Editor’s Note: For those following these previously unpublished letters between Nathan Meeker and officials in Washington, D.C., it’s worth pointing out that the letters below were written just a few months before the uprising of the White River Utes and Meeker’s death.
White River Agency, Colorado
July 7, 1879
Sir: During this month the office of this agency has been moved to the new location in Powell Valley, along with two log houses, and a considerable portion of supplies and material. A large amount of flour, however, remains. A regular boarding-house relieves the employees from the necessity for cooking for themselves, and thus we are now being placed in a position by which work is more promptly and profitably performed.
The season has been uncommonly dry: we have had but one shower for three months, and beside the weather has been cold, and many nights, some even into June, frosty. As a consequence, the ten acres of potatoes have come up badly, and unless there is rain soon the crop will be exceedingly small. However, as the land is on first bottom, partially satisfactory returns are highly probable, while if on upland, even if irrigated, little or nothing would result, for this crop in this arid region depends for moisture on sub-irrigation and rainfall, since surface irrigation is always unfavorable for the reason that the ground hardens.
The 20 acres of acres of wheat is promising, and we estimate 10 bushels to the acre, this on the basis of expected rain, which is liberal for a sod crop. The ground is rich enough for 40 bushels per acre, and even more.
Another consequence of the dry season is a low river, no rise beyond a few days having occurred, and therefore it was useless even to attempt to run the pine logs that were cut last winter. Still another consequence is an exceedingly short hay crop. But we shall diligently save all we can, and 15 acres of “rye grass”, not usually cut on account of its early maturity has been put in stack. We shall probably get nearly what we need. On Snake and Bear Rivers the settlers will have no hay, owing to the drought and the ravages of grasshoppers. Here this past has, I judge, partially destroyed for us 10 acres of sod corn. I remark that probably corn cannot well be grown here, and that the climate is especially favorable for wheat, barley, potatoes, and hardy vegetables. We have 8 acres of peas, which look well, and as this crop is “grasshopper proof” it should be a favored one.
The Indians, to the number of 8 or 10 families, have gardens allotted in our common field, which have been planted to various vegetables and to sweet corn, getting their prospects are fair. Great and vexatious labor is required in getting fair and proper tillage on the soddy ground, and I commend their patience and fidelity, but exceedingly regret that both the both the ground and the season should present to them so many obstacles. Another year will certainly give them mellow ground, and the season cannot be worse. They need, at first, a fortunate concurrence of natural conditions. Still if they are not dismayed by the present adversities, as they seem not to be, they are likely to be remarkably encouraged when they find these difficulties are not repeated.
This is said of the comparatively small portion of the tribe that remains on the reservation. The great bulk of the Indians, or at least half of them, went over to the valleys of Snake and Bear Rivers last fall and have not returned. They have greatly annoyed the settlers by letting their horses run on their meadows and uplands, and by burning their timber, especially valuable in this almost treeless region. About two months ago many of them who remained here during the winter went off hunting, and I have had bad reports of their trespasses in Middle Park and elsewhere, though I positively forbid their going. An employee, H. Dresser, accompanied by Douglas, the chief, has now gone to Middle Park to bring them back, and as they belong to Douglas’s band they will probably come.
Another collection of several bands, acknowledging no chief, is in North Park, threatening the miners and ranchmen. Whether the commandant at Fort Steele will pay any attention to my request to drive them out of the park is doubtful, as hitherto he has paid no regard to my requests. Among these Indians in North Park are the worst ones of the whole tribe. Some are well known as horse-thieves, and they include the “Denver Indians”, all bad lots, and it seems to me inevitable that conflicts with the whites will result sooner or later. A most unfavorable characteristic of the Indians off the reservation is burning of timber and their wanton destruction of game, and simply to get the skins. Even the Indians who stay near the agency have no regard for timber, and during the last six months not less than 50 acres of choice timbered groves in this valley have been fired and as good as destroyed. My protests and endeavors have no effect, for even small boys, with a match, can set fire to dry brush and grass on the edge of timber, which, in a short time, is beyond human control. This lack of ordinary economy, this total disrespect for values in the natural resources and wealth of the country, are disheartening to contemplate.
During the removal hitherto only one pupil of the school remained. The house used for school building will be ready for occupancy in a few weeks, and then it will be seen what can be done to establish a school among people who do not and cannot think, who have but an imperfect idea of the value of money or in what wealth consists, who have neither literature nor history, and who are without ambition or a necessity to exercise it, because the government feeds and clothes them, and if it will not they can live nearly as well by hunting, or by foraging on white people’s possessions.
Three or four deaths have occurred during the month among the Indians here; probably the whole number of deaths was double this, and I doubt if the births are as great by a half.
The Indians refuse to receive flour and other supplies by the new forms, as has been reported, but they receive beef. I do not know how long they will hold out, but they are certain to surrender in time, because it is in their settled policy to take all they can get.
I have asked for two assistant herders, white men, and two additional herding horses, for the reason that the herd is increasing, the range is forced out further and further by the Indian horses, the crowding of outside herds calls for additional vigilance, and there is a decided probability of the Indians undertaking to compensate themselves for their diminished supplies under the new forms by butchering cattle on their own account, and to which I call your special attention.
N.C. MEEKER,
Indian Agent,
White River Agency, Colo.
Hon. E.A. Hayt
Commissioner
