| OCR Text |
Show ~p - ~~ ~~-~ -- ~-~. ~ ~ -~~~ ~~ REPORT OF AGENT IN COLORADO. 139 .^CI bandsforthe past ten years, and es the Wemiuuehes and mhites are practically unan-imous sgsinat allotment, the latter are aative in poisoning tho Indian mind against all tending to obedience and betterment of condition. The sworn statement of one among Durango's lendin" comlneroial men is to the effect that some "$10,000 has been raised and expended3 jn the work of "inducing and aiding removnl of Utes." As to tho character of the "aid" and methods of "inducing" removal, the Department officials have been hy investigation advised. It is kn0pi.n in the West as the ulubr ioa t ing~~s t emnn" dpmeticed largely by whites during eleotion oontests; but twenty years' observation in this section prompts the essertlon that the blanket Indian has the preponderance of integrity, if such it may be termed, as he stays bought. Agriculture.-The hill providing for Ute removal, ,approved February 20,1895,very naturally prevented issuance of other than sufficient seeds to prevent idleness. However, by assistance of the post trader and borrowing from the granary we hm.0 managed to show the best grain sereage and yield within the history of the reser-vation. The Government issued 15,000 pounds of oats, the agent 11,500 pounds of wheat, and the acreage aggregates 206 aores. The season was dl that could be desired, and evidences of growth in this ofice show wheat over 5 feet 6 inches and oats 7 feet 2 inches, raised by Pe bring and Buckskin Charley.. Three crops of ' alfalfa will be cnt. The corn yield is good, great for this altitude, and vegetables, potatoes, and squash excellent. It is to be regretted that pending treatiesnnd diaturbedeonditions have prevented eomplisncs with the treaty of 1880 and retarded farming, as we now have some twenty Indians with post holes dug, posts scattered, and yet no wire to fence or wagons to socomodata their wants and clesirea. In the easeof A ca moo he sottrally pulled his posts by lashing them on either side of his saddle horse, as there were no wagons to issue, the ones on the rolls for agency use being loaned to others. The anxiety of the great majority of the Moilohe and Capote Utea to engage in agrioulture can be better evidenced by their steru refusal to be swerved or swayed by the superstitious appeal8 of Chief Ignacio or the "$10,000 Durango collection," t,han by any assertion that can be written i n proof of their sincerity by those intrusted with their keeping. They only ask foltillment of treaty obligatitiona, and it is wron in policy and erroneons in principle to longer withhold that which is so long over&. Deportment.-The year has p.assecl without a crime-not an act of larceny, $rand or petit. Stringent orders as to utiliaing whisky sellers for a targethas prsot~e~lly broken up the traffic. The agent arrested Santiago Cooper, a Mexican, for selling whisky to Uiok Charley, and the United States grand jury indicted him. Durango provided bail, and theunited States marshal is now urging the bondsmen to deliver either the prisoner or the onrrenoy. The work of bond giving for wretches without raasonable excuse for existence is also lloing disconr&ged. Health.-The heslthof the tribes has beengood end the death rollvery low. I can not give s, detailed report, aa the agency physician. Dr. F. C. Blaohly, is an inmate of Mercy Hospital, Dorango, with a campoundfracture of his left leg, the result of hia horse falling upon him while in discharge of duty. During his confinement Dr. Winters, of Durango, attends to the afflicted, sore eye8 pradaminating. One case, that of an Indian woman, was sufficiently serious to necessitate the removal of an eye. The Indiana opposed the operation, but the squaw yielded to the agent's entreaties, and at present she is in her tepee sound snd well. Buckskin Charley, chief of the Mosohes, witnessed the operation with silent interest, and, being oon-verted, will submit to the knife Wednesday. He is troubled with u. entaract growth in both eyes, and removal *ill be attended with but little pain and inconvenience. I have written the Department for a glass eye far the Indian woman mentioned, and trust to receive it, as there is nothing so indisputable as success in surgery vhen it comes to retiring the medicine man, and at present he is practically out of business, except as amon the Weatelm or Weminuche Utes. We have no %o~pital, and being pushed for room and sooommoilations, those requiring sanitary precaution in surgicd oases are nursed and fed by employees and quartered in the drug store during the convaleeceut period. So far note osse of amputation, laparotomy, or leas difficolt operations has resulted fatally, a.nd nursing, althongh unpleasant, is absolntely essential to succeas, and as but limited aoeommo-dntlons have been asked for they should be granted. Two or three rooms anddouble the number of cots would meet the emergency, and Mexican women can be secured as nurses for those of their sex at $1 per day. Educational.-The Utes have practically no children at sohool and this oondition should not be tolerated, as Fort Lewis Indiau school adjoins end is convenient to nll sections of thereserve. It requires compulsory educational laws to secure sohool attendance by whites in thia and other States and just why an Indian should be permitted to escape positive and pronounced iliaoipline ia matters educational iis somewhat beyond the expanse aC ordinary compreheniiion. The Utea are possibly the worst of all the Indian t,rihes :as to schools, and the fault is due largely to an indulgence on the part of those who inetruot sgents. Chief Ignaoio woq underths |
