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Show It was obvious to the commission that attempts to have the Utes agree to move to one common reservation were futile, and that the alternative opened by the new instructions would have to be used. The reasons for their failure were several, as the report indicated. The Southern Utes thought of the southern portion of the Colorado Reservation as their traditional home and refused to move from that area. Because the different bands of Utes had not lived close together, as had other groups of Indians such as the Pueblo Indians, it was only natural that they would refuse to live closely bunched together on the land of the White River LItes. Furthermore, the Southern Utes did not know the land of the Northern Utes and felt that moving would create a hardship on them. It was also apparent from the report that the Utes felt cheated by the 1874 agreement and feared much the same would happen again. They had intended only to sell the mineral lands in the San Juan area, but the Government had acted differently, to the displeasure of the Utes. Finally, the Utes had received no money for the land that had been taken from them, although according to the records the Government owed them $ 80,000 in annuities. With these problems facing the commission it was necessary that alternatives to removal be discussed. The commission, leaving Colonel Pfeiffer to negotiate with the Southern Utes, departed for the other agencies. They still hoped to convince the other Utes to move onto a common reservation. If that failed then they would try to convince them to agree to give up their claim to the western and southern portions of the Colorado Reservation, areas occupied by the Southern Utes. If this was accomplished then the Government only needed to gain the acceptance of the Southern Utes to removal and the land under question could be opened to white settlement. 34 Upon returning to the southern portion of the reservation the commission found that Pfeiffer had reached an agreement with the Southern Utes. They were to move to a reservation located along the west slope of the continental divide. 35 To formalize the agreement a council was held in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, on November 9th, and a formal agreement was signed by the headmen of the three bands of the Southern Utes. 36 The Utes were to relinquish their claim to the rectangular shaped land known as the southern portion of the Colorado Reservation, as well as all claim to the confederated reservation north of the San Juan mining district. 37 The land for the new reservation was to be designated by the President, and they were to prepare to move onto this newly defined land during the spring and summer of 1879. The new agency was to be located on the Navajo River, east of the old agency. The agreement as presented to Congress for its approval read: First. The said Muache, Capote, and Weeminuche bands of Ute Indians agree to release and relinquish to the said United States of America all their right to and interest in the Confederated Ute Reservation in the State of Colorado, and especially to the southern portion thereof, to wit, that part lying south of the parallel of thirty- eight degrees and ten minutes ( 38° 10'), of which they are now in occupancy; and they agree to the territory hereinafter mentioned in the second article of agreement, during the spring and summer of the year A. D. 1879, and as soon as an agency shall be located and building erected on the said last- named territory. 34. U. S., Congress, House, Message from the President of the United States, Transmitting the Report of the Commission Appointed to Make Certain Negotiations with the Indians of Colorado, House of Representatives, Ex. Doc. No. 84, 45th Cong., 3d Sess., Ser. No. 1858, February 8, 1879, p. 3. Hereafter cited as Report of the Ute Commission of 1879 to Congress . . . 35. Ibid. 36. Ibid., p. 2. 37. Ibid., p. 3. Stated in a letter from the Commissioner to the Secretary of the Interior. - 15- |