OCR Text |
Show a distribution of seeds and agricultural implement@. The superintendent hm also expressed the opinion that it may he necessary to concentrate upon a reservation the Ohemihuives and other bands in the eastern part of the State, near the Arizona line, who have recently made much trouble. From the Hoopa Valley agency we have been advised, from time to time, of the good order prevailing thereon, and the willingness with which the Iu-dians have labored, planting a large breadth of land, from which an abundant crop was expected. The payment by government of the a praised value of the improvements of settlers upon this reservation, authorizes by act of Con-gress, and effected this year, will quiet some apprehensions of trouble, and place the agency in quiet possession of valuable lands, buildings, &c. Agent Fairfield reports the number of Indiaus at Round valley at 1,063,viz : Wyla-kies and Pitt Rivers, 361; Eel Rivers, 26; Pitt Rivers, 196; Cow-Cow, 238; Yucas, 242. The Indians from Xendocino were to have been re~uoved to this reservation, (that 1ocatiou.having been abandoned in accordance with previous arrangements.) hut the agent reports that most of them thus far remain at the old place. The Indians at Round valley are represented as peaceable and obedient, healthy, and successful in their farming operations, producing much more food than is necessary for their use. The report from this office, above referred to, and which is before Congress, contemplates the enlargement of this reservation so as to include all of the ad-jacent lands to the mountains, thus forming an ample reserve for all the In-dians likely to he concentrated under the charge of government in the pursuits of agriculture in the northern part of the State. Their surplus, hut for the isolated position of the reservation, could be disposed of to great advantage, and the income used in the purchase of clothing, in which the Indians are de-ficient. The estimated crop of this year was some 22,000 bushels grain and 3,000 bushels potatoes, besides 30 acres of vegetables. Special Agent Hoffman, in charge at Tule river, reported in April, and again in June, as to agricultural operations at ,that place, which had been very successful, the harvest yielding over 11,000. bushels of grain, besides other producc to a large amount. Upon the Smith River reserve (a leased farm) there were, early in the year, about 900 Indians, though it is not linderstood that all of these were located upon the farm, but living in the immediate neighljorhood, and in thee of the agent. In the winter it was necessary to iasue rations to them for a short time, hut by the April report it was stated that they would have enough re-maining of last year's crop to subsist them until the new one could be realized. The Indians, generally, were quiet and obedient, but an unfortu~late occur-rence in April, resulting in the death of two Indians at the hands of another, and the actiolt of the agent thereu ou, interrupted this favorable condition of affairs. The Indian accused, aucfdoubtless guilty, was arrested by order of the agent, and the facts reported to the supe~intendent for instructions. Without waiting for those instructions, however, the agent, Mr. Bryson, took the responsibility of summarily hanging the Indian, which fact beillg reported to this office, resulted in his dismissal. In educational matters there has been no progress in this superiutendeucy, and there is not an Indian school in the State. Occasionally some religious society appears to awake to the fact that there are nearly 35,000 heathens in California, at their very doors, and makes inquiry upon the subject; hut, with the reply of this office, that it will gladly aid, to the extent of the means fur-nished by Congress, in the establishment of schools for the Indians, the ma& ter has ended. It is not creditable to the humani:y of the gove?nment that this condition of affairs should continue, and the superintendent has been di. rected to prepare and report an estimate of the amount of funds necessary for establishing a good school upon each of the four reservations recognized. The |