OCR Text |
Show 166 unto the day is the evil thereof," being the motto. They are using grain-cradles to cut grain instead of hand-sickles, and, though awkward, cause the "harvest moon" to smile. No wheat was sown, owing to not getting seed wheat in time, and the slow advance of the season.10 This is evidence of poor performance. After four years with large budgets from the federal treasury, the meagre amount of food produced to feed the 1,252 Indians there was disappointing to the federal officials. When Gardner's clerk stole part of the agency funds and fled to Mexico, the federal government began looking for alternatives to the seemingly hopeless situation at Ouray. It was not until 1898 that land was purchased for the Uncompahgres on the Uintah reservation. By then only 200 total acres were under cultivation in that 2,000,000 acre reservation. The Uintah Agency under the administration of Elisha W. Davis was able to make substantial progress in spite of handling a factional problem between the White Rivers and the Uintahs. In his third report, Davis reviewed with great accuracy the events of the past few years: No great event transpired during the past year to make it more noticeable than others. Profound peace has prevailed among these Indians, only disturbed 10 J. F. Gardner to Commissioner, August 12, 1885 in RCIA, 1885, pp. 180-181. |