TULE RIVER AGENCY. [Post-office address: Porterville, Tulare County, Cal] TULE RIVER RESERVATION. How established.-By Executive order January 9 and October 3, 1873, and August 3, 1878. Area and survey.-Forty-eight thousand five hundred and fifty-one acres, of which 250 acres are tillable.1 Outboundaries surveyed. Acres cultivated.-Two hundred and twenty acres cultivated by the Indians in 1884.2 Tribes and population.-The tribes living here are the Kawai, King's River, Monache, Tehon, Tule, and Wichumni.3 Total population reported in 1884, 683.4 Location.-Located on South Tule River, in Tulare County. The original Executive order embraced 91,837 acres. In 1878 the reservation was reduced by Executive order to 48,551 acres, of which not more than 250 acres can be used for farming purposes. Almost the entire tract is a rough, mountainous district, and one-half of .t too rugged and rocky for even grazing purposes. The eastern portion abounds in good sawing timber, but so inaccessible that it can never be available to the Indians for the manufacture of lumber, as too much capital will be required in the construction of a road to these pineries." Government rations.- None reported in 1886. Mills and employés —A grist-mill is in operation, but no Indian employés are reported. Indian police.-None reported. Indian court of offences.-None reported. School population, attendance, and support.-Estimated in 1886 as 19. No school. Missionary work.-None reported. Tule River Reserve. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, D. C., January 9, 1873. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a letter from the Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs, dated the 3d instant, requesting the setting apart for the use of the Tule River, King's River, Owen's River, Manche Cajon, and other scattering bands of Indians in California, a tract of land described as follows: Commencing on the South Tule River, 4 miles below the Soda Springs on said river, running thence north to the ridge of mountains dividing the waters of the South Tule and Middle Tule; thence east on the dividing line 10 miles; thence south to the ridge dividing the waters of South Tule River and Deer Creek; thence west on said ridge 10 miles; thence north to the place of beginning; the said described tract of country being about 10 miles long and 6 miles wide. The request of the Acting Commissioner meets the 2 Ibid. 'Report of Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1884, p. 304. 3 Ibid., p. 25. Ibid., 1880, p. 10. Ibid., 1886, p. 313. 4 Ibid., p. 284. approval of this Department, and I respectfully recommend that an order be issued by the Executive setting apart the lands referred to for the purpose indicated. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, B. R. COWEN, Acting Secretary. EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 9, 1873. Let the lands described in the within letter be set apart as a reservation for the bands of Indians in California therein named, agreeably to the recommendation of the Acting Secretary of the Interior. U. S. GRANT. EXECUTIVE MANSION, October 3, 1873. It is hereby ordered that the following tract of country be, and the same is hereby, withheld from sale and set apart as a reservation for the Tule River, King's River, Owen's River, Manche Cajon, and other scattered bands of Indians in the State of California, to be known as the "Tule River Indian Reservation," this being in lieu of the reservation set apart for those Indians by Executive order dated the 9th of January last, which is hereby cancelled: Commencing on the south fork of Tule River, 4 miles below the Soda Springs, on said river; running thence north to the ridge of mountains dividing the waters of the North Fork and Middle Fork of Tule River; thence on said ridge easterly, extending if necessary to a point from which a line running due south would intersect a line running due east from the place of beginning, and at a distance of 10 miles therefrom; thence from said point due south to the ridge, extended if necessary, dividing the waters of the South Fork of Tule River and Deer Creek; thence westerly on said ridge to a point due south of the place of beginning; thence north to the place of beginning. U. S. GRANT. By the Executive order of August 3, 1878, all that portion of the Tule River Indian Reservation lying within the following boundary, viz: Commencing at a place where a line running due north from a point on the South Fork of the Tule River, 4 miles below the Soda Springs on said River, crosses the ridge of mountains dividing the waters of the South Fork and Middle Fork of Tule River; thence north to the ridge of mountains dividing the waters of the North Fork and Middle Fork of Tule River; thence on said ridge easterly to a point from which a line running due south would intersect a line running due east from the place of beginning and at a distance of 10 miles therefrom; thence from said point due south to the ridge of mountains dividing the waters of the South Fork and Middle Fork of Tule River; thence westerly on said ridge to the place of beginning, was restored to the public domain. YUMA RESERVATION. [Under the charge of Colorado River Agency, Arizona.] How established.-By Executive order, January 9, 1881. Acres cultivated.-Not reported. Surveyed. Tribes and population.-The tribe living here is the Yuma; population, 930.2 Location.-Situated on the west bank of the Colorado River and forming the south-east corner of the State of California. Government rations.-Not reported separately from the agency. Indian police.-None reported. Report of Indian Commissioner, 1854, p. 256. 2 Ibid., p. 284. Indian court of offences.-None reported. School population and attendance.-School population as estimated in 1886, about 100; boarding and day school accommodation, 200 boarding and 100 day; average attendance, 29; ten months' session; cost to Government, $6,066.80.1 Missionary work.-No missionary work reported among these people. Yuma Reserve. EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 6, 1883. It is hereby ordered that the following-described tract of country in the Territory of Arizona, viz, beginning at a point in the channel of the Colorado River, opposite the mouth of the Gila River, thence up the channel of the Gila River to the range line (when extended) between ranges 19 and 20 west of the Gila and Salt River meridian; thence north on said range line to the first standard parallel south; thence west on said parallel to the channel of the Colorado River; thence down the channel of said river to the place of beginning, be, and the same is hereby, withdrawn from settlement and sale and set apart as a reservation for the Yuma and such other Indians as the Secretary of the Interior may see fit to settle thereon: Provided, however, That any tract or tracts included within the above described boundaries to which valid rights have attached under the laws of the United States are hereby excluded from the reservation hereby made. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 9, 1884. In lieu of an Executive order dated July 6, 1883, setting apart certain lands in the Territory of Arizona as a reservation for the Yuma.Indians, which order is hereby cancelled, it is hereby ordered that the following-described tract of country in the State of California, except so much thereof as is embraced within the Fort Yuma Military Reservation, viz, beginning at a point in the middle of the channel of the Colorado River due east of the meander corner to sections 19 and 30, township 15 south, range 24 east, San Bernardino meridian; thence west on the line between sections 19 and 30 to the range line between townships 23 and 24 east; thence continuing west on the section line to a point which, when surveyed, will be the corner to sections 22, 23, 26, and 27, in township 15 south, range 21 east; thence south on the line between sections 26 and 27, in township 15 south, range 21 east, and continuing south on the section lines to the intersection of the international boundary, being the corner to fractional sections 34 and 35, in township 16 south, range 21 east; thence easterly on the international boundary to the middle of the channel of the Colorado River; thence up said river, in the middle of the channel thereof, to the place of beginning, be, and the same is hereby, withdrawn from settlement and sale and set apart as a reservation for the Yuma and such other Indians as the Secretary of the Interior may see fit to settle thereon: Provided, however, That any tract or tracts included within the foregoing-described boundaries to which valid rights have attached under the laws of the United States are hereby excluded out of the reservation hereby made. It is also hereby ordered that the Fort Yuma Military Reservation before mentioned be, and the same is hereby, transferred to the control of the Department of the Interior, to be used for Indian purposes in connection with the Indian reservation established by this order, said military reservation having been abandoned by the War Department for military purposes. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 1 Report of Indian Commissioner, 1886, p. lxxxviii. 2 Ibid., 1886, pp. 313-314. CHAPTER IX. INDIAN RESERVATIONS OF COLORADO. The provisions of the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo extend over the Indians of this State. That part of the lands ceded by Mexico covering the present States of Colorado and Nevada and the Territories of Utah and Wyoming were in 1850 formed into the Territory of Utah. The Indians claiming this land were the several tribes of Utes and the Shoshones who lived west of the Rocky Mountains. East of that range the Cheyenne and Arapahoes claimed the territory north of the Arkansas River, and the Kiowas and Comanches the region to the south of the river. It is stated of the Pai-Utes that when the first emigrant company passed through their territory in 1947 en route to California these Indians had "wheat and corn fields, and the company would have fared badly but for the wheat, corn, peas, and beans purchased from the Indians." In 1849 a treaty was made with the Ute Indians at Santa Fé, N. Mex., and in 1850 an agent was dispatched from the Indian Department to investigate the condition of these Indians. By the act of February 27, 1851, one agent was authorized for Utah Territory, and the laws regulating trade and intercourse extended over the Indians of that region.1 3 The stream of emigration flowing towards California demanded protection, and in accordance with the treaty of 1849 military reservations and agencies were established. They were needed not only on account of the encroachments of Mormon settlers upon the best lands, to the dissatisfaction of the Indians, who often avenged their wrongs upon the innocent, but because of a set of traders called "Freemen," a "mixture of all nations," "who settled around and among the Indians; some marrying among them," and who "induced the Indians to drive off the stock of emigrants, so as to force them to purchase of the Freemen' at exorbitant prices; and, after the emigrants had left, made a pretended purchase of the Indians for a mere trifle, and were ready to sell again to the next train, which may have been served in the same manner." 5 1 Report of Indian Commissioner, 1859, p. 366. 2 United States Statutes at Large, Vol. IV., p. 984. 3 Report of Indian Commissioner, 1850, p. 12. 4 United States Statutes at Large, Vol. IV., p. 587. 5 Report of Indian Commissioner, 1851, p. 184. Farms were opened for the Indians at Twelve-mile Creek, in the northeast portion of the present Territory of Utah, at Corn Creek, towards the western part, and at Spanish Fork, near Utah Lake. At these points and in the valleys scattered along the south-western part of the Territory the Indians were reported to be industrious and willing to learn. The agent writes in 1856 of a band living on the Santa Clara River: where their corn was 2 I visited several of their little farms or patches, feet high, which had been planted in land prepared with no other implement than a rough stick taken from the cottonwood tree, and hewn with a knife something in the shape of a spade. One instance I will mention, which shows the industry and perseverence of this band. One of the chiefs, Que-o-gan, took me to his farm and showed me the main irrigating ditch to convey the water from the river on his land, which I found to be half a mile long, 4 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and had been dug principally through a gravel bed with wooden spades, similar to the one before mentioned, and the dirt thrown out with their hands, the last being performed by the squaws and children, while the men were employed in digging. He also showed me a dam, constructed of logs and brush-wood, which he had made to turn a portion of the water from the river and convey it to his farm through this ditch. * * I saw others of a similar kind, but these I have noticed more particularly to show that, with proper assistance from the General Government, these Indians could in a few years be taught the arts of civilized life, and would depend upon their own labor for a support; and I am well persuaded that this course would be most economical and best adapted to their wants. The Piede Indians have been much diminished of late years by the cruelty practiced towards them by the Utahs in stealing their squaws and children and selling them as slaves to other tribes, as well as to the Mexican people.3 In 1859 the Indian Commissioner states, concerning the Utes: The whites are in possession of most of the little comparatively good country there is, and the game has become so scarce as no longer to afford the Indians an adequate subsistence. They are often reduced to the greatest straits, particularly in the winter, which is severe in that region, and when it is no uncommon thing for them to perish of cold and hunger. Even at other seasons numbers of them are compelled to sustain life by using for food reptiles, insects, grass-seed, and roots. Several farms have been opened for the benefit of the Indians in different localities, and many of them have manifested a disposition to aid in the cultivation of the land; but, unfortunately, most of the crops were this year destroyed by the grasshopper and other insects. Many of the numerous depredations upon the emigrants have doubtless been committed by Indians in consequence of their destitute and desperate condition. They have at times been compelled to either steal or starve, but there is reason to be apprehended that in their forays they have often been only the tools of the lawless whites residing in the Territory. That this was the case in the atrocious and dreadful massacre at Mountain Meadow in September, 1857, the facts stated in the report of the superintendent in regard to that occurrence leave no room for doubt.* Some of the Utes living in that part of Utah Territory, now covered by the State of Colorado, joined certain bands of the Jicarilla Apaches, who lived in the mountains lying between Santa Fé, Taos, and Abiquiu, in a desultory warfare; these met with a severe defeat after a vigorous campaign, and treaties of peace were made in 1855, with the 1 Report of Indian Commissioner, 1856, p. 225. 2 Ibid., p. 233. Ibid., pp. 234, Ibid., 1859, pp. 21, 22 5 Ibid.. 1860, p. 159. S. Ex. 95. -16 |