MF1323.1197 Reel 39_0558

California S245 Alex S. Taylor Santa Barbara, Cal. Sept 17, '63

Submits certain suggestions which he desires instructed by the [illegible] of the Indians

Recd Oct 19, '63 File

Ray

Santa Barbara, Cal. 17 Sept. 1863

To Hon. Wm P. Dole, Commis. of Indian Affairs Washington D. C.

My dear sir, I have taken the liberty to mention your favors in my Indianology of California, published for the last three years in the Cal. Farmer and a few days ago concluded.

Knowing the interest you have in every thing relating to the Aborigines, and their history and languages, I have thought you might be pleased to accept from me a few suggestions which if possible or proper to initiate during your term of office would add nearly not only to your good name, but to the honor of the Bureau in the world of letters and science.

The plan proposed of the dictionaries and [illegible] will not be very expensive, and if the Indian agents and interpreters will only give moderate attention to the matter, can be easily accomplished and add greatly to their character with the government and the public. Their communication being [liberal?]

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and the design of the government humane and practical, such works will add mostly to the fulfilment of its designed objects, and surely these pay is on such a [illegible] scale as to allow some of their leisure time to the execution of the work.

Even if the manuscripts are not provided they will be of incalculable value in the library of the Bureau for reference by future or present students - (and officesr of the Govt. -) of native American history and of the science of language. They will be an honorable monument to the character of the Bureau, and of the Commissioner who should initiate and perfect so simple, inexpensive and useful a system of the literature of these celebrated Indian tribes and which will be sure of permanent appreciation ever afterwards in the literary world. The blank forms of 1500 words, with these papers of grammatical examples, and a few leaves for historical notes are [illegible] not to make a quarts pamphlet of over 100 pages and the cost of each one not over a dollar; they can easily be filled up in a week or two, except the historical quotes.

I am happy to inform you of the contained receipt of news of the most favorable character of the new gold fields of the Salado, San Francisco and others

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[serves?] flowing from [ninth?] units the Gila in eastern Arizona, the old Apacharia of the Spaniards. Their settlement by our people, will in a short time completely alter the states of the Indian tribes in that section, as it is probably the finest portion of Arizxona, for health, pasture and agriculture. You will find my old friend, Mr. Herman [E?] whom I have not seen for several years, to be a very useful person to assist you in all enquiries relating to these parts and their Indian population, as his residence on this coast has been since 1847, and his education and studies will be of great advantage. His profession of surveyor, he having made an excellent map of Arizona and [fornia?] in 1859, will enable him during his term of office, to make you an excellent peer and ink map of the position of the old ruined towns, then hyeroglyphics, old irrigating canals and other remnants of the ancient tribes.

I hope the Bureau, during your term of office may have the honor of publishing an outline Ethnological map of North America, locating the Indian tribes from the Arctic to Panama on the plan proposed in the last Smithsonian Report by Mr. Morgan, My Indianology

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will be a very useful guide to the Compiler, as well as a "Bibliografa Californica" which published in the Sacramento Union of June 1863, and a copy of which I directed to be sent to you

The suggestions I have made may be altered to suit the Hon. Com - my only desire is to serve the cause of Indian literature of the Indian languages and the benevolent objects of the government. Prof. Baird and his friends I am sure will be happy to add his good offices.

Hoping these suggestions may meet your approval, and that you will do me the honor when convenient, to acknowledge the receipt of this com.

I have the honor to remain Your Obt. Servant Alexr. S. Taylor

[California T245, 1863]

P.S. Regret that my circumstances did not allow me to put my Indianology in book form for reference, as in at weekly journal it is difficult to keep full copies of the series.