Page 16

16              REPORTS OF AGENTS IN         CALIFORNIA. 
agency about sufficient to pay the miller's salary. The saw-mill has cut
2713,000 feet 
of lumber. Much more could be cut if we had funds to pay running expenses,
which 
we could easily obtain if permitted to sell lumber sufficient therefor. 
APPRENTICES. 
Apprentices have worked at the various trades, carpentering, blacksmithing,
mill- 
ing, herding, and office work, and have made some progress. 
FINANCIAL. 
The agency pays most of its own workmen (all except physician, clerk, and
teach- 
ers) out of funds raised on the reservation or miscellaneous funds, Class
II, and if the 
reservation could be cleared of all settlers and trespassers, could in few
years be fully 
self-supporting. 
SANITARY CONDITION. 
The sanitary condition of the Indians is still improving, as shown by the
excess of 
births over deaths the past year. There is still room for great improvement.
EDUCATIONAL. 
During July of last year our boarding-school buildings were burned, and thus
we 
were thrown back to our old day school, with a few boarders whom we wished
to keep 
from the camps. It is our experience that but little progress can be made
in their 
education while they are allowed to run in the camp, subject to the taunts
and jeers 
of the old and the contaminations of the younger and middle aged. There is
an in- 
creasing desire for education, but most parents are averse to sending their
children 
away to school. 
MISSIONARY WORK. 
No missionary was sent to this people last year, and yet regular services
have been 
maintained most of the year by the agent and employ6s. It is to be hoped
that the 
church will send a good missionary who will care for the souls of this people.
CIVILIZATION. 
Could these Indians have their lands in severqlty, they would (most of them)
gladly 
undertake to support themselves, with a little assistance in the way of stock
and im- 
provements. They already do a large share of the work that is done for the
people of 
this vicinity, and, with the exception of skilled labor in the trades, are
capable of 
doing most ordinary work under supervision, and some without. 
Intoxicants are their bane. They will spend their "money for that which
is not 
bread." I have only been able to get evidence against one liquor seller,
whose case is 
now before the United States district court. By a decision of the superior
judge of 
this county all Indians, except those under the care of an agent of the United
States, 
are citizens of the United States, and entitled to purchase liquor or anything
any other 
citizens can purchase, and having the liberty to purchase gives the liquor
seller the 
right to sell to them. This decision is working terrible results in this
county. 
COURT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 
The court of Indian affairs was duly organized and has had a salutary effect
upon 
the Indians of the agency, but needs to be supplemented by a good police.
FINAL. 
This will be my last annual report, as I tendered my resignation the 1st
day of May 
last, being unwilling longer to submit myself to the annoyances subject to
this posi- 
tion. I have tried to serve the Government and the Indians for seven years
to the 
best of my ability. Conscious that I have made mistakes, and have not done
as well 
-s others might, yet I have done the best I could under the circumstances.
With many thanks for the kind treatment I have received from your office,
and 
with my best wishes for the prosperity and true civilization of this people,
I have the 
honor to remain, most respectfully, your obedient servant, 
H. B. SHELDON, 
United States Indian Agent. 
The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.