MF1323.1197 Reel 39_1123

California W520 Austin Wiley San Francisco, Cal. Jun 1, '64

Submits report to reference to transactions [illegible] of the [illegible] [illegible]

Rec'd July 9th 1864 Copied

Office Sup't Ind. Affs. San Francisco Cal. June 1.'64

Sir

I notified you on the 27th that I had filed my bond and entered upon the discharge of my duties. I also notified you that I had appointed a temporary special Agent for that portion of the State formerly known as the Sourthern District. In view of the fact that the property in the Southern District is many different places and Government has no land there that may be called her own, I have directed the Special Agent to collect the property together and move it on the Tule River Farm which I find has been leased by Mr Wentworth for a term of two years, commencing in July '63. I have also directed him to collect as many of the Indians from the vicinity of Fort Tejon and from Tyon farm as practicable and take them to the Tule River farm which appears to be the only place in the District where any thing is being raised for their subsistence, and the only place where they can live in peace. He is further instructed not to allow the indians to suffer for foods so long as

there is any thing at his command to feed them with. The mules and horses in that department, he is instructed to drive to Round Valley if, in his judgment, the effects of the drouth will endanger their lives during the season. At Round Valley the feed is splendid, and they can be sent South again next winter after the rains commence in time to put in crops. Besides, it will cost nothing to Keep them at Round Vallely. With the aid of the crop at the Tule River farm and the recent rains in the extreme Southern part of the State, I have reason to hope that the indians there will not suffer much this season; or, at least until such time as I can visit them and see to their wants in person. I am induced to the belief that there is no immediate danger of starvation among them from a letter received by Col Curtis, Comig Southern Military District, date of 22d ult. in which he says: 'the Yumas' and other lands along the Colorado river are as badly off as any of the indians, and recent advices from that country state that the crop of mesquit, which is their principal reliance, will be large this year." Col Curtis is well posted in matters pertaining to the Southern

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Indians. He also informs me that pretty much all the Owen's River Indians which were moved to the Tejon Reservation two years since have left and returned to their old haunts. What few are left I will cause to be moved to the Tule River farm It is much to be regretted that Government could not have held possession of the Tejon Rancho, for Reservation purposes. It was originally the peaceable abode of many indians and having been taken possession of by the Department for a Reservation, and having an immense amount of Government money expended upon it in that capacity, it is certainly a hardship, not to use a [illegible] term, that the indians should be driven from it to seek new abodes upon rented farms contiguous to white settlements, and their fine pasture lands and fields given over to the herds and labours of he who expended the Government money in improving the lands for the astensible benefit of the Indians. I refer to E. F Beale, who holds possession of the entire ranch under Government patent. There is some little Government property on the ranch yet which Mr Beale is modest enough to admit belongs to the Indian Department. In charge of this Mr Wentworth has a Supervisor and employe. I have

directed all the property to be moved off and both the men to be discharged. I am well convinced that if such a thing be possible, Government should own the Tejon Ranch, There would be no difficulty in collecting all the interior Indians in that section of the State and subsisting them there. But as I am directed to have economy in view in selecting Reservations, I can make no Suggestions further than this until I have visited that section, which will be as soon as I return from a trip north, which perhaps in the course of two weeks.

Matters in the north, both on the Reservations and off of them, with the exception of the districts where the indians are hostile, are in better condition. This has been a fruitful season for the indians there – clover, fish and roots being abundant. Besides these are good crops at Round Valley and Mendocino, which will go far towards subsisting them next winter. I was up that way some weeks since and thought things looked well. I will however, give you further details when I have made an official visit and received the property.

Before making an official, visit to Round Valley I may as well inform