Letters of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1849-1880, California Superintendency

The United States

Date 1861 To Joel Lewis Dr Dolls Cts Jany 1st For services rendered on Nome Cult Indian Reservation as Laborer from date to July 29th to [illegible] and 29 days & 50$ pr mo 348 331/3

I certify on honor that the services above charged have been rendered [illegible] [illegible] and great advantage to the services, and that the account is just and correct, and should be paid without delay

Nome Cult Ind. Resv, July 29th 1861 Jno. A. Dreibelbis late Suptg Agt Ind. Affs Nor. Dist. Cala.

[name] Indians

Please forward my funds away Owens River Indians at [name] suffering for food

[Ins.?] R A [Weutwarth?]

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

Estimate for annuity goods for the Southern District of California, viz,

Blankets 3 1/2 & 3 paint, scarlet & green $10.000 Hickory Shirts 2.500 Woolen Shirts 1.500 Pants (thick) 1.000 Coats (thick, a few thin) 2.250 Hats (slouched, soft felt) 1.500 Shoes 3/4th mens 1/4th womens 1.500 Flannel 400 Blue Drill 250 Satinetts 300 Duck ([G??] Cotton) 350 Domestic Sheetings 350 Cottonades 150 Tickings 350 Calico's 1.000 Checks, Stripes & Plaids 1.000 Hkfs assorted .125 Shawl 3/4 wool & cotton & Blanket wool .250 Needles assorted 40 Spool cotton 30 Cotton Thread 30 Linen Thread 40 Buttons (agate & Bone) 25 Scisors & Thimbels 60 $25.000

Jno. P.H. Wentworth, Supt. Agent.

Office Indian Affairs Southern Dist Cala San Fo, Nov 16th 1863

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

Sir:

Enclosed please receive the following certificates, viz: one from disinterested parties in reference to John Goller & Co's vou No 68. 3d. Qr 1862. One in relation to T.D. Mott & Co's voucher No 10, 3d Qr 1862 - this is the 2d certificate forwarded to the department referring to the same vouchers, - one certificate referring to Towne & Parsons voucher, No 32, 3d Qr 1862 - with voucher for [illegible] corrected

With reference to voucher No 66, T.D. Mott & Co, "For boarding, directing & owing two travelling horses belonging to the Indian Dept. and used for the Supt agents travelling ambulances," - In your remarks, as pr memo forwarded to this office, you state that this charge is considered too indefinite and desire an explanation, In answer, I would say that these horses wre left at the stable of Mess Mott & Co to recuperate and receive

proper care after considerable hard travel on [illegible] connected with this Dept, these being at the time a [illegible] among horses which had proved fatal to many vulnerable animals both in that vicinity as well as at San Fo, [illegible] the circumstances I considered it best to leave them where I know they would be properly attended to, - I send new vouchers of Ths P. Madden No's 17, 18, 19 & 20 corrected, and in explanation of the [illegible] being paid in advance, I would say that unless the payment was thus made, (which was absolutely necessary in order to harvest the crop already planted,) I was obliged to quit the premises, as Mr Madden could receive the rent from another tenant in advance, - the custom & will in California being almost to pay rent at least one month in advance, - Trusting this explanation may prove satisfactory, -

I have the honor to remain Very Respectfully Yout Obt Servt Jno. P. H. Wentworth Supt Agt S.D. Cala

REPORT OF EMPLOYES IN [illegible] Agency for the Third Quarter, 1863. NAMES OF EMPLOYES. OFFICE. PLACE FROM WHENCE APPOINTED. PLACE WHERE BORN [illegible] [illegible] WHERE EMPLOYED TRIBES FOR WHICH EMPLOYED. COMPENSATION. REMARKS. Thos. Buschulte Supervisor San Francisco, Germany Tejon Reserve $1800 " Wm. Pixley Do Do New York Colorado Dist 1800 " Alexr Godey Do Los Angeles [illegible] transfered Tule River Dist 1800 " [illegible] Employe San Francisco, [illegible] [illegible] Colorado Dist 600" [illegible] [illegible] Do San Francisco, [illegible] Do 600" [G?] L. Hoffman Do Los Angeles New York Tule River & Tejon 600" M. Wentworth Do San Francisco, Penn's Tejon Reserve 600" [illegible] H. Whitney Do Los Angeles New York Do 600" A. Boschulte Porter San Francisco Ireland San Fo 120" H. F. W. Hoffman Clerk Do Mass't Do 1500"

San Francisco, sept 30th 1863

I certify, on honor, the foregoing to be [illegible] in the Indian Dist Cala Southern Agency Jno. P. H. Wentworth Superintending Agent

Eureka [H.?] Bay California November 21st 1863,

To the Commissioner of Indian Affairs Washington -

Sir I am instructed by the Indian Agent here to forward you the enclosed voucher. I presented same to him for payment, but he said I had to forward same to you, the person who signs & transmits said voucher to me. (W.S. West) I paid him nearly a year ago. I thought it poorly [illegible] to have all this trouble, however. I hope you will attend to it, the amt is small, but it is still worth looking for,

by giving attention to the above you will much oblige Your Obt Servant Thomas Walsh Merchant

George W Bowen Adm. to W. P. E. Whiting [illegible] 29th 1862