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Show creek [ sic] which runs into the Uintah. 104 Another council was held by the Utes in March of 1887 to protest the trespass and to demand that the cattlemen pay for the privilege. They made an agreement with one, Thomas Schofield, who agreed to pay. 105 Official disapproval of this action provoked another council held in July at which the Indians again complained that: .. . they had been overrun with this Mormon cattle for years past, that their grass was getting short and the pasturage ruined, that what little cattle they had was being stolen, or lost, or strayed among the Mormon cattle - and that for all this, they had been receiving no pay.. . former agents did not protect them. 106 The Utes agreed to fix the grazing fee at one dollar per head for each cattle for one year. However, according to Agent Byrnes only Schofield again agreed to pay. Byrnes reported: These cattlemen have given me more trouble than all my Indians or business of both Agencies [ Uintah and Ouray] for years they have controlled this reservation and most of its affairs. They have pastured their cattle for years on this reservation and swindled these Indians at every opportunity. 107 Byrnes eventually collected some money from the trespassing cattlemen. However, cattle continued to trespass on the reservation. Late in 1889 William Johnston was sent to inspect the Uintah and Uncompahgre Reservations. While at Uintah he met with Ute leaders who protested, among other things, the sheep grazing illegally along the Strawberry River and the stock being grazed east of the Strawberry, " eating up our best range." 108 In September 1890 the White River and Uintah Utes held another council to complain about the stock trespassing. They decided that all cattle were to be ordered off the reservation, and that in the future no cattle were to be allowed to pasture on their land. The agent explained the action: " .. . they would rather have peace than money from the grazing." 109 However, the stock owners protested and the agent complained that: The task of keeping the reservation clear of sheep and cattle is one of very great difficulty, accustomed as they have been to run on these grazing lands for many years. Sheep especially are held just around the border and can move on and off again any day. My men have caught and fined a number of sheepmen, but there are so many that escape, that they will run the risk. 110 Leasing the Strawberry Valley was decided as the solution to the problem. The Indian Office agreed with Agent Waugh that the area was worthless to the Utes who had not acquired " stock enough to consume the pasture and that trouble, expense, and annoyance would continue in trying to keep trespassers off." ln Legislation had been recently passed which stated that lands occupied by Indians " who have bought and paid for the same... may be leased." 112 The Indian Office interpreted the Acts of May 5, 1864, and June 1880, which 23 |