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Show REPORT OF THE COMMIS8IONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XXXVIl Colorado, we can properly consider whdt is the best method of extin-guishing the Indian title thereto without injustice to the Indians and without violating the plighted faith'of the Government of the United States. The first step in that direction will be to provide by lam for a co~nmissionto visit the Utes and obtain their oonsent to remove from the State to some other location--say to the Indian Territory-on condition of their receiving pay for the value. of their lands in Col-orado, the same to beobtained by ~ppraisemenat nd sale, in the same manner in which certain Kansas and Nebraska lands have been disposed of for the benetit of Indians who formerly resided within their limits. *If a of this kind should be fairly presented to the ~ t e s ,h'a~ve no doubt they would give their consent, rts scores of other Indian tribes, both the wildest and the most civilized, have consented under simitar circumstances. There are other wmiderations in the case of the Ute Indians which might be considered in connection with the proposed removal. The Ute country at present' abounds in game, and as long as that shall be the case the Indians will not work. Moreover, their location is admirably adapted to both defensive and aggreasivc Indian warfue. Its gco. graphical position is also anadvantage by which in time of war the Utes can draw largely on the neighboring Indians for assistance either in merl or food. The advantages to be obtained by removing them to the Indian Ter-ritory are (1) an abundant supply of arable land for cultivation; (2) immu-niky from white encroachment ; and (3) better security for keeping the Indians peaceful, aa the coantry is not adapted to Indian fightihg and everywhere offers open fields for the use of artillery and all the appli-ances of civilized warfare, so that whatever be the disposition of the Indians, if resort to force should benccessary, it could be made effective in the interests of peace. THE UTE COMMISSION OF 1878.' As was stated in the report of last year, the Ute co~pmissiona ppoint-ed May 24,1878, obtained from the Capote, Muache, and Weeminnche Utes, who occnpied the southern strip of the Ute Reservation, an agree-ment to relinquish all that part of the reserve lying south of parallel 380 lo', and to remove to a reservation on the headma,ters of the Piedra, San Juan, Bh n ~ oN, avajo, and Chama Rivers, in Southern Uolorado, as soon as the agency could be removed thither and buildings erected. The cession was concurred in by all the other bands of Utes. The area proposed to be ceded embrwes about 1,804,400 acres, an escess of 728,320 acres over the proposed new rarerve of 1,166,080 acres. The report of the Commissioners, together with the agreement, which will be found on pages 170of this report, ma8 forwarded to the President, February 3d, 1879, for submission to Congress, with the reoommcndation that the agreement, be ratified, and that Congress pmvide for the ap. praisement and salt? of the lmds ceded; the proceeds thereof, after de- |