosed copy's, Vouchers & Treasury drafts, the cattle now marked [illegible] but in fact were turned into the pasture of White & Gibson at fifty cents per month per head to await the payment of the Treasury drafts, the cattle an half broods here are tame & docile, [illegible] the band of fifty, more [entend?] at 20 cows now a part of these steers - The cows are of good quality some first rate, the wheat & barley are yet in my possession, awaiting the payment of the draft. The land & improvements are also in my possession, if the sale of the improvements should not be affirmed by the department the wheat was to be at the rate of one & a half cents per pound in coin. & barley at same rate. The sale of all this property was fixed at coin prices and twenty in the cent added in the vouchers & draft to cover the losses in legal tender notes The improvement are maintained at quite an expense and if the sale depends upon a [spend?] appropriation the whole of the plan
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should be fixed at one thousand dollars I have the sale of both interests now.
As today our plan awaiting an appropria=tion I must claim four hundred dollars instead of three hundred. I am [illegible] to sell [illegible] that the indians should be removed from the valley or the whole value devoted to their use and the settlers removed - The drafts have not been paid -
Law Battaile
/LACounty Library
