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Show , ~ . ~ --.~-~ ~~~.~ ~~~ .~ ~ ~.~ ~ ~ ~-.~ .~~ ~ . , . ~ . .~ I . . . . HEPORT OP AGENT IN COLORAPO. 121 north and south, aontaining an area of 1,710 square miles and over l,CM,00,000 acres of land. The reservation is traversed north and sonth by the dnimas, La Plats, Man- 008, Pine, Piedra,, San Juan and Florida rivers. The number of acres susceptible to agrioulture is in excess of the available sopply of water for irrigation, yet there is en ahondance of both to meet the needs and demands of the U t a for decades, if n6t generations, yet to came. location and bnildings.-The agency is located on Pine River 1S milee from the Denver and Rio Orande Railroad and 24 mileasoutheaat of Durango, theleading city in southwestern Colomdo. The bnildings st thia agency are conceded by inspect-ors to be the most worthless in the service, and will no doubt eontiune to monop-olize distinction in this direction until the element of doubt respectino the future home of the Utes shall be remored. Thcy are located on a high-water?sland same 10 feet above the river bed, t,he point of location having evidently been selected with the double view of necessitating hauling water for domestic use and avoiding irrigation facilities necessary to growth of shacle trees, flowers, andlawn. The gen-tleman who did the locaiing has since died. Popnlstion.-The Southern Ute Indians aggregate in nnmber 1,016, divided aa fol-lows: Weeminuoheea, 653. Moaches, 273; Capotan, 190; males,blO; fenrales506. Of school age 127 males, 147 lamalea. I believe the aggregate in exeess of the number of Utes, and am now engaged in seooud oensun with view df weeding dead Indians from rolle and securing accurate statistics. To do this I have secured colored pay and ration tickets, e different hue for each tribe. I eheckahenexohanging tickets and when isauing annuities, nnd an pay day shall demand that each benetioiary t~ppcal. in person and be identified. Xissionary work.-Rev. A. J. Rodriquien, of the Presbyterian Church, is in charge of missionary work, aud those of his race upon the border being of an oppoaing relig-ious creed his system of redemption hasmuch that is of a oontbstive and aggrewive character to oontend with. However, hs is e man of energy and a, tireless toiler for goad, and may yet accomplish what n.ow seems a, hopeless task. Condition.-The Utes are what ia termed "blanket Indisn8,"and as will be observed by reference to atstiatics for preceding gear, but a small per Gent utilize eitieena' dreaa in whole or in part. However, the agent and omployBs have prevailed upon some 70 of them to cast aside the blankets thia season, andwe feel that another year will find the major portion of them wearing-pnnts vasts, and hsts. They are, as a whole, indolent, dificult to reason with and exce)ssirely stubborn when resistin conditions tending to x i~ettermenot f t.h6r condition, and particnlarly schools an$ agriculture. There in no fonn of marriage ceremony, and immoral it^ prevails to an extent ren-dering loathaom* diseases qmte common. All are gamblers, SUCC08S in winning at "monte" or "coon-can" being equally divided between the sexes. The victors loan to the vanquished, ant1 the agent has yet to hear of an encountw resulting from gambling differences. It is gambling in one sense, but when we consider the losers are at liberty to reatake themselvee out of their more fortunate neighbors' winnings, itdiffers mntsrially from the methada utilized by whites. Bad and ditch wok-There beingno survey#, or farmera looated on otherthan river bottoms, road-work has been confined to the short stretch between agency hildinga and railroad depot, and such work aa the farmer finds necessary to Insure safety m hauling farm maohinery. Total amount expended in road-work is $16.88. The work on ditohesfor irrigating purposes has been confined to cleaning out and repair- 2%A ll labor has been pertbrmed by Indians, and the nmount pwd them far road ditclles a ~ g ~ e g a t $e7d6 .88. Court of Indian offensae.-A court, such a8 is provided for by the regoletions, was organized shortly after arrival to adjust a scandal, and as the parties taking part in the affair were of more than ordinary repute, their respective sdvooatetes he an arm-ing at s. mte ncoessitating s prom t dissolotion of the court. Since then t%e agent has adjusted don~estica nd tribay diffcreaoes, mnoh to the sntisfactimt of himself anddisgust of ~orne1ndia.nw~b a cannot understand why anelopement upon the part of a female is not treated as aoapital offense, with the husband as ohief executioner, when ants of petty lai-oeny are met with rabuke and punishment. The agent is proud to be able to state that farnine loontha the worst crime upon thia reserve has bean the theft of n saddle. When the desire for blooclshed end gain by larceny is overcome, the road to civilization is free from at least two aggressive elements. Rigid discipline and unyielding enfo~cemenot f laws regulating crime are potent and powerful factors for ood, snd the first, duty of an Indian agent upon accepting office is to fol.get that he%as a scalp. Boundary.-'he eastern and northern boundarias of this reserve as reported by my predecessor, Maj. H. B. I(l.eeman, are still subjects for eonstant'dispute. I believe the Indians are right in their claims and have, without authority, asked forbids to survey extgrior bonndary, and have proteatad agiinst employinglootsl exr ineera and exactadlettern ss to ability and integrity. I have confidence in our locaknginsers |