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

I herewith transmit for your inspection and judgement a list of names which I propose for the Government of the Round Valley Reservation.

You will [allow?] I propose 15 assistant [illegible] to the employees as also to establish a head [farmer?] as the [acting?] of saving five dollars per month. But this [illegible] should not add to the expense of administering the indian affairs of that Valley I have required the Supervisor Doct Wm. P. Melendy, to do the duty of Supervisor & [illegible] without [increase?] of salary. Doct Melendy is competent and [line blotted out] [line blotted out] [illegible] Reservation [illegible] with [line blotted out] Our visit to the [illegible] through the mountains and our blacksmith can as well do the [land?] of both Reservations as not. Rations are but an act of justice of the employees and by allowing it [illegible] [illegible. line blotted out] Instead of a head Capt [illegible] farmer of [illegible]

in my [illegible] of [illegible] [according?] to [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] not that of [illegible] to which a guide for [illegible] [illegible] the Reservation [and?] [not?] as [bought?] by you & [may?] [depend?] [upon?]purchases [outside?] of [illegible] [illegible] farms or lots is adopted as [illegible] [illegible] communication their [illegible] [illegible][illegible] amended to a working [illegible] for that [system?]

Very Respectfully yours Obediet Servant

California S199 E. Steele San Francisco, Cal Oct 20 '63

Enc. Regulation [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] Round Valley Reservation file Ink Stamp [Mr. Commr?]

Office Indian Affairs, Northern District, California San Francisco Oct 30th 1863

Sir I herewith transmit copy of a letter received by me from my predecessor Hanson on my return from a tour of the Reservation.

I have received none of the goods referred to neither do I find any invoices in my office by which I can judge of the amount sold.

I have written to the [illegible] Supervisors for information as to the kind & amount sent to them for restitution. As soon as an answer is received I will advise the department.

As per the subject of the horses & buggy I have taken the advice of U. S. Dist Attorney and he instruct not to pay charges & take the payments - if they are held by any one, other than Hanson.

For that response I shall immediately [Mo Ca Th?] Yuba City -

Your Obedient Servant E Steele Supt Agt Indian Affairs N. D. Cal

To Hon Wm P Dole Comissioner of Indian Affairs Washington D. C.

OFFICE INDIAN AFFAIRS, NORTHERN DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA.

San Francisco Oct 20 1863

Sir, I would respectfully suggest as an improvement in the conduct of indian affairs in my district that all of the indians who desire it or can be induced to cultivate and take care of the same have allocated to each family a small piece of ground to be marked and recognised as devoted to their own use. And that a small adobe house be constructed for each on his separate premises

This could require at present an erection of about Sixty adobes and more as more indians should come into the Reservation

The expense of this plan would not exceed two thousand dollars $2000.00 And from the time of taking possession of their home, I should consider each family self sustaining. I would require each of the families or the able bodied members thereof to work on the Govt farm a given number of days or pay a rental of his place in order to raise sustenance for the old infirm sick & needy and towards defraying the expenses of the Reservation

Herewith please find copy of a letter addressed by me to Mr Lacock & his reply thereto. Mr Lacock has been much engaged in the construction of that kind of tenement. I consider [these?] [letters?] [illegible] [illegible] for Indian use.

If the improvement of the status of Round

California S307 E. Steele San Francisco, Cal Nov 2, '63

Enc. copy of letter from Genl. Wright in answer to [note?] from him forwarded with his report of the [illegible] rel. to military aid &c

[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE NOV 28 1863 INDIAN BUREAU

Special Commr

OFFICE INDIAN AFFAIRS, NORTHERN DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA. San Francisco, November 2 1863

Sir

Herewith please find answer of Genl Wright to communication copy of which was forwarded with report of 31st ult

The Genl will not cover the whole ground in his instructions to his [illegible] but I presume when I see him the whole subject will be arranged satisfactorily He is in fact at Sacramento although his correspondence states at this place.

If all applications by the Supervisor for military aid as against hostile Indians or obtruders [while?] the Reservation would be helpless as a months time at least would be consumed before messages could pass [illegible] there being no post office nearer than 25 or 30 miles and a high mountain & rapid streams intervening - The Commander at Fort Wright refuses to the employees of the Reservation the military express which runs regularly to open the post office consequently they will have to depend upon chance for their mail matters or I shall have to establish an express for the especial benefit of the Reservation, this would be rather expensive and should be avoided if possible. The Military express did for a while bring the mail matters to the Reservation for which the Supervisor paid the client but under order from Capt Douglas without notice of intention it was stopped

Very Respectfully Your Obedent Servant E. Steele Supt Agt Indian Affs N. D. Cal

To Hon Wm. P. Dole Commissioner Washington DC

should be fixed at one thousand dollars I have the sale of both interests now.

As today our plan awaiting an appropria=tion I must claim four hundred dollars instead of three hundred. I am anxious to sell [illegible] that the indians should be removed from the valley or the whole value devoted to their use and the settlers removed - The drafts have not been paid -

Law Battaile

Copy The United States To L Battaile admr G. Brown Dec Dy

Date Aug 21 1863 To 50 head wild cattle delivered age from one to ten years 333.33 To 20 head cows (some 10 head with calves) 213.13 To 300 bushels wheat & 100 bs. barley

On undivided half of the Rose & Beans farm in Williams Valley consisting of some 8000 rails enclosing some 50 acres of ploughed land together with barn drilling & other improvements belonging thereto 700.00 1246.46

Round at Round Valley August 21 1863 of George M Hanson Superintending Agent Northern District of California Twelve Hundred Forty six 66/100 Dollars $1246.46/100 L Battaile Admr G Brown Dec

I certify that the above named amount is correct and just and that I have actually this day of 186 paid the amount thereof

No. 39 Round Valley Aug 21th 1863 Assistant Treasurer of the U. S. San Francisco

Pay to L Battaile Admr G. Brown or have Eight Hundred & Ninety Six 46/100 Dollars $896.46/100 Geo M Hanson Supt Agt Ind Aff &c

Copy The United States To Lawrence Battaile [Dy?]

Date Augst 21st 1863 To plowing 30 acres of land at farms in William's Valley 90.00 To moving 2500 rails & enclosing 30 acres land at $50 per thousand 125.00 To 16 [illegible] horse 18 & 20 feet 60.00 To moving smoke game & Philly horse 25.00 $300.00

[illegible] at Round Valley August 21st 1863 of George M Hanson Sperintending Agent Northern District of California Three hundred Dollares in full of this account. $300.00/100 Lawrence Battaile

I certify that the above amount is correct & just and that I have actually this day of 186 paid the amount there of

No. 41 Round Valley Cal Aug 21st 1863 Assistant Treasurer of the U. S. Pay to Lawrence Battaile or bearer Three Hundred Dollars $300.00

Geo M. Hanson Supty Agt &c