MF1323.1197 Reel 39_1138

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We arrived at the Upper or Bedahto on the 22? Here we found Mr Whipple in charge, the Indians well satisfied and enough to eat. The Crop there is by no means promising, the vegetables having died out for want of rain, and the grain looking sickly. However, I trust there will be enough to last as long as the Department will need it for Reservation purposes. I re-appointed Mr Whipple and placed him in charge. At the Bald Hill Station we found a few Indians-say 30-with Mr. Stebbens and family in charge. No change was made there. The Indians are well satisfied and have good treatment and enough to eat.

At the "Old Head quarters" at the mouth of the Royo, I found things in a somewhat dilapidated condition. Nearly all the houses were occupied-some by former Employes, some by butchers, and some by Whites and Indians promiscuously. Here was located the physician for the Reservation, Dr Coxhead. He was convenient to the calls of Mill-men and others down the Coast, but not in a good place for the Indians on the Reservation. As there is little or no sickness there I discharged the Doctor and directed Mr Whipple to box up the Medicines and move them to the

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Upper Station, administering the Medicine himself when they needed it. I further directed Mr Whipple to lease the place, Lower head quarters, to some one man who would take care of the property, and give him possession of it. The Indians that were idling about there I instructed him to move to the Upper Station, and put them to work, and see that they remained there. On this Reservation, as at Round Valley, the character of personal property is poor indeed; in fact almost entirely exhausted. The farming implements are not worth putting in a report at all. Mr Whipple assures me that he would not have been able to get the crop in last Spring had he not used his own and borrowed teams and plows. He has nothing whatever to harvest with but I will send up some Sickles, Cradles, and rakes in time to save the Crops. So that you may form an idea of the value of the personal property there, which looks so well on paper, I will say that I do not believe $1500.00 could be realized today for Every head of stock and every peice of personal property on the Reservation. I trust therefore, that the Department will loose no time in

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ordering such portions of this reservation surveyed as will be likely to find purchasers, much of the land being entirely worthless. The Bedahto, or Upper Station, the Bald hill Station and Lower head quarters being all that a Market could be found for at present. These three stations embrace, perhaps, 1500 acres of land which might be sold. The Noyo Mill, the property of Mr A.W. Macpherson, a gentleman of this City, is also upon the reserve. For a few acres embracing the Mill property, Mr Macpherson would pay a handsome price, and, if not inconsistent with law, I would suggest that such a survey be made, and have the land appraised by disinterested parties and sold to him. I offer this simply as a suggestion, as the Department is doubtless aware that he was permitted to build the Mill there under the Superintendence of Col Henly, and it seems now that it would be unjust to place the property in a new competition between him and other parties by the sale of the land on which it stands.

Genl Wright informs me that the hostility in Humboldt, Klamath and Trinity Counties may now be considered virutually closed.

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In addition to the 500 prisoners which he now holds at Humboldt Bay, the Commanding Officer informs him that pretty much all the Indians, including the hostile ones, are ready to surrender. He fully agrees with me in regard to the necessity of placing them somewhere south of San Francisco, and suggests Catalina Island as the proper place. He will hold and feed them until the department is heard from, in answer to my request in the premises.

The financial Department of the Institution under my charge is somewhat unsettled. Mr Wentworth went out in debt. Mr Steele has a little money buy does not feel authorized to turn it over to me. I know nothing of the appropriation, nor when any of it will be along. I have had no directions how to proceed or to remidy such a state of affairs. Some things for the safety of the Crops and good of the service I have been compelled to buy. I have been using my own monety to meet emergencies, defray travelling expenses of self and Agents until I find the "demand more than equal to the supply". But I will never importune the Government for Money. I shall endeavor to

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render a faithful account of what is appropriated, and not run the Department in debt. I would as soon occupy a birth in Libby Prison as be dogged the way Henly and Hanson are for old debts; and in this connection I beg of the Department not to make it my duty to settle or pay any old accounts under former Superintendents. Mr. Steele is an Excellent man for such business and should be retained and charged with that responsibility.

Your letter of May 26, with instructions concerning clothing to be shipped is received and will be attended to.

Also, letter of May 23 concerning Annual Reports, which will be strictly adhered to.

Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt Austin Wiley Supt Ind Affairs, Cal.a