[Cover]
California Sup B395
E.F. Beale
Sebastian Mil Reserve
Tejon Valley June 20 '54
Reports amount of wheat and barley harvest upon the Reserve. Request him to visit the state during recess of Congress-Suggestions respecting breeding stock, houses, [illegible] &c
Read & [illegible] [me.?]
Recd July 24 '54
Ansd July 28 54 See letter also to Supt [Herley?]
File
[Letter P. 1]
Sebastian Mili Reserve
Tejon Valley
June 20th 1854
Sir,
I have the honor to report to you the conclusion of our wheat, and barley harvest at this place, the result of which is 42,000 bushels of wheat, and 10,000 of barley.
I do not hesitate to say that with our ordinary season our crop would have been nearly doubled. Nevertheless, we have, allowing 5 bushels, or three hundred pounds to the barrel, over eight thousand bbls of flour; and as coarse flour is as good for Indian purposes as superfine, nearly double that amount. Of barley, we have more than enough to feed full rations to every horse, and mule upon the reserve. These amounts will be taken up upon my Property Reform to the credit of the Government, and I have now to request your instructions, as to the disposition I shall make of the samples, for according to my ideas on the subject we should not give food to any Indians except those upon the reserve, as it would discourage those who have worked hard to raise it, to see it go into the hands of other Indians who have given no assistance. Another reason is that I make great calculations on the example this place will set in inducing other tribes to come in, for whilst every one here will have as much as they can consume, those who do not come to the reserve will be starving, & after a while when they find they are not to be fed outside of the reserve, will be glad to come in, and be part of my people here.
The Wheat,
[P. 2]
and barley, is by no means all I have raised, but I prefer giving you the result of the various crops, as they are gathered, so that the whole actual result, may be seen independent of vague, and uncertain speculation.
At the end of the seaosn I shall in my general report, give you an account of the entire crop gathered-including-- wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, beans, pumpkins, and melons, turnips &c; it is enough for the present to say that the other matters, are in proportion with the wheat, and barley.
I beg leave to reiterate my request that you will, if possible, visit this state, during the congressional recess of the coming fall. It is utterly impossible to appreciate affairs here until you do so, and it would relieve me of a vast responsibility to have your views on Indian matters, after you have seen the state of affairs out here, and formed your judgement on the ground as to what should, or should not be done.
I had the honor to transmit by the mail of the 20th of May, my 4th gr. 1858. In relation to them, as well as to those which may follow, I desire to state that if the charges for articles of consumption here, are considered high the character of our location must also be considered. We are accessible it is true by two roads; but Stockton, which is on one of them is 400 miles off and the other is unquestionably the worst I have ever seen travelled by wagons. One place I have seen 24 mules attached to a block, and tackle and six Indians at the wheel, for a whole day drawing up the mountain, one of
[P. 3]
my wagons, with a load of only two thousands pounds in it, and this operation has to be gone through, with every wagon I send to Los Angeles. I mention this as one of the places, but it is by no means the only one. This will give you but a faint of the difficulties, I have undergone in establishing of this place. I am pleased to say however that we have for the future as necessity for the purchase of any article of food, as the reserve, excepting that we require breeding stock, is now self subsistent.
I cannot express the gratification I receive witnessing the rapid progess. The people collected here, are making, and the perfect good feeling and contentment they display. Still many things are necessary to their comfort. Houses should be built for them of a more substantial character than those they now occupy, a granary to preserve their grain, shore houses and sheds. A hospital for the sick. A surgeon and many other matters should be their reward for the vigor with which they have entered into the views of the Government. During the coming year I shall also propose the establishment of schools amongst them, not such as we have at present in some parts of the country, but schools where the attendance of the younger portion shall be compelled instead of being left to the wishes of the parents. In my fields here, for instance, if I were to allow them to work when they pleased, but little would be done, for the industrious would be discouraged by the indolent; but as it is the indolent are punished, and compelled to labor; and so it should be with the children when schools, are established
[P. 4]
You would be surprised, I think however, to see how much a regular course of discipline, and system obviates the necessity of corporeal punishment. It is true I sometimes resort to it, but considering the great number of hands at work, and the immense amount of labor performed, surprisingly seldom, for each has his alloted task and time to do it, and all are made to do it at the same hour.
Part of my wagons, are now engaged in removing the Indians, nearest us, and my influence is extending so rapidly in this vicinity, that I do so at less expense than at first though possible. It is true a large sum has been spent, but our wheat, and barley, alone would nearly equal the whole sum appropriated, & at the prices of provisions in the mines, more than cover it, and this you must take into consideration is the result of only eight months labor, and a most unfavorable season.
Very respecty,
Yr obdt servt
E.F. Beale
Supt Indn Affs
To
Hon G.W. Manypenny
Comr Indn Affs
Washington D.C.
Letters of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1849-1880, California Superintendency
