Dept. of the Interior,
Office of Indian Affairs
Washinton, D.C.
July 15, 1879
Sir: In reply to your letter of the 30th ultimo, asking for authority to employ some of the Indians under your charge to haul flour from the old agency to the new location, as they have learned to work their horses quite well since the harnesses have been issued to them, you are advised that the requisite authority is hereby granted to so employ the Indians, and to pay them twenty cents per sack therefor.
With reference to the employment of the Indian teams in freighting government stores from the railroad to the agency. I have to state that this office entered into contract with Nathan W. Wells, Schuyler, Nebr., under date of April 23, 1879, for the transportation of all supplies and goods purchased by the Indian Department during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, to be by him delivered at the agency. You are, [therefore], directed to endeavor to obtain employment for your Indians from the contractor for such transportation, at a reasonable rate of compensation.
Respectfully,
HON. E. A. HAYT,
Commissioner
N.C. MEEKER, Esq.,
United States Indian Agent, White River Agency, Colorado.
White River Agency
July 16, 1879
Sir: In regard to purchasing grist-mill of Todd & Co., Saint Louis, I find it hardly practicable to do the business with them.
First, they insist that the man performing the skilled labor, for which you have appropriated $400, must have $3 a day from the time he starts, his ticket purchased at Saint Louis, and his board paid while at work, and his return ticket bought, and all this.
Second, Messrs. Todd [says] that, as they have had “some experience in settling bills for Indian agencies, we would require you to appoint some agent here, with the money in hand, to receive the goods, and pay upon shipment of the same”.
Now, it seems to me that to receipt and pay for goods in this way will scarcely be allowed by you, and as to advancing passage-money to somebody, and becoming liable for an indefinite amount of money for wages and expenses, is considerably out of the way of common business prudence.
I would therefore suggest that your agent purchase a mill in Chicago, a place where, in my experience, one is more likely to be satisfied than in Saint Louis.
As I am going out to get the hogs you have authorized me to buy, in about a week, I think I can get a millwright at Greely or Denver, and within the amount limited; also, I could go to Chicago and get the mill itself, and thus forward the business rapidly.
Please send answer to this by telegraph to Rawlins, and it will reach me about the time it arrives at that [place].
Respectfully,
N.C. Meeker
Indian Agent
HON. E. A. HAYT,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Washington, D.C.
