MF1323.1197 Reel 39_1138

California D554 Austin Wiley San Francisco, Cal June 30, '64

Submits his report rel. to public property turned over to him, condition of the crops, [illegible], Indian Reservations &c

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[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE July 23 1864 INDIAN BUREAU

Land [illegible]

Office Indian Affairs, San Francisco, Cal June 30th 1864

Sir, I arrived here on the 26th after a visit of two weeks to Round Valley and Mendocino. I reached Round Valley on the 15th inst and met Mr Steele there, as per agreement on the 18th. We proceeded to take an inventory of the property and completed it by the 20th the result of which will more fully appear when receipts for the same are forwarded to your Department. I beg to say, however, that I receipted for a great many articles which are utterly worthless, and which seems to have passed from the hands of one Superintendent to another to swell the list of property and make some showing for the disbursement of funds, which have gone through their hands. Pretty much all the farming implements and tools, besides being old and in a worn out condition, seems to have been refused goods in the first place and were disposed of to Governemnt in the absence of any other purchaser. In this list of worthless property I do not include purchases made under Mr Steele's administration, for really, although the list looks large, there

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is no personal property on the Reservation, aside from the stock, of much value except that purchased by him, and I shall expend all such as is worthless in my reports during the year. I found the crops in excellent condition with a fine prospect for an abundant yield; enough indeed, to feed all the Indians there or that may come there, for the next twelve months. My only fear is that we may not be able to save it all, but I made the best arrangements I could by purchasing lumber and employing men to build graneries to do so. I found the stock all in good condition, but the mules and horses, except a few of the latter are old and worthless. The Cattle and hogs are in good condition but much scattered. I have no knowledge as to the correctness of the number for which I receipted, but was governed, as I could only be by Mr Steele's receipt less the expenditure. It shall be my first care, when the harvest fields are cleaned to get what can be found and ascertain as nearly as possible what the Government owns.

The Indians there are all in Excellent condition and spirits. There is plenty of Corn and grain to feed the Squaws and children till the Crops are gathered. The field-hands, of which we can turn and

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about two hundred, we feed beef once a day while they are at work, giving them vegetables and corn besides. We can get along with goods we have on hand for clothing until the New York shipment arrives. I found a bad state of feeling existing between Capt Douglas, the Commanding Officer at Fort Wright, and the Officers and Employes on the Reservation. Without going into any details concerning the troubles I simply pass it by saying that I brought about amicable relations between the Military and Indian Departments in the Valley by removing the Supervisor and such of the Employes as had taken part in the ill feeling. I appointed a Young man Saul M. Farrin, temporary Special Agent for the Reserve, gave him strict instructions in writing relative to his duties and invested him with full power through Capt Douglas to have them obeyed. He is a Stranger to me and was one of Mr Steele's Employes. He is a quiet intelligent young man and I feel that I can trust him.

The Settlers there are extremely anxious concerning the intention of the Government relative to the purchase of their improvements. I informed them that I had already recommended the Department to take preliminary

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steps for the purchase of the improvements in order that Round Valley my be had for the exclusive use and benefit of the Indians. Col Henly, former Superintendent, called to see and talk with me on the subject. He is the ruling spirit among the Copperhead settlers in the Valley and, of course, knows more of the situation of the original lines than any other man; indeed I think more than he would care to tell. He talked very fair to me however, and preffered me his influence among the settlers in the purchase of their improvements. I think the purchase can be made without much trouble and on reasonable terms. In regard to Government at once taking steps to possess itself of Round Valley for Reservation purposes I have nothing to add to my letter of June 1st. Instead, however, of confining the limits of the reserve to a certain number of acres, if there is no law of Congress to interfere, I would respectfully refer the Department to the Report of Mr Steele in Report of Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1863, Page 402. Concerning metes and bounds of Reservation, in which I fully concur. Mr Steele and myself had a consultation in regard to the matter there, and this was our conclusion-

Mendocino Reserve,