OCR Text |
Show 59 geographical knowledge of the country, its exact limits could not be defined. The tract set apart by following . what are supposed to be dividing edges, so as to include the whole region traversed and drained by the Uintah river and its upper branches down to its junction with the Green river, is understood to be ample in extent, containing two million acres, abounding in valleys of great fertility, with all the necessary water-power for mills, and having an abundance of timber; indeed, as being admirably adapted for the purposes of a large Indian reservation. Many of the Indians exhibit a desire to be placed upon it, and undertake in earnest the pursuit of agriculture. A difficulty presents itself in the want of accurately surveyed lines , so that, by the exclusion of whites from there, the Indians may be left in undisturbed possession, and I recommend that application be made to Congress for an appropriation for the purpose of making this survey; but meantime the superintendent has been directed to warn all white settlers now on the tract to leave it, (describing it as fully as possible) and to notify all other white persons, who may be found upon the reservation when its limits shall be definitely established, that they will be required to move. The superintendent has further been instructed to prepare and submit, as soon as possible, a plan for removing the Indians from the old reservations to the Uintah valley. It is confidently expected that the most gratifying results will follow the completion of the plans thus set on foot for the concentration of the Indians in their new homes.!" During thevfinal months of the Civil War, 0. H. Irish was sent to be Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Utah. Irish brought insight, direction, and determination to his job. He not only visited the various Indian bands, but also moved with dispatch to formalize the land commitments of the United States Government. After determined work to alleviate the complaints of*the Indians, he moved to the central issue of removing the Indians to the Uintah Valley reservation, and thus to the solution of the conflict called the "Black -^Report of the Secretary of the Interior, 1862, pp. l60-l6l. |