SAN JOAQUIN INDIAN RESERVATION, Fresno River, June 20, 1851.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the application, bond, and license of Major James D. Savage and L. D. Vinsonhaler as traders upon the Indian reservation between the Chouchille river and the Cowier, or first of the Four creeks. Both of the applicants are well known to me and to the people generally of California. The first has resided several years among the Indians here, speaks their language, and has acquired immense influence over them.
He has recently been in command as major of the battalion of California volunteers, and his knowledge of the Indians here did much to surprise them in the mountains, and bring them to terms.
The other, L. D. Vinsonhaler, has been a traveller with Colonel Fremont; and is esteemed by him as a sterling man. The Indians of the San Joaquin river know him well, and seem to have great regard for him.
The application was made on the 12th of May last, in which they propose employing as clerks M. B. Lewis nnd William Randolph; both of whom I know personally, and can vouch for their good characters.
The bond dated May 20, A. D. 1851, in the penal sum of four thousand dollars, with the Hon. J.C. Fremont as surety, has been approved by me, being fully satisfied of its sufficiency.
I have already placed the applicants upon the reservation under the license, and charge them the sum of twelve hundred dollars per annum. The Indians are collected on the Fresno river to the number of about
twelve hundred, and I doubt the capacity of any other man in California than Savage to manage them so satisfactorily as he seems to have done thus far.
His personal influence with them is of immense advantage in my intercourse with them, and he attends personally to their wants, &c.;
For my apology in not first transmitting the papers connected with the application for license, as required by the second section of the act of June 2, 1834, I refer to my communications with other applications of a similar character.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
ADAM JOHNSTON,
lndian Sub-agent, Valley of San Joaquin.
