MF1323.1197_Reel_37_0785

California D199 J. A. Driebelbis Nome Lackee Reserve Septr 24, '60 Ent

Reports the condition of things on the Nome Lackee Reserve, and asks for remittance to fence the same &c. — Address him at Red Bluff

Recd November 2d, '60

File P. 2 Land —

Nome Lackee Reser, Sept 24th 1860

Hon A B Greenwood

Sir The dilapidated and neglected condition in which I found this Reservation and the immediate necessity because of the near approach of planting and seeding time, have induced me to report to the department throug you, in advance of the general report which I am instructed to make after visiting all the Reservations. The buildings generally answer very well. Fences none except a temporary one much out of repair enclosing only the main quarters. This Reserve is located in the centre of the best grazing country in the State, and the feed in the Sacramento Valley being in a great measure eaten out and much of the land enclosed which having created a scarcity of feed for the immense herds owned by persons squatting in that valley and led them to drive their stock to the inviting pasturage adjoining this Reserv, which, being without fence renders it impossible to make a crop, to plough and seed is only Labor thrown away besides discouragement to the Indians to work as the see no return for their labors, there are at this time at least a dozen if not

twenty squatters on the land immediately adjoining the Reserv, on all sides of it and all owning stock, a few of whom are making farms with a view of settling, but the majority only to graze and raise stock their business being trading in stock, cattle horses &c none of them seeming to have any regard for the rights of the poor Indian their stock is turned on grain fields if Indians attempt to drive them off they are threatened with being shot and have been severely beaten for trying to protect their grain, til at last they could neither be persuaded nor forced to drive the stock from the fields without being accompanied and protected by some of the employees. Under such a state of things you will easily perceive the utter impossibility of raising and saving a crop

The past season some three hundrerd acres was ploughed and seeded with wheat rye and barley and from the appearances of straw and stubble on the ground must have produced [illegible] but was nearly all destroyed, by hard work and close working 260 Buck-wheat 600 of Rye and 60 or 70 Bushels Barley are all that could be saved and is now on hand

If this Reserv, is to be continued provision must immediately be made to fence a portion of it at least and the only way this can be accomplished in time is to purchase sawed lumber and have post and board fence made, as there is but little timber on the Reserv, and the little there is I have already given orders to have cut and put into fencing

I submit a calculation of the cost of board for [illegible] a square section of land 51200 feet boards at 40$ price delivered at Tehama the present market price there, such large quantity might be bought for a little less, but at $40 the lumber would cost 2048 dollars, it would also require 1280 posts 6½ feet long 6 by 4 inches thick 13 feet in a post making 16640 feet, half of the posts might be got on the reservation which would leave say 8000 feet to be purchased costing three hundred and twenty dollars which added to 2048 Dollars making the sum total 2368 Dollars for lumber at Tehama on The hauling the Sacramento River distant 20 miles from the Reservation, The hauling could and should be done by the Reservation Teams and Indians without cost, but importantly there are no waggons, three were turned over to me by Agent Geiger but they are so thoroughly worn out as to be totally unfit even for repairs new ones must be purchased if the department determines to make these essential improvements and if not then this Reservation had better be abandoned and I should recommend were it not for the pity I have for these poor miserable creatures collected about the place most of whom are old and decrepit women and children having become accustomed to being fed it would be hard for them to be driven to their former mode of living. Should the department approve of the plan suggested by me money should be immediately remitted for the purpose

(purchase of the lumber and nails, which I forgot to mention in the calculation) also for the purchase of two good waggons. I shall have more to say in relation to the management of this Reservation in my general report which I cannot get ready under three or 4 weeks and have only made this for the reasons above given, the lumber should by all means be hauled before the rains commense

Given the nature and fertility of the soil of this reserve, with good tillage I hesitate not to say that from 40 to 60 bushels of wheat to the acre is no extravagant estimate, and I am confident that one section under good enclosure with honest and judicious managment with the fasilities of cuting hay and a ready market, will defray all expenditures except wages of employees and under first rate management might be made to do that also this however is hardly to be expected.

The communications from your department pleas have addressed to Red Bluff; Tehama would be a little more convenient but the Post Office is so miserably conducted that the reception of any mail matter is exceedingly uncertain

Very Rrespectfully Your Obedient Servant Jno. A. Dreibelbis Sprg Agt &c

Hon A B Greenwood Commissioner of Indian Affairs Washington DC