MF1323.1197 Reel 39_0837

California H 586. G.M. Hanson Yuba City, Cal. Jan 2, '64

Enc. letter from Sup. Agt. Steele to W.E. Hamblin rel. to pay ment for the cattle furnished by him, and urges that settle ment be made by Steele

Yuba City Cal. Jan 2nd 1864

Hon. Wm P. Dole Coms &c Sir, Mr. Hamblen, who furnished the Govmt. over 460 head of tame american cattle, on the contract I made with him or 800 head (to be deliv ered at the reservation in Aug last-) has just handed me a letter ^from Agt Steele which by his leave I herewith enclose to you, and from which you will see there is but little prospect of my being relieved from the embarrassed condition in which I am placed between the Govmt. & the contractor; As I before informed you, as soon as I received your letter. Stating, that you had instructed Mr. Steele to enquire in to the matter - pay Mr. Hamblen &cI immediately, (with Mr Hamblen, consent) had the goods all reshipped to this place, & they are now on their way, to be turned over to Mr. Steele, and so I informed him also -. Part of the goods were disposed of to pay freight - which I will either replace or you can deduct from my a/c against Govmt.

I regret exceedingly that Mr. Steele had not ^at first been thus instructed -, as matters now stand, I will have to loose [lose] all the expences [expenses] incured [incurred] by Mr. Hamblen in the transportation and return of those goods, which will per haps exceed one thousand dollaras - and now if Mr. Hamblen does not get his money until several other commu nication have to pass a distance of some 3,000 miles to-and from Cal. to Washington & from Washington to Cal. I will still be held liable and kept em barrassed on that account -, and no one can tell when the account will be paid. This money was appropriated for "beef and milch cows" for the reservations; and I have acted as you will discover by the notice in the Sac. Union for the best I possibly could, in behalf of the Indian Service, in procureing tame american milch cows and beef cattle, at the lowest possible prices & over 100 calves with the cows gratis. These cattle were driven by Mr. ham blen about 100 miles through the mountain and delivered weighed and branded at an expence [expense] in all of over $500 besides looseing [losing] over 50 head on the way, and then I was to have paid him down in currency

which at that time was worth 84 cts on the dollar, & now it is only worth 69 " I have named all this in detail that you may see how such disappointments inquire the service here. True I had no special orders to make this or any other purchase, nor was I ever instructed to the reverse, hence I always done for the best. And now if you will give instructions to Mr. Steele to pay it immediately, before the money is otherwise appropriated, it will at once releive [relieve] me from the embarrassed condition I occupy, and save Mr. Hamblen from bankruptsy [bankruptcy]. If my successor will now carry out my plans at Round Valley, he will have one Milch cow with a calf for every Indian family, which will be fully half a support for them. Wild cattle can be obtained some cheaper but never will answer for dairy pur poses - I beg leave to refer you to the certificates & Receipts in hand of the Hon. C. Cole which was sent to him to present to you, which will doubtless satisfy you in regard to the justice of the claim. Hoping soon to hear of the order for the settlement of the cattle I am very truly r - obt servt. G.M. Hanson Late Sup[q?] Agt -[illegible]

[illegible] Dec 25 1863

L.E. Hamblin Esq Sir, I am [illegible] in no [illegible] yours iof 19th inst as also [illegible] Mr Hansen relation to the payment of cattle sent to Round Valley. I am not advised by the commissioner as supposed by yourself & Mr Hansen I should I [be?] so [dented?] should await the action of the commissioner in the matter of the indian goods after they are advised of the dispenstion [dispension] made of them Very Resp Yours

E Steele [illegible]