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Show 119 in Utah. The Indians have filed title to the land and only the military can chase them out.22 Fortunately his investigations led him to other areas. At Bear River he was impressed with the industry, dedication and prosperity of the Indian people there, in spite of the fact that the U. S. District Attorney Sumner Howard had given an adverse report only a few months before. More important still, Critchlow made his report directly and honestly. After his visit to Thistle Valley, Critchlow petitioned Commissioner Hayt, "...let the Indians stay in Thistle Valley and help them and see what they can do." Thus the overworked and aged agent moved to quash an attempt to remove the Indians from the proximity of the Mormon communities, where they were, by and large, faring better than their fellow Utes on the Uintah Reservation. Critchlow was honest; even though he had helped to create the original investigation, probably out of frustration and failure, he rose to the occasion when he saw what he considered to be the good intentions of the Mormons. Probably no better evidence exists of Critchlow's success at the Uintah agency than the response of the Utes to two times of crisis The first came in I876 when Custer was defeated. He reported: About the close of June last I received a telegram which I forwarded to the Department*, from an officer in General Crook's command, desiring me to send as many of my Indians as I could to operate against the Sioux. I 22Ibid. 23oiA, Utah, 1877. |