OCR Text |
Show I , 360 ' REPORTS OF AGENTS IN UTAH. 1 i I wquired of them. No contracts nre let for the prouuriog of material, erection of buildings' or making repairs. These naattets are all done by our ordinary employ6s. Several new buildings are necessary for the proper equipment of this agency, in addition to the one for , boardiug and lodging purposes for Indian oltildren above mentioned. The agent, who hasi~ithertoli ved ~ 4 t heo naiderable discomfort lo B smdl division of the school-house. should have a dwelling more oomfurtable and convenient. Asuitnble store-house / for the srfr-keeping of supplies, shops for carpenter and blacksmith, 8. slaughter-house, and I s. suitable house or sheds for storing machinery and f~miog-implements, are sli very much I needed. Theereation of all or any of thesewill neee~sitstst he employment of an additional j forre aud of course much additions1 enpende. Till quite recently. the Indisos did not ds-sire "i\merican house&." but they are fast changioe their n~inda, and sme.verd of tbem, Chief 1 Tabby among the number, are asking for houses, and are willing to help build them. This ! we regnid il fsvorable sign of progress, and shall gratify their desires as suun ss possible. , No trouble has oocurred doring tbsyear, either among the Irzdians themselves or between : them and the whites, calling for the interference of the agent, or any outside parties. One circumstance has occurred since the eommeoeament of this report. wlbicb has mat s I, gloom over ali, both Indiaus and whites, conoectod with tltis egenr.y, and gives additional I emphssia to my earnest appeal for the employment of a pbys~cian or surgeon on this res- 1 ervation. On the 7th instant, while my blacksmith, Charles Beatly, wes engaged an the Indian farm, siding in cuttirlg their wheat, an Iodisn was shooting at a mark, &od either i did not see him or the ball glanced and struck Mr. Bently in tba right arm whila stooping, 1 passed through it, entered his side, and lodged in the region of the kidney, producing very painful, and we feared fatsl, wounds; but the sytnptoms are more favorable, and we are I euoou~npedto ilope for a favorableissue. We are glad to be sjsi~redth at this was sn sccident, parfeetly unintentional, on the part of the Indian, and that the Indians 811 express much concern nbont the matter: yet snoh acowrreoees may teke place at any time, though the 1 utmost care he exercised; nod as it would be impossible to procure a surgeon in any re* sonabis tlme, w* are in constant droad of sickness or accidents esiiiug for his aid. None but reckless men will, for ordinary compensation, if at ail, run such risks. Not more than three-eighth8 of the Indians belongin to this agency are subsisted by issne of Go~ernrreotr ations; and ns they procure the ba%.nea, five-eighths, by their own ener- I tions, it will readily be seen how much credit is due oar Indians for their industl.y, and alao how far rhort the Governwent comes of eltabling them to develop their industry and re- 80uroes. Our Indinns aornetimes allude to the fact, and oonlplain of it, that those who do , not work get more than they do. I am inclined to think there are, in Borne cases, grounds for their complaints. I I h&ve procured a th~eshiog-machine, so tl~at we will he better able in fntnre to secure , all their grain-craps, and ascertain the amount. They desire me to purchaae their surplus 1 wheat, and thus, asthey my, encourage greater productiw. I have reoa~nmended this plan I to the Depsrtment, and desire its f~.vornblec oosideration. A fi~isi ~ p p l yof beef is on* of ' the most costly but essential items of subsistence. I hare more than once recommended the stockiug of this rsservation with eattlc, so th&t all tbs cattle necessary fur beef and work oxen might be raised with eomp,vativaly small outlay. With $15,000 expended for staek-cattle at once, this agency would never call for soother dollar for beef or work-cattle. Be-sides, with judicious rneuaaernent, deserving Indiana might be enwurkged by tits present-ation of a oow and eslf LW B reward of industry and good eondact, and uitim~tely the whale stock might he turned over to them, and the Government relieved from any rmponsi. , biiity far their subsiateuee, which should be brought about at the earliest possible time. The indiaoriminnte distribution of supplies to nil, industrious and idle alike, I have always regarded as demoralizing in its effeats, tending rather to encourage indolence than industry. Hence I reward tbe provision in the late appropriation law for the Indintr ~crvioe,m akiug labor I+ canaition-Precedent to receiving supplies, as s step in the right direelion. I heva notified th, Indians of the requirement, slid of my intentiou to insist on compliance with it, which will be done so frr as pmcticable. In wmo!usion, I can only regret that I hsve been unable to contribute any ethnological information or spceimens of value. This conntry t~rd tribe have been so thoroughly can-vassed by Major Pussli and others that I have not been able to procure anything of value or interest, &nd trust that the gt.eat exhibition in cootemplstion, in which I feel great pride and interest, will not auffer t.l:eishy. Eespectfully submitted. F. J. CEITCHLOW, United Stales Indian Agent. Hon. E. P. SMIT~I, Cornrnissionev of Indian Affaim, l~ashin~6.'nD, . C. |