OCR Text |
Show On their hunting expeditions they sometimes visit frontier settlements, for purposes of begging and stealing. They also permit Xavajoes to pass through their country with stolen stock. They continually promise to cease depredations, but do not keep such promise. The Fish Utes have expressed much desire to cultivate land, and they promise to re-main in their own country if an employ6 is sent there to &st them in farming. They do not wish to go upon the Uintah reservation. I do not recommend that a farm be opened for theseIndians upon the land they now occupy, as if the reserration prospers I think they can be induced to move upon it. The Uintah Utes reside upon the Uintah Valley reservation, hence their name. They comprise Utes of ditierent tribes, who have moved upon said reservation for permanezit abode. Among these Indians are. some of the best and most influential Indians of the superintendency. The principal chiefs are earnest advocates of farming, and themselves perform considerable labor. Many of these Indians cultivate land, and are much interested in their crops. All of theseIndian6 do much hunt-ing and fishing, some of them are disinclined to labor and prefer to spend all their time in hunting and fishing. The reservation comprises that tract. of land which is drained by the Uintah River. It is beautiful and fertile, apd is of sufficient size to ae-cornmodate dl the bands of Indians speaking the Ute language in this Territory. On the prosperity of the Indiansupon this reservation depends much of the successof this superintendency. Wliene-ver such abundantsupplies. are raised upon the reservation that the Indians can then be bountifully subsisted, the Ute Indiansof the Territory will, of their own desire, move thereon. With the appropriations that hare heretofore been made, and with good success at the agency, 1 think in three years' time most of the Utes of this superintendency would more upon the reservation without expense to the Government. If that can be done, I see no reason why those Indians cannot become self-sustaining. Tosecure this, much depends upon the agent, who should be energetic and interested in his duty. The present agent has damaged rather then benefited the Indians. The farm is not in as good condition as when his administra-tion commenced. And his conduct has been such that quite a number of Indians have left the reservation with determination not to return while be is agent. I would respectfully recommend that a considerable sum from the ap-propriation for incidenhl expenses be used on the reservatlon. There is an excellent water-power at the agencF, and I would recommend the purchase of a water-wheel for the erection of a saw mill, part of the ma-chinerv for which is now on hand. When anv considerable amount of grain h i>iised u))on the reservation, a mill for grinding will he needed. A s~uallu lditional a-u-p ~.-o ~ri;ltiomna v he necessary fur the erection of such mill. There has been culti-vated at the agency about eighty acres of laud. Part of the labor has been performed by white employ6s and part by the Indians. The crop was much injured by grasshoppers and will not be of average quantity. It is necessary to haul to the agency this year a large amount of pro-risions, as large numbers of Indians from Colorado and Mwns, often collect at the agencx during the winter, and it is necessar1 to furnish them with subsistence to keep them quiet and to prerent their killing Gorernment stock. Aooneiderableamount of supplies will also be needed |