MF1323.1197 Reel 39_0685

California W223 J. P. H. Wentworth San Francisco, Cal Sept 1, '63

Reply to office letter of July 30, last, rel. to his employees and and the amount paid to each of them

Recd, Sept 25, '63 Ansc. Oct. 5, 1863.

Pay

Office Indian Affairs, Southern Dist. of Cala., Sept. 1st 1863.

Hon. Wm P. Dole, Commissioner Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C., -

Sir:-

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of department letter under date of July 30th, 1863, wherein attention is called to the number of employee's and the am't paid to each of them, in this district of the Indian Service of California. In answer, I would respectfully state - that by [illegible] of Congress, I am entitled to three Super= =visors, @ $1800 per annum, and twelve laborers, @ $600 per annum. I have never, since my induction to the office of Supt'g Agent, averaged over one half the number to which I was en= =titled; nor have I paid to any employé over $600 per annum; and out of which low wages Gov't oblige them to find their own re= =trieve. At this low price for farm=

=ing hands, it has been exceedingly difficult for me to obtain good, [illegible] men, as they would obtain better wages elsewhere. And when I do find a man willing to work for the said price, he is, [illegible], not first-class, as a far= =mer, owing to the wages being less than the usual rates, paid for like service in the state.

Your letter further states - "that by your books, it appearas that you " " have now, under pay, five hands at " "Tejon Reserve, @ $600 per annum: one " " at Tule River Farm, @ $600, one at Colorado " " Desert, @ $600. Two at Fresno Reserve " " of which one is at King's River Farm)@ " " $900. One at Sebastian Reserve - farmer - " " @ $1020. And one at ditto - [illegible] ( at Tule " " River) @ $900 per annum."

In answer I would say - that my last bit of employés received by the department, for the quarter ending March 31st 1863, I have five laborers employed on the Tejon Re= =serve during said quarter, one of

whom resigned on the 31st of January, and one on the 31st of March. Two laborers on the Tule River Farm, one of whom resigned on the 15th of January. Two laborers in the Colorado dis= =trict - none at Fresno. No farmer @ $1020 per annum, at Sebastian Reserve; and no overseer at Tule River Farm. And, fur= =thermore, no employés have ever received more than $600 per annum, the amount allowed by Congress.

I have the honor to be very respectfully your ob't serv't, Jno. P. H. Wentworth, Supt. Agent.