| OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XIX ' The geographical position of the White River Agemy is of a very pe: culimoharmter, and the query forcibly presents itself why such.a loca-tion was chosen at all. It can be reached only from the north by but one road, which during some seasons is passable for the transportation of freight but little over two months in theyear, and is open on an average only fmm four to six months in a year. The surrounding country is broken; is out of the lime of ordinary emigration westward; and, abounding in game,is in most respects a paradise for wild Indians. Under these circumstimces it is not strange that Agent Meeker found the White River Utes to be a thoroughly wild and barbarous people, upon whom civilization had had scarcely any perceptible effect. Soon after hisappointment, Agent Meeker advised the i.emova1 of the agency from its old site to a point fifteen miles south, where a milder climate and more arable land was to be found, and =here there w& a better opportunity for putting the Indians at work. The agency was accordingly removed, new buildings were ereow, and quite an cxtenaive irrigating ditchwas dug with Indian labor, and for a while the Indians, especially those of Douglas's band, seemed contented with their agcnt. The rival chief Jack, however, was opposed to the change of the agency, still remained with his people at the old location, and resisted all at-tempts to interest him in any improvements. During last winter and spring frequent complaints were made by the agent, both to this office and to the military, relative to the absence of his Indians from their reservation, two of which are as follows: WHITE RIVER AGEXCY, COLORADO, March 17, 1679. BIR: Ism informed that some tKity mite River Utes are about to start for the aorth, hsving heard of the fighting in the Upper. Miheonri oountry. Their object probably is to supply smmunition to the hastilea, aud they get full supplies at the stores on Snake and Bear Riven. , Thase belong to the adverse faction, who will not loork,.and, havingno &xed homes norinterest, they can atart off at any time. I have aent this information to the commandant at Fort Steele, and I have repeatedly re-portedto you of the sale of ammunition at tthes sstoee, and also reported the same to the oommsndsnt at Fort Stesle. Something like a dozen In@m are honestly at work in building and preparing ldnd to plant, and I sm doing all that possibly can be done to expedite auoh intereat, whioh on new land does not grow rapidly, but we are making gaod pmgreea . ,Bx., onother year I hopethe fruits of industry will be such ss to keep all the Indim on tKe , , reservation. . ReapeotfuUy, ' N. C. MEEKER, Indian Agent. Eon. E. A. HAYT, Cornmiaaionsr of Indian Afairt, Wathinqton, D; C. WAR DEPART~~NT, Waakbtgiint Gity, April 9, 1679. SIR: I hsve the honor to transmit for your information copy of s. eommnniostiou from Mr. N. C. Meeker, Indian Agent at White River Agency, stating that a large part of White River Utes are abont to start north, probably for the scene of Indian tronbles, |
