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

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

Enc. Regulation [illegible]

file

[Mr. Commr?]

I herewith transmit [proposal?] [illegible] and [illegible] a lot of [illegible] which I propose for the Governmetn of the Round Valley Reservation.

You will [allow?] I propose to [illegible] [illegible] to the employees as also to establish a head [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] of saving five dollars per month. But this [illegible] should not add to the expense of administering the indian affairs at that Valley I have required the Supervisor Doct Wm. P. Melendy, to do the duty of Supervisor & [illegible] without [illegible] of salary. Doct Melendy is competent and [line blotted out] [illegible] Reservation [illegible] [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 out of justice of the employees and by allowing it [illegible] [illegible. line blotted out]

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] [illegible] 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 [illegible].

For that [illegible] I shall immediately [illegible] 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 [illegible] [illegible] [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 [illegible] [illegible] 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

"Copy"

Head Quarters Department of the Pacific San Francisco Oct 29th 1863

Sir

I have [illegible] your communication of the 25th inst addressed to my Assistant General - I deeply regret that any controversy should have arisen between the military commander of Fort Wright and the offices of the Indian superintendent - It is a rule which I have invariably enforced in my command that my subordinates shall not correspond upon official matters with other departments of the government except through my head quarters unless specially authorized so to do Capt Douglas did [in?] instructed accordingly

[illegible] Your Very Obt Servant "G Wright" Brig Genl U. S. Army Comdg

Hon E Steele Supt of Indian affairs North Dist of Cal San Francisco

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 [illegible] satisfactorly He is in fact at Sacramento although his commission date at this place.

If all application by the Supervisor for Military aid as against hostile Indians or [obstructive?] 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 more than 25 or 30 miles and a high mountain & rapid streams [intro?] - The commander at Fort Wright refuses to the employee of the Reservation the military express which was regulary to open the post office consequently they will have to depend upon [illegible] for their mail matter or I shall have to establish an express for the [illegible] benefit of the Reservation. This would be rather expensive and should be avoided if possible. The Military express [illegible] for a whole being the mail matter to the Reservation for what the Supervisor paid the [illegible] under order from Capt Douglas without notice of intention it was stopped

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

To Hon Wm. P. Dole Commissioner Washington DC

OFFICE INDIAN AFFAIRS, NORTHERN DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA San Francisco, Nov 3d 1863

Sir

I herewith forward copy of a paper sent me by Mr Battaile.

The cattle [illegible] as [illegible] are in fact taken The cattle are at a low [illegible] and are [illegible] The case of [illegible] with Mr. Hanson & Battaile returned at the net of sixty cents pr head per month until they are paid for. The cattle are much better to my judgement than there [de??] [illegible] The draft has not been honored. There are many drafts of Mr. [illegible] out [illegible] which parties claim they have given him [illegible]. This fact [illegible] the administration of my offie quite embarassing as by the regulations of the Treasury department my check has to be made passable to the [illegible] to whom the money is to be [de?] & cannot be drawn in my own name. Parties did not give rights to take drafts on the Assistant Treasurer as they have already suffered that way. I cannot give draft & claim the receipt after the draft is paid. Consequently I am obliged to borrow to make my paymentsin my own name & then check to "A. B" or Brown & at the money be drawn to pay my loan. This is a tax upon my [illegible] very inconvenient. I [illegible] that some instructions may be issued so that I can [illegible] in my own

name and take the necessary money [illegible] with me to meet the [illegible] of this District as I do not wish to contract a debt [illegible] the term I very [illegible] the office.

Employees have another serious objection to taking drafts as they are obliged to pay from two to five per [illegible] to get them collected & many [illegible] expenses

Very Respectuflly Your Obedient Servant E. Steele Superintending Agt Indian Affairs N. D. Cal

To Hon. Wm. P. Dole Commissioner Washington D. C.

Round Valley Oct 10th 1863

To E Steele Esq Superintending Agt Northern Dist Cal.

Sir On the 21st August last I made sale & contract with your predecesser Hanson as represented by enclosed copy's, Vouchers & Treasury drafts, the cattle now marked [illegible] but in fact were turned into the pasture of White & Gibson at fifty cents per month per head to await the payment of the Treasury drafts, the cattle an half broods here are tame & docile, [illegible] the band of fifty, more [entend?] at 20 cows now a part of these steers - The cows are of good quality some first rate, the wheat & barley are yet in my possession, awaiting the payment of the draft. The land & improvements are also in my possession, if the sale of the improvements should not be affirmed by the department the wheat was to be at the rate of one & a half cents per pound in coin. & barley at same rate. The sale of all this property was fixed at coin prices and twenty in the cent added in the vouchers & draft to cover the losses in legal tender notes The improvement are maintained at quite an expense and if the sale depends upon a [spend?] appropriation the whole of the plan