Helen Hunt Jackson Papers, Part 1, Ms 0020, Box 2, Folder 5
Letters Relating to Indian Affairs, 1878-83: 10 letters from Hiram Price (U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs) to HHJ; one letter from M. L. Joslyn (Acting Secretary for the Department of the Interior) to H. Price; one letter draft by HHJ to Price.
Transcribed by Judith A. Downie, 2012.

Note from the transcriber: Most letters are handwritten by various secretaries on Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs letterhead, with Price’s signature. An exception is the letter dated October 16, 1882 (typed and signed). The Joslyn letter is a typed copy dated January 9, 1883, authorizing the appointments of Jackson and Kinney and the budget for the investigation of the Indians of Southern California. The draft by HHJ to Price is handwritten. Letters from Price are stamped in the upper left-hand corner with reference coding which I have not transcribed. Several letters have envelopes, noted with [envelope] at the end of the letter text. In most cases I have retained grammar and punctuation, but I have correcting spelling errors for clarity and changed "&" to "and" and "ec" to "etc". A bill of lading from the Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company Express Department is not transcribed, but is noted as related to the June 21st, 1883 letter.

Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, October 16, 1882

Mrs. Helen Jackson,

Madam:

Your letter of the 16th September, to the Honorable Secretary of the Interior, has been this day handed to me for reply. The work of selecting a permanent home of the  Mission Indians of California, in which you propose to engage, is one of very great importance, and I doubt not under your management, will be productive of very beneficial results not only to the Government, but also and particularly, to a very deserving and heretofore much neglected tribe of Indians. The only difficult question to be decided before answering your letter was, as to how the funds could be provided with which to pay the necessary expenses. You have very generously proposed to give your time to this work, free of charge, and only ask that your expenses, estimated at about $1200, should be paid.

Congress leaves the Indian Office without adequate means to meet this class of expenditures, but I am now able to say to you that the funds will be furnished you as required, as also for the expenses of Mr. Kinney, whom you propose to associate with you in this good work. The promptings of humanity, as well as a sense of justice demand that these Indians should be placed in a position where the fruits of their labor will be for their own benefit, and where unprincipled white men cannot in the future, as in the past, deprive them of what is justly their own.

These unfortunate people, once the owners of 365,000 head of horses, cattle and sheep, and harvesting 75,000 bushels of grain in one year, have, in the last half century, been driven from place to place, the victims of unscrupulous adventurers, and seem destined to become homeless wanderers and vagabonds unless the strong arm of the Government is interposed for their relief and protection.

The attention of Congress has repeatedly been called to the condition of these Indians, but up to this time no decisive action has been taken for their relief.

I therefore express the earnest hope that your self-imposed and praise-worthy efforts may result in the adoption of some measures for their permanent benefit.

Very respectfully,
H. Price
COMMISSIONER.

********

Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, November 28th, 1882

Mrs. Helen Jackson,
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Madam:--

I am in receipt of your communication of the 31st ult. requesting specific instructions to guide you in your proposed investigation of the affairs of the Mission Indians.

In the main your own classification of your duties covers the case:--

1st That you are to ascertain how many Mission Indians there are, and how and where they are living.

2nd What, if any, suitable Government lands can be set apart for their use.

3rd If they cannot have lands obtained otherwise than by purchase, what lands can and should be purchased for them, and at what price.

4th What the feelings of the Indians are about going on reservations and what proportion of them need a reservation or avail themselves of its benefits. I think you will find that quite a large number would prefer to continue their present methods of obtaining a livelihood as laborers in the settlements, and that it would be of no advantage to them to place them by themselves on a reserve.

In ascertaining the number of Indians I do not mean to require you to visit every village or ranch and take a census. The time and expense involved in such an undertaking would not be justified by the results obtained. You will find the Indian Agent and other people so well informed in regard to certain lands that it may not be necessary to visit them all in person. This matter, however, must be left largely to your judgment. What the Office desires is a reliable account of what the present condition of the Mission Indians is, what ought to be done for them, and how to do it.

In regards to the interpreter, it will of course be necessary for you to employ one, and this Office will have to be responsible for the expense of the same, but in order to save expense when practicable, you may be able occasionally to make use of the agency interpreter, provided Agent Lawson can spare him without detriment to his agency business.

In your recommendations of lands to be set apart or purchased great care should be taken that they be accurately and minutely described, especially if they are to be set apart by Executive order.

As to the expenses of the trip, your proposition is accepted, viz: That your own expenses, including all expenses of team and driver for the party, shall be paid by this Office, provided they do not exceed the sum of Twelve hundred dollars ($1200.)—all expenses over that amount to be paid by yourself. In addition to this you are to be allowed to have as an assistant in your work, Mr. A. Kinney of San Gabriel, Cal., whose living expenses during the trip are to be defrayed by this Office, but who is to receive no other compensation for services or traveling expenses. You are also to be allowed the services of an interpreter when necessary, the expense therefore to be paid by this Office.

Fund to defray expenses cannot be advanced you unless you furnish a bond covering the amount, which I hope will not exceed Two Thousand dollars ($2,000.00) If you wish a less sum advanced the bond can be reduced accordingly.

It will be necessary for you to keep an accurate account of all expenditures, and to take sub vouchers therefore whenever practicable in order that your accounts when rendered may be allowed and settled by the accounting officers of the Treasury Department. If you travel over subsidized railroads or any road leased by a subsidized railroad, it will be necessary for you to use transportation order which will be furnished by this Office. Any payment of cash to such roads will not be allowed by the Treasury officials but will be suspended in the examination of your accounts. The Union, Central and Southern Pacific roads come under this head.

A separate letter will be written Mr. Kinney advising him of the acceptance of his services on the above terms.

Yours respectfully
H. Price
Commissioner.

(Copy Authority 5078)

Department of the Interior
Washington, January 9, 1883

The Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Sir:
           
In compliance with your recommendation of the 4th instant, you r are hereby authorized to employ Mrs. Helen Jackson as Special Agent to investigate the condition of Indians in Southern California, at a compensation of $500.00 per month for a period not exceeding three months, the above amount to cover all expenses including payment of Interpreters, etc.

You are also authorized to employ Abbott Kinney as an assistant of Mrs. Jackson in the work, reimbursing him only his actual and necessary traveling expenses, upon his presentation of the proper vouchers, providing said reimbursement does not exceed the sum of $600.00. The total cost of the above work to be a sum not exceeding $2,100.00, payable from the “civilization fund”.

Very respectfully,
M. L. Joslyn,
Acting Secretary.

Official Copy,
[signature]
Chief Finance Division

Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, January 12th, 1883

Mrs. Helen Jackson.
c/o Roberts Bro.,
Boston. Mass.

Madam,

I enclose you herewith copy of your appointment by the Hon. Secretary of the Interior, as Special Agent, containing also appointment of Mr. Abbott Kinney as your assistant, at a total expenditure not to exceed two thousand one hundred dollars ($2,100.00). No instructions in addition to those given you in my letter of the 29th of Nov., last, are necessary.

Very respectfully,
H. Price
Commissioner

 [envelope]

Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, March 15th, 1883

Helen Jackson.
Los Angeles,
California

Madam,
           
I am in receipt, by Department reference, of your letter dated March 2, 1883, in which you refer to the Indian village of Aqua Caliente, included in the tract filed on by Armon Cloos, and ask if you can be authorized to procure a survey of the tract at an expense not to exceed $250.

In reply I have to state that it appears from informal inquiry at the General Land Office that these lands have been surveyed.

Any information concerning lands in connection with your duties can be obtained at the local land office, at Los Angeles.

I have also to inform you that there are no funds available for the survey of Indian reservations.

In reference to the Homestead entry of Cloos, I enclose copy of a letter to Agent Lawson, dated March 7, 1883, for your information.

Very respectfully,
H. Price
Commissioner

Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, April 2d, 1883

Helen Jackson.
Los Angeles,
California,

Madam,

Referring to your communication, dated March 10, 1883, relative to the San Ysidro Rancheria in California, I have to inform you that the Commissioner of the General Land Office has directed the Register and Receiver at Los Angeles to advise Armon Cloos that his entry, Lot 4, Sec. 33, W1/2 SW ¼, and SE ¼ SW ¼ Sec 34. T 10 SR 4 E, is held for cancellation, and to allow him the usual time for appeal.

He also states that the facts in the case of Chatham Helm, who has received a patent for the SE ¼ of NE 1/3, N ½, SE 1/3. Sec. 34. And SW ¼ of NW ¼ Sec. 35. T 10. SR 4 E, will be reported to the Secretary of the Interior, with a recommendation that the proper steps be taken through the Department of Justice, to have the patent issued to Helm set aside, on the ground that at the date of his entry, the land embraced therein was not properly subject to the operation of the homestead law, and that said entry was therefore invalid.

Very respectfully,
H. Price
Commissioner

Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, April 21st, 1883

Mrs. Helen Jackson.
Los Angeles,
California.

Madam,

I am in receipt, by Department reference, of your communication, dated April 2, 1883, in which you refer to the San Ysidro Indians and the entries of Cloos and Helm, and state that you explained to Pablo the manner in which he could contest Cloos’ entry, to which Pablo replied, ”If I own the land as the White men have theirs, then I must pay White men’s tax; and we are too poor, the White men would tax it all away from us, and then my people would say I had deceived them. I dare not do it.”

In reply I beg leave to refer you to my letter of April 2, 1883, in which you were informed that the Commissioner of the General Land Office had directed the Register and Receiver, at Los Angeles, to advise Cloos that his entry was held for cancellation, and that the facts in the case of Helm would be reported to the Secretary of the Interior by the Commissioner of the General Land Office, with a recommendation that the proper steps be taken, through the Department of Justice, to have the patent issued to him set aside, on the ground that at the date of his entry, the land embraced therein was not properly subject to the operation of the homestead law.

I also desire to call your attention to the 5th Section of the Act of January 18, 1881, (21. Stat. 317) “That the titles acquired by said Winnebagoes of Wisconsin in and to the lands heretofore or here after entered by them under the provisions of said act of March third, eighteen hundred and seventy five, shall not be subject to alienation or encumbrance, either by voluntary conveyance or by the Judgment, decree, or other of any court or subject to taxation of any character, but shall be and remain inalienable and not subject to taxation for the period of twenty years from the date of the patent issued therefore. And this section shall be inserted in each and every patent issued under the provisions of said act or of this act.”

Lands acquired under the Indian homestead law of March 3rd 1875, are not therefore subject to taxation and Pablo’s fears in this direction are groundless.

I may add that this Office will do all in its power to secure these Indians in the enjoyment of their possessions.

Very respectfully,
H. Price
Commissioner

[envelope]

Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, May 16th, 1883

Mrs. Helen Jackson.
Los Angeles,
California.

Madam,

I am in receipt of your communication dated May 5, 1883, in which you enclose affidavits in regard to Indian lands in Capitan Grande and Pala.
           
Upon informal inquiry at the General Land Office it is found as stated by you, that the NE ¼ of NE ¼, S1/2 of NE1/4 and NW ¼ of SE ¼ Sec. 2 T 14 R2 was patented to Daniel W. Strong September 15, 1882; the only other entries in township 14, are those of Mead, Hensley and Knowles, none of which appear to have been patented.

Agent Lawson in his correspondence relating to an addition to the Capitan Grande reservation has made no mention of Section 2.

The affidavits, with your letter, have been transmitted to the Honorable Secretary of the Interior, with the recommendation that the entries of Mead, Hensley and Knowles be held for cancellation. Should this recommendation be approved an Executive Order will be prepared adding to the reservation the 8 sections mentioned by Agent Lawson, Viz; Sections 10, 11, 14, 15, 22, 23, 28 and 33.
           
If the portion of section 2 not patented to Strong is desired you will so advise this Office.

With reference to the Pala Reservation, I have to state that the NW ¼ of NE ¼ and NE ¼ of NW ¼ Sec.34 T9. S.R. 2 W. was formerly included in the reservation, but Agent Lawson having represented that the Order setting it apart for Indians should, in justice to Mrs. Josephine Golsh, whose husband has made a homestead entry covering these tracts on the 8th of November 1875, be rescinded, these tracts were restored to the public domain by Executive Order of July 24, 1882. Under these circumstances and the fact that the land covered by cash entry of March 7, 1876, has been so long patented, I do not see that anything can be done for the relief of these Indians.

Very respectfully,

H. Price
Commissioner

[envelope, appears to have been sent to Los Angeles, then forwarded to Colorado Springs]

[Draft in HHJ’s handwriting, with cross-outs and rewrites]

To Price – on Golsch’s [xxx]
June 2, 1883

Dear Sir
           
In reply to your letter of May 16th in which you say “With reference to etc ---

I have to state that the land above alluded to is not the tract to referred to in the affidavits of Patricio Soberano and Felipe Joqua, which we forwarded to you.---in our letter of May 5th---There may have been some error in the description—See affidavits of Patricio and Felipe—We were aware of the returning of a part of the Pala reservation to Mrs. Josephine Golsh on Agt Lawson’s representation of the justice of the claim -- there are Indians still living on that land: but in view of the Department’s action in the matter, we did not deem it advisable to raise any question in regard to it. –
           
This other land is patented to Arthur Golsh—who drove the Indians from it, by force and violence. #--

It is claimed that the land is now owned by his brother Gactano Golsh.—It is a clear case in which the [xxx xxx action] Indians should get their land back if possible.
[end of document]

Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, June 21st, 1883

Mrs. Helen Jackson.
Special Agent etc.
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Madam:

In relation to the payment for your services, as mentioned in your letter to the Hon. Secy. Interior, dated June 6th 1883, you are advised in reply that upon your certifying to the enclosed vouchers before some officer having a seal, and forwarding both copies to this office, payment will be made.

You will please fill up the blank dates to correspond with the term of service for which payment is allowed, which dates are not known to this office--; also insert date and place of making the certificate, as indicated in pencil, and the month in the left hand column (“Date”) should correspond with the date upon which the service claimed terminated.

A close observance of these instructions will avert delay in settlement.
Very respectfully,
H. Price
Commissioner

[Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company Express Department Bill of Lading for $25.00 made out to Hiram Price and envelope to HHJ.]

Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, June 30, 1883

Mrs. Helen Jackson
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Madam:--

Upon receipt of your communication of the 25th inst. I inquired of the Hon. Secretary as to whether another special commissioner had been or was to be sent out to the Mission Indians, and learned that the rumor that such was the case, which has alarmed Father Urbach, has no foundation whatever. I cannot understand what could have started it.

Yours respectfully,
H. Price
Commissioner

Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, Nov. 19th, 1883

Mrs. Helen Jackson,
The Berkeley
5th Avenue and 9th Street,
New York City.

Madame:

In your report on the condition and needs of the Mission Indians of California, you state (page 7) that all the reservations made in 1876, were laid off by guess, by the Surveyor in San Diego, on an imperfect county map, and that when the actual survey came to be made, it was discovered that in the majority of cases the Indian villages intended to be provided for were outside the reservation lines, and the greater part of the lands reserved wholly worthless.

Also that the plats of these reservations are in the Surveyor General’s Office at San Francisco, and that on each of them was marked by the Surveyor an additional line in color, showing what tracts ought to be added to take in the Indian villages and fields.

In order that this Office may be informed with as little delay as possible of the tracts necessary to be added to the several reservations in order to include all lands occupied by the Indians, I have to request that you will forward the proper descriptions of such tracts so that they may be located on the map, if you have the necessary data in your possession. Also of the tracts occupied by the various bands referred to in your exhibits. If any of the lands are unsurveyed they should be described by natural boundaries.

If you do not have the necessary data, will you please inform me whether the desired information with respect of surveyed lands can be obtained from the Surveyor General in San Francisco.

If you are unable to describe the unsurveyed tracts by natural objects, please advise of the best means to obtain this information.

A printed copy of your report is herewith enclosed, for easy reference in addition to those sent you.

Very respectfully,
H. Price
Commissioner.

[envelope]