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Show COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 17 have been extremely tronblesome to, and have committed many outrages and depdations upon, the emigrant routes leading through their country. During the past summer a delegation of their chiefs and headmen visited this city, and a treaty was cuneluded with them by which the right to establish,mail stntions at the rate of one for each twenty miles of tbe routes leading through their conntry, and the safe trans,nsit of emigrants, is secured, and the Indians agree to refrain from camping along such routes, and to protect the same so far as may be in their power from the depredationa of other Indians. This treaty will in due time he laid before you for transmission to the President and Senate. In consequence of the great extent of the conntry occupied by the numerous small bands of Indians in the eastern and mutheastern portions of this super-intendency, it is exceedingly difficult for the agent now in charge to attend promptly to the exigencies of the service, which, from time to time, require his attention at different and remote points. For this reason I respectfully recom-mend that Congress he requested by you to authorize the appointment of an-other agent to be stationel at or near Port Larned, and to have under his charge the Indians of that vicinity. A valuable and very interesting report from John C. Nicolay, esq., private secretary to the President, who was appointed as secretary to the commissioners selected to attempt a negotiation of a treaty with the Utahs of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, will he found among the accompanying papers. It will be seen that by the treaty negotiated with the Tubequache hand of Utahs, as above stated, the Indian title is extinguished to one among the largest and' most valuble tracts of land ever ceded to the United States. It includes nearly all the important settlements thus far made in Colorado, and all the valuable mining districts discovered up to this time. Its importance in establishing friendly relations with these intelligent, powerful, and warlike Indians, in securing the lives and property of our settlers, and in promoting the peace and prosperity of the Territory, cannot be overestimated. I invite especial attention to the remarks of Mr. Nicolay u p n the importance of an early ratiiiciltion of the treaty, and promptness in carrying its provisions into effect. The treat7 will be duly laid before yo11 for transmission to the President and Senate, and will, I trust, receive that early and favorable consideration to which, in my judgment, it is entitled, as well on account of the intrinsic justness of its pro-visions as of the magnitude of the interests involved. DiKOTA BUPERFNTENDENCY. The condition of affairs in this superintendency is very far from satisfactory, whetbcr it be regarded with reference to those tribes with which treaty rela. tions have been established, or those with which no treaties other than of amity have been negotiated. Of the former class are the Poncas, Tanctou Sioqx, Blackfeet, Sioux of Miu. nenota, and Winnehagoes ; of .the latter are the Sioux, Gros Ventres, Mandana, Ariekarees, Assinaboines, and Crows. It will be relqembered that at the date of my last annual report the condition of the Poncas was never more flattering. 2 1 |