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Show INDIAN AFFAIRS. 241 lly, for which they deserve great credit, especially when it is taken in consideration at. until very recently a Ute Indian regarded manual labor as degrading and alto-ther below his dignity. In consequence of the success which these individuals ive attained many other Indians of progressive proclivities are anxious to follow < ir example, if they can obtain the necessary assistance from the Government. Al-ough I have repeatedly applied for such aid, the Department has granted the same ly to a very limited extent. There are at present 300 acres of good land under nee, 2."> 0 of which have been- cultivated and have produced fair crops. Supplies are issued weekly. The amount furnished this agencyis sadly inadequate the wants of the Indians. If issued according to instructions, each individual reives per week only about one and three- quarter pounds of beef, the same quantity Hour, a. few grains of coffee and sugar, and a little baking- powder, salt, and snap- t enough to keep them from starving. They receivo nothing else in the line of pro-dons- no bacon, no corn, no potatoes, no beans; U\ fact, absolutely nothing else. hen it is remembered that theie is no game left to speak of, it. is hard to see how » y will manage to. exist. In former years, when game was plentiful on the reserve > y were furnished supplies in abundance. Now, when the game is nearly e. xter-nated, their supplies are systematically reduced from year to jear. If no relief is mted them, they will be compelled by hunger to steal cattle, and continuous mbles, perhaps an Indian war, will be the unavoidable consequence. Means should promptly taken for their relief. During tin; past year a school- house, offices for the agent and for the php- cian have > MI erected, and a new dwelling- house for the agent has been partly completed, e latter should he finished without delay, aud all of these new buildings should " bo mted, in order to protect the lumber from the weather; but so far I have not been le to obtain authority to have it done. V day- school has not been opened, no authority having as yet been granted to en- • jre the services of a teacher. ' taring the summer a piece of land close to the agency has been cleared, fonced, and • iighr under ditch for an agency meadow. As the work was commenced too late in • season, the hay crop for this year will be small. The agency physician, who has been here for several years, possesses their conB-ice in a great degree, not only as a physician, but also as a friend, and is constantly . suited by them. The native medicine- man, however, still maintains his position " ong them, they being very superstitious, and especially inclined to belief in witch. > n the morning of the 19th day of June a cruel outrage was perpetrated on a ty of these Indians, who were peaceably hunting some distance from the reserva-n. An entire family of six persons, consisting of men, women, and children, were : rdei- ed by some white scoundrels while asleep in their teepees. News of this oc- • renco was brought to me by Indian runners on the 21st day of June. I imniedi- • ly proceeded to the scene of the massacre, accompanied by a number of chiofs, part my police, force, and two companies of United States cavalry. Wo were guided to • spot where the murders were committed by a squaw who had escaped from the ssacre. On arriving there wo found the bodies of six Indians in a condition which arly proved that they had been attacked and killed while asleep and could have en no provocation for the atrocious crime. The perpetrators of this foul murder .- e not been discovered, and even if they were known I doubt whether the State hbrities would take steps to arrest and punish them. An Indian is hardly con-red a human being by a certain class of the whites with which this part of the • ntry is disgraced. There can be no excuse for this foul crime, and it will always a foul blot upon the reputation of this country. die rumors of threatened Indian outbreaks became numerous after this, aud were - fully nourished and widely circulated by irresponsible and subsidized newspaper respondents and interested parties. Appeals for militia were made to the gov-orof the State, who, however, after careful investigation, declined to respond, view of the fact that money is scarce here at present and business very dull, a great ny people were undoubtedly disappointed by this refusal. The majority of such mis are originated by parties who would be benefited by having troops ' stationed his part of the country; for instance, ranchmen, whose limited facilities for dis-ing of their crops would be greatly enchanced by the presence of larger bodies of •> ps, or small shopkeepers, to whom. the presence'of military would open an era of ceustomed prosperity. he efficiency of the Indian police is not what might be desired. They arc, however dually improving. I have not deemed it advisable to use them where, in perform-e of their duties, they would be brought in contact with the whites, o Indian courts have as yet been established here. I have repeatedly mentioned matter to the chiefs, but finding no encouragement from them, I have dropped it il some future time. he Southern Ute Indians are no doubt inakiug some progress towards civilization. 02SS I- VOL II 10 . |