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Show 138 UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY. The remaining reservations in the Territov I have not had time to visit, and know nothing in regard to them that would be of service to the department. The Indians in Ruby valley, on the mail and telegraph lines, west of here, that range near the reservation there, are quite a numerous band, under chief Sho-kub, and are'kuown as the Ruby Valley Snakes. Their chief, Sho-kub, visited me a short time since, and I learned from him that his bands were much in need of provisions and blankets; the former, espe-cially, on account of the monopoly of the grass in their country by the mail company to feed their stock, which deprived them of the seed which they have heretofore nsed as an article of food. I am now preparing to make a trip to that section, for the purpose of relieving their immediate wants, and learning more in regard to them. I have in my possession quite a number of claims against the United States government for depredations committed by the Indians on the white settlers in this Territory, and for articles furnished and services rendered to former super-intendents and agents. I am, according to instructions received from the Indian department, investi-gating thoroughly into their justice and validity, and will soon report on them, sending the claims to the department to be acted upon. The goods sent me by the department for distribution among the Indians in this superintendencf will fall fay short of the amount requisite to keep the Indians from actna suffenug thls wmter, especially the number of blankets, thirteen hundred and sixty-two being the total number sent. This number, it will readilv be ~erceived, will not beah to he a sufficient A supply. I have already disbursed nearly the whole nnmher, and have yet to supply several large bands, besides the straggling Indians that are constantly calling on me. 1 shall soon he obliged to purchase more of tliese important articles, besides a quantity of ammunition, lead, &c., in order to deal fairly with the Indians, and keep them from suffering. The total number of Indians in this superintendency at the present time, as near as I can get at it from information in my possession, will not fall short of fifteen thousand, (15,000;) and taking into consideration the protection of the mail and telegraph lines, matters of great importance to the whole country, and in a great measure supplying the Indians in the Te ~ ~ i t owr yit h beef and flour, in addition to the usnal amount of presents given them, I would earnestly recommend an appropriation of not less than sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000) for the ensuing year, in order to be able to accomplish these objects and keep a, free and unintermpted intercourse between the Atlantic an& Pwific coasts through this country. Hoping the department will approve of the course so far pursued by me in this superintendency, and consider that the recommendation I have made in this report are the conclusions of mature deliberation, founded on knowledge nnrl helief. I have the honor to he, very respectfully, your obedient servant, mhay MARTIN, Superintendent. Eon. WM. P. DOLE, Commissionw of Indian AfZrs, Waahingtm, D. C. |