White River Agency, Colorado
July 15, 1879
Sir: Your telegraph message of 7th instant was received on 11th lying over two days at Rawlins, directing me to cause the depredating Utes to vacate Middle and North Parks. But I had reported to you previously, and had sent, about 5th instant, a trusty employee, taking along Douglas, who reached Hot Sulpher Springs, 150 miles, in four and a half days, and they returned yesterday, after an absence of ten days.The settlers all along the route were rejoiced at the effort made, and few or no changes were made for entertainment. The Utes immediately vacated Middle Park, and a runner was sent to Middle Park and Harris park, and I understand now that park also has been vacated, and that the greater part of the Indians are now on Bear River, near the trading stores, some of them are begging for food. Mr. Draper, the employee, told the women not to give them anything, as there were abundant supplies at the agency; but they did give, probably through fear.
So far as I can gather, several hundred antelopes were killed in Middle Park, for two Indians had each about 50 skins, and of course they could not use the meat. They also killed three bison, which may be called animals in the park, and the settlers have all refrained from shooting them. as they held them both as a curiosity and attraction, but the Indians have killed them off so that now there are less than half a dozen. At the time Mr. Dreper arrived the settlers were getting ready to attack the Indians and drive them out; thus bloodshed has been avoided. Mr. Dreper reports that fires followed the Indians on their return, about 100 miles, and within 30 miles of this agency.
In many parts of the Bear River Valley, and all the way up to its head In Egeria Park, the country is well burned over. At Hayden, where resides the families of Smarts and Thompson, the fires were so near the houses that the women whose husbands were away, were on the watch for two days, and carried their household goods to a place of safety. The grass range on which their cows and cattle fed is destroyed. I have previously reported to you that acres of beautiful cottonwood groves were burned, close to the agency. Their object is to get dry wood next winter. At the present time, the timber on the mountains, north and south, is burning; and the valley is filled with smoke. These fires are built to drive the deer to one place that they may be easily killed, and thereby the destruction of pine, cedar, and aspen is immense, while the fire runs in the grass: even the range which we largely depend upon for winter grazing for the cattle is badly burned over, and unless the long drought of two months and more is soon broken by rain, this grass cannot be restored.
As you may easily suppose, this practice of the Utes enrages the settlers, and unless it is stopped, bloody vengeance is sure to be taken. I am doing all I can to stop these fires, but the Indians attach no value to timber, and do not hesitate to set any forests on fire to get at a little game. The habit has been long established, and they cannot conceive why timber is more useful than water or rocks.
They are now gradually drawing toward the agency, so as to be on hand at the yearly distribution of annuity goods; after that they will depart, and roam over a country as large as New England, where settlers are struggling to make new homes, and the Indians think it all right, because they are, as they boast, “peaceable Indians.”
Respectfully,
N.C.MEEKER
Indian Agent.
HON. E. A. HAYT, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C.
