| OCR Text |
Show REPORTS OF AGENTS IN COLORADO. shsd condition. There had been no ice ssved during the winter to make the roily tepid, slkali waterof theUncompahp endamblednriog thesultrymonthsof summer, Prom the same canse,perhaps, the farm and garden had been neglected, to the end that there will he nofeedrsisedfortheageney stock, nor vegetables worth mentioning, s t this ageucytbis season. The agenoy buildings are of an inferior quality,and all unfinished, bot I have taken steps to put them in as aervicesble condition ss possible, nnder existing oiroom-stances; to a11 of which the attention of Commissioner D. H. Jerome, while here, waa invited. The time I have been here has been too short for me to form any accnratte opinion of the Ules as a people, or to determine the best policy to adopt to lead them into the paths and ways of civilization; yet I hope that I ceo, in time, with the kindly aaaiat-aoce of the department and the citizens of Colorado who live in close proxtmity to the agency and reservation, do mnoh toward domest;catiog the Utea-the Erst great step, in myjudgmant, in the direotian of their oiviliss,tion. In weaning then) from their migratory or roving habits and inducing them to permanently locate homes far them-selves and families, lies the solationof the problem of Ute civilization. By frank, firm, and honest treatment of the Utes, I think much oan be done with and for them. They appear tractable, honest, paweable, and kindly disposed, and to accomplish anything in the way of Improving their condition, it is only neoesaary to gain their oonfidonee and reapeot, which many of them seem to hsve lost in all whlte men. Nevertheleas I have hopes of acoomplisbing muoh with them. Like children, the Utes need kindly but firm and honest treatment for their sncoesaful government. While they are not a8 cleanly in their peraons and habits as mmy white people, they are not so far re-moved, in those pnrticul&rs, from others as ciroumstanoes and loose reports would seem to indioate. T>e failure of the Utes to get the $10,000 down for the "fonr miles porohasq" as they no doobt believe and understood they were to hsve down as soon as they signed the treaty, has been a great source of snnoymoe to the agent, sod was to the commis-sioner (D. H. Jerome) while here, soda fruitful oaose of mistrust sod discontent on the part of theUtes; and I beg leave tasuggeat that Congress take sotioo onsaid treaty aa early a8 it may aeem just and praotioable with other responsibilities which they hsve to deal with, and put the Utes at reat on that score and aave the agent much an-noyance. The trip of the young and inexperienoed Utes-boys the older Indians oall them-to Washington last winter resolted in no good bnt injuriously to tbe service here, in this When tho agent talka of work or boilding oabins for permanent homes the "boys," as theycall them,areimmediately qooted: "Theyno wa.ntUteworkatWaPbington." L'They say nothing about work at Washin$ton." "They say at Washington no want Ute to work; white man work; Ute hunt." This is the result either of 8. misunderstanding or willfol lying on the part of the Utes, or deliberate treachery on the part of the i ~ t e r - preter or sonie other person who assumed the right to speak for the authorities at Washington while the Indians were there. The number of Utes who are entitled to rations at this agency has been, I am told, and is yet.& matter of grave doubt, which I hope to be able to solve this coming fall and winter, by getting an arttual conot when the Utes are all in from honting and camped in the valleys. And until sooh'times I will he aompelled to set upon sn ap-proximate estimate founded upon information obtained from chiefs, headmen, ex-agents and others. Thestatistioalreport,herewith, was made from very uosatisf~ctoryd ais, but was the best evidence at hand. Hoping to be able in the future to render a more full, reliable, and satisfactory re-port to myself and department, I am, moot respectfully, your obedient servant, WILSON M. STANLEY, L'nilrd Stales Indian dgent. The Corrnrssroasn o r INDIAXA aanIns. GOUTUERN ~ J T EA GEXCYC. OI.ORADO. August 24 1879. SIR: I have the honor to submit my first snood report. In obedience to direction of the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs, dated February 4, 18i9, I proceeded to the Sonthern Ute Agency, Colorado, at which plaoe I arrived and assumed ohsrge March 18,1879, relieving Joseph B. Halt, farmer in charge, receipting to him for ell United States property, aupolies, &o., at the agency. That portion of the Ute tribe known as Southern Ute'tea, and cousisting of Weemiouche, Capate, and Muachs bands, are located on the Southern Ute Reservation, io the south western part of Colorado, bordering on New Mexico. The agency buildings, two in number, are located an Rio Los Pinos, fifty-two mlles west of Fort Lewis, the nearest |
