OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF AGENT IN UTAH. three for Uintah-not to do the work for the Indians but to teach them how to do it themselves, to help them to select good plaoes for tieir fields, to show them hna Ia fence theaame, and to break their laud, and plant, irrigate, oultivate, and hervest their crops. Then, fewer blankets ~ n md o re feooe-wire and agrioultoral implements, less 'tepee clothand more lumber, the issue afthe agency herds of cattle to them in sever-alty, some sort of compulsion in the matter of sending their children to sohool, and t h e allat~nento f lands to them in severalty as soon and a8 ggenerally ails the same oAn be done. The work of civilizing the Utes will be slow under any condition of things. It w i l l take more than one generation, under the mast favorable oiroumstaneea and wit,h the beat means that can possibly be devised, to elevats them to a satisfactory :standard of civilization. Bnt with reasonable faoilities at his command, aodan ade-quate force of indnstrial teachers, as above au ested, I believe any competent, agent ..could make them produce from tna first year aqfof everything they need for their sup-port except beef; and byissuingthn agency cattle to them in severalty, and giving them proper encouragement and attention, they could be made in s few years to produce 'theirownmeat supply. I believe the accomplishment of allthis by acompetent agent, with tha means at his command, would be not only possih1,le but oasy enough; and, if ;so, it would be far better for theGovernment, end hatter still forthe Indiana, than the policy now pursued towards them. With great respect, I have the honor to br*, sir, Your obedient servant, EUGENE E. WRITE, 8pe&aZ Agent at Larr~ei, n Cka~geof Uintah and Owray Agenog. The COXMI~~IONoErR I NDIAANFF AIRS ~ ~ , . " Sra: In oom liance with your iustnlctions, I have the honor to snbmit the follow-i. n-o- r~ en.,o.r t. of agairn a t this scene*. firr the Fiacsl vearendine June 30. 1W: ~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ The ~ a b , : ~ ~ ~b;a,ncal~ofl e17 1e indisns, for wh&u wnlfaro';hisap~eS vxihfh, oecntpy a waervatiu!t ot' I.YSJ.44U acn.3 in Vintalh Colmrp, l .~taIr~o,n nlrllu_rrf orthe tuoal n n n of ?arnv, sterile l;tod, thong11 rapilhlo 01' hninx uadu ibnila and prodnutiva by irri-gatlon. The ye= has been marked by events of more or less importance, and, dndfol of the dictum of the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs that "rose-colored" state-ments are not wanted, I am compelled to say i t hm not been a. su~cessfuoln e, so far s~ any noticeable progrws has been made by these Indims towards oivilieation and independence. HABITS AND CONDIIION OR INDIAN& T.h. c. mTn.d-i.s-ns- a.r e what is known a8 "blanket " Indians: as a role are bsv, shiftless, ~~~~ viciuur, and deoacly iflorunt; content to live the barhn;ousliie of thaiiincerturs; perpctudly loilliug urunud, when out un tlbuir wandering hnnfing trips, like aomaoy Jli~..awbera,o ver rrnitiogli,~h ornetbingrolurrt u p ; without energy, amhilion, or any rhought of their future. They hnsn no respect for the white man or his a n w , and 1,ut ,lttie lbr the Government, for tho lntter hasnever forced thpirres7 ect, and has let 1he111h srr fhrlr own nav so lonx lllar they haro oome to lorlinse r log will ahraga be allowed to remain in theirpreGot barbaious state undisturbed. Polygamy and gambling are their prevailiog viees, the former borrowed from the tenets of the Mormon Chumh, not beosuse it has ans religions signiticance, but that it agrees with their inolinations. This vice has not been llroken or cheeked, simply beoauae the masos or power is not at hand to do so. Thus ?t is that whjle varipus misrlemesnors and three murders ocourred during the year ~ tw, a s found ~mposs~ble to briug the offenders to justice. There is here no police foroe or coort of Indian offenses, or any of the adjuncts towards the securement of law and order. The neareat militsry is newly 200 miles away, beyond reach or call, sod in winter time, when the mountain roads are blooked by snow and ice, might be a thoussod miles ior all the protaction afforded. The Indian is the master of the situation, and he knows it. He won't work, hecisuse he isn't forced to it and it is beneath his dignity. Besides, that far sway, mystical, beneficent " Wlashiugton" kindly furnishes him with food,, clothing, .and pooket-money (which is quitenatural and just, and will always contmnt~e,h e thmnkn). Then why shollld he work$ He don't. Ha placidly sits on the bank3of the White and Green Rivera, kioks his feet in the muddy waters, longing and dreamlug, perhaps, for tho coming of the Indian millenniom-the downfall of the whites, his country regained, the delrghta of the chase and trail, as in days of yore. |