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Show and in New Mexico, south of it. The population is increasing and will continue to increase, and the prevailing and only sentiment among the people is that the Utes should not be permanently settled on the land selected for them. There will be on the high lands between these streams large bodies of land, much of it barren, that in due time will be open to such of our people as may desire to go in, whether their errand be to dwell, prospect, or annoy the Indians. In such a condition of things, to assume that the Utes will not be disturbed, but permitted to dwell in peace, would be to nurture a delusion of the gravest kind. 63 Added to the pressure of the white settlers in the area was the presence of the railroad. Because of the large number of mining operations and development of southwest Colorado, the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad extended its lines from Alamosa to Durango, and finally into Silverton, the center of the activity in the San Juan Mountain area. The line from Alamosa to Durango crossed both the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, lying just southeast of the Ute Reservation but in the Territory of New Mexico, and the Southern Ute Reservation. Trouble developed when the railroad company failed to receive official sanction from either the Secretary of the Interior or the Ute Indians to construct its grades across the reservation. 64 Finally the Secretary of the Interior responded to the railroad's efforts to build the line across the reservation and allowed construction to continue but forced the company to dismantle an " instant" town, Arboles, that had sprung up on the reservation. 65 This effort was noted in the annual report of the Southern Ute agent when he wrote: Arboles, a new station of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company, having been located on the Rio San Juan, on the reservation, at once became a frontier railroad town of the worst description, made up principally of saloons and dance- houses and filled with outlaws of both sexes. This town lasted but a few days. All trespassers were at once successfully removed without serious difficulty. 66 The railroad's presence added to the Indian's frustration. The Indians had been told they were to be moved but were not. At the same time their reservation was being invaded by increasing numbers of whites. The Indians responded to this by demanding compensation from the railroad company for the right of way and for the materials used from their reservation. Manypenny was able to persuade the Indians to allow the work to go on while the Government handled the negotiations with the company. 67 Nonetheless, the Indians were upset at the increased travel on their reservation. This antagonism of the Utes and the land- hunger of the white community forced Congress to speed the removal of the Indians. It was obvious that the land of the La Plata was not sufficient for the Utes, but it was also obvious that the people of the area did not want the Utes left where they were. A new effort was sparked to find another location for the Utes. The first of the bills asking for this removal were introduced by Senators Teller and Hill. Teller introduced three bills, Senate Bills Number 1847, 1848 and 1849, asking that the Senate accept and ratify the agreement of 1880 and make the necessary appropria- 63. Ibid. 64. Ibid., p. 392; Report of the Ute Commission of January 27, 1881, Ex. Doc. No. 31, pp. 81- 82; Durango Record, June 18, 1881, p. 1; Durango Herald, July 28, 1881, p. 1. 65. Durango Record, June 18, 1881, p. 1. 66. Report of the Secretary of the Interior, 1881, op. cit., p. 82. By July 27 the railroad had established its terminal at Durango and was bringing people into the area in increasing numbers. 67. Ibid. - 27- |