VII.-INDIAN DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA. * The amount appropriated by the Department of Indian Affairs for the support and maintenance of the Indians of this State, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1855, $236,000; for the year ending June 30, 1856, $358,000; for the year ending June 30, 1857, $300,000, and year ending June 30, 1858, $210,000. Total expenditures, four years, $1,104,000. 1. INDIAN POPULATION. The Superintendent of Indian Affairs for California, Hon. T. J. Henley, in his Report for 1856, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, estimates the number of Indians, within the jurisdiction of his superintendency, at sixtyfive thousand, of which over eleven thousand † are collected on the different reservations. The Superintendent in his Report for 1856, says: "In regard to the system of colonizing and subsisting Indians on reservations, I have only to say that it has so far succeeded entirely beyond my expectations, and is, in my judgment, the only system that can be of any real benefit to the Indians. It enables the Government to withdraw them from the contaminating influences of an unrestrained intercourse with the whites, and gives an opportunity to provide for them just such, and no more, assistance than their wants from time to time may actually require. Indians should be treated as wards, and the Government should act as their guardian, judging for them at all times of their real wants, and providing for them accordingly. This has been the policy pursued in the California superintendency, and I have, so far, found no difficulty in its application. In conducting the affairs of this superintendency, I have rejected entirely the idea of making treaties with the Indians, or recognizing in any way the rights which they claim to the soil. The Indians in every portion of the State have already been made acquainted with the policy proposed by the Government in regard to them, and are everywhere highly pleased with it, except in locations where malicious or interested white persons have, by false representations, prejudiced them against it. A few persons of this class in the various localities, have been the cause of most of the Indian difficulties which have occurred in this State. The Indians are generally peaceable and well disposed towards their white neighbors; and in almost all cases where they have been guilty of aggression, it has been to avenge some outrage committed upon them by the class of persons in question. In closing this Report, however, it is proper to remark, and I do it with great pleasure, that the mass of the white settlers of this State have uniformly treated the Indians with the greatest possible kindness, giving them protection and advice, and frequently contributing of their scanty means to relieve their pressing wants and save them from actual starvation. This was not an unusual circumstance, but has been of daily occurrence, from 1849 to the present day; and there are even now hundreds, and I doubt not thousands of Indians, scattered remnants of tribes, whose existence depends materially upon the good advice and charity of our citizens. The general course of conduct of the people of California toward the Indians, has been such as to merit the approbation of all good men, as well as the thanks of the Indian Department. The outrages upon the Indians, which have been, I regret to say, of frequent occurrence, have emanated from a few lawless and desperate men, for *For List of Officers and Clerks, see p. 56. + Number at the present time, eighteen thousand. whose conduct the masses should in no way be held responsible. No philanthropist or friend of the Indian can or ought to desire a better state of feeling toward this unfortunate and apparently doomed race, than forms the sentiment of the people of California, embracing every class of our citizens, as well in the mining as in the agricultural districts, from one extremity of the State to the other. In referring to the present condition of the Indian population of the State, the Superintendent in his Report for 1857, says: With a view to encouraging the Indians scattered through the mining regions to provide food for the winter, and to acquaint them with the intentions of the Government in regard to them, special agents have been temporarily appointed in several mountain localities with instructions to induce them to gather food, build houses, and make the necessary preparations for the approaching winter. In short, nothing has been omitted within the power of this office, consistent with economy, and authorized by law, which could contribute to the protection, security, or comfort of the Indian population. Throughout the entire extent of the State, from the Colorado to the Oregon line, and from the shores of the Pacific to the Sierra Nevada mountains, the gratifying fact exists that universal peace prevails. Not a hostile sentiment is entertained by the Indians in any portion of the State, and a general feeling of security pervades the entire white population. The progress of the reservations is attended with as great a degree of success as could be expected or desired by the most sanguine friends of that system. The Indians perform with entire willingness all the labor required. Coercion is seldom necessary, and a resort to punishment very rarely occurs. The progress they have made in acquiring a knowledge of the pursuits of industry remarkable, and in the highest degree encouraging to the friends of the system of subsisting Indians by their own labor. * * * That Indians can be collected on reservations and subsisted chiefly by their own labor, the experiments we have already made sufficiently demonstrate; and the success which has so far attended the enterprise is sufficient to justify a continuation of the system and renewed efforts for its ultimate and triumphant success. 2. INDIAN RESERVATIONS. TEJON.-Established October, 1853. This Reservation is located in the County of Los Angeles, and it comprises within its limits twenty-five thousand acres of land, eight hundred of which are in an advanced state of cultivation, sown principally with wheat, barley and vegetables. The number of Indians located on this Reservation is about six hundred and fifty, who perform all the necessary labor, with the exception of the mechanical portion. In addition to this number, there are outside the Reserve, but within the Agency, eight hundred more who obtain their subsistence and clothing therefrom; making in all fourteen hundred and fifty Indians within the limits of the Agency. There are eight adobe buildings; one for storing purposes, one hundred by twenty-four feet; one sixty by twenty, occupied by the resident agent, and the remaining six, forty by twenty, occupied by the chiefs. There is a mill on the premises, at which all the grain is ground and given unbolted to the Indians. There is a sufficient quantity of agricultural implements for the purposes of the settlement. NOME LACKEE.-Established October, 1854. This Reservation is located in Tehama County, and occupies twenty-five thousand acres of land, eight thousand of which are valley lands, and the balance well adapted for grazing purposes. Number of Indians located at this point, four thousand. The agricultural operations on the Reservation during the year 1857 were eminently successful, and, considering the unusually dry season, the products were most abundant. There were under cultivation about six hundred acres of land, from which an estimated return was had of ten thousand bushels of wheat, three hundred bushels of corn; the yield of barley being very light, in fact, not of sufficient value to harvest. There were cut and cared for about two hundred and fifty tuns of hay. Vegetables of all kinds were raised in abundance, except potatoes, and it is now settled that the land in that section of country will not produce them. The wheat was all threshed and housed, and proved sufficient to feed a much larger number of Indians than could be collected on the Reservation during this year. The labor of harvesting last season was performed by the Indians, many of whom, but eighteen months before were in their native wildness. There are on the Reserve three adobe buildings, a flouring mill and a number of wooden buildings, together with an assortment of agricultural implements and live stock. During the present year over twelve hundred acres were under cultivation, and the crop of grain alone amounted to over twenty thousand bushels. KLAMATH.-Established November, 1855. This Reservation is located in Klamath County. The number of acres within its limits is twenty-five thousand, of which three hundred and twenty are in cultivation, principally with wheat, barley and vegetables. The number of Indians located on this Reserve, twenty-five hundred. Number of Indian houses, one hundred and seventy-eight; buildings, twenty. There is an abundance of stock and agricultural implements for the use of the Indians within the limits of this Reserve. MENDOCINO.-Established June, 1856. This Reserve is situated in Mendocino County near the coast. Its extent is twenty-five thousand acres, of which five hundred and fifty are inclosed and two hundred and fifty in cultivation, principally sown with potatoes. Number of Indians located at this point, thirty-five hundred, of which twelve hundred are females, who derive their subsistance principally from fish that are obtained in innumerable quantities on the coast. There is an abundance of nets and boats supplied by the Superintendent, and the Indians appear to be well satisfied with the arrangements made for their support and protection. Number of buildings, forty. It is estimated that there are at least ten thousand Indians who may be conveniently cared for at this place. This locality is regarded as the best that can be selected in California or elsewhere, for the gathering and permanent settlement of the Indian tribes, for all the purposes of comfort and improvement. There are on this Reserve an abundance of agricultural implements, and a small quantity of live stock. FRESNO AND KING'S RIVER FARMS.-Established in October, 1854. Located in Fresno County. These farms are about two thousand acres in extent, of which six hundred are in cultivation principally with wheat and barley. Number of Indians within the agency, twenty-five hundred and fiftyfive, of which nine hundred are male adults, eight hundred female adults, and eight hundred and fifty-five children, together representing twenty-three different tribes. There are permanently located on these farms eight hundred Indians, viz: on Fresno, five hundred; on King's River, three hundred -all of whom are abundantly supplied with agricultural implements and live stock, with the necessary buildings for shelter. NOME CULT FARM.-Established in June, 1856. It is located in Tehama County. Number of acres of land within its limits, five thousand, of which five hundred are in cultivation. The number of Indians located here is about four thousand, who are well provided with agricultural implements and live stock. VIII.--UNITED STATES BRANCH MINT, SAN FRANCISCO. Established* July 3d, 1852. Commenced operations April, 1854. Capacity for coinage per month, $4,000,000. Total coinage since commencement of operations, to June 30th, 1858: Gold, $89,216,537; silver, $582,781. Expenditures for fiscal year ending June 30th, 1858, $353,689. Total expenditures to June 30th, 1858, $1,339,932. The law for the establishment and regulation of the United States Mint and the branches thereof, provides that any person may deposit with the officers in charge of the same, gold and silver in bullion, grain or lumps, which, if requested, shall be refined, assayed and cast into bars or coined, as speedily as possible after the receipt thereof; the bars to be stamped in said mint or branches in such manner as shall indicate the fineness and value of the same; the expense incurred to be retained from each deposit so made, at such rates and charges, and under such regulations, as may from time to time be established. The said charges not to exceed the actual cost of refining, casting and forming said bars, including labor, wastage, use of machinery, material etc., or one-half per cent. for coinage, to be received by the Treasurer of the Mint at which the deposit was made, and by him accounted for to the Treasurer of the United States. 1. OPERATIONS OF THE BRANCH MINT, SAN FRANCISCO, From April, 1854, to June 30th, 1858. GOLD DEPOSITS. MONTHS. 1854-Ounces. 1855-Ounces. 1856-Ounces. 1857+-Ounces. 1858-Ounces. Totals.......... 632,521.55 607,724-511,174,439-48 1,645,665.50 1,067,655-28 + Mint closed for settlement of accounts, from April For officers and clerks see page 51. 23d to August 10th, and from October 31st to November 23d, 1857. SILVER DEPOSITS. 1854-Ounces. 1855-Ounces. 1856-Ounces. 1857-Ounces. 1858-Ounces. MONTH. January... COIN. 1854. ...... March... April.. May $796,000 385,956 $984,000 1,370,000 197,757 2,380,000 1,365,000 196,516 2,580,000 $49,478 435,687 52,500 3,545,000 371,509 761,057 1,260,000 185,827 3,559,100 June 460,020 899,279 2,800,000 261,700 3,018,300 July...... 528,000 921,420 1,965,000 407,992 2,280,000 August..... 1,052,200 716,526 1,635,000 526,275 1,445,000 September 600,000 315,208 2,460,000 491,119 880,300 October 622,000 494,285 2,000,000 352,607 1,090,000 November 188,000 689,276 1,494,800 353,628 2,060,000 December ... 213,000 398,473 400,000 1,325,000 29,589 $1,350,000 $811,800 13,966 1,900,000 710,000 7,285 2,735,000 1,880,000 815,807 2,975,000 2,020,000 687,439 1,830,000 2,560,000 634,011 1,700,000 2,641,000 852,137 1,180,000 506,767 1,040,000 1,980,000 ... 827,000 1,240,000 Totals... 4,084,207 5,631,151 17,598,300 3,359.377 25,146,700 3,547,001 20,327,000 10,622,800|| * The total coinage of the United States, Great Britain and France, from January, 1850 to July, 1857, amounts to $1,023,375,132, as follows: United States, $364,052,981; Great Britain, $222,832,089; France, $136,490,062. The total coinage of the United States Mint and branches from the date of respective organizations to July, 1857, is $588,619,188. The amount of California gold received at mint and branches from January, 1849 to July, 1857, $102,000,000.-Report of Director U. S. Mint. |