The White River Museum has a collection of letters that Meeker founding father Thomas Baker kept for many years. There are letters from Nathan Meeker and prominent figures like Chief Ouray, ex-Indian Agents, and the violently anti-Indian Colorado Governor Pitkin, as well as various Army officers from 1874-1879. The letters tell a compelling story from a dramatic period of local history to be shared here.
White River Agency, Colorado.
December 23, 1878
(Received from Hon. H.M. Teller, Jan. 14, 1879).
Dear Sir: I arrived here last May to take charge of these White River Utes, as you may remember, and seeing how unsuitable is the location of the agency, by reason of its elevation, and entire lack of land that can be tilled within several miles, I make application to have the location changed, which was granted, and a selection was made In Powell Valley, fifteen miles below. This valley comprises not less than 3,500 acres of excellent land, with cottonwood along the river, abundance of cedar on all the mountains, and about two months ago I discovered coal at the head of the valley, which, on further investigation, extends at least ten miles, in veins from six to ten feet thick, and often three to five of these veins above each other, all having a surface outcrop, and remarkably accessible. The stock-range on every hand is good, and I judge that it is sufficient for 10,000 head of cattle, which can live well the year round on the grass alone
The valley was divided into four parts by streets running straight, one street through the length of the valley being seven miles long, and where the other street crosses the agency buildings are to be erected. As a preliminary, four or five log structures have been built for the use of the employees, for stabling and blacksmith shop, and a 40 acre field has been plowed on wheat is to be sown next spring, while it is intended to plow at least one hundred acres more for the growing of corn, potatoes, peas, and vegetables next season. A grist-mill is to be built next year, and I think that in year after next, all the food required by these Indians will be grown here.
At first the Indians were decidedly opposed to the occupancy of Powell Valley for the agency, because they had always used it for their winter encampment, particularly for pasturing their horses, since snow seldom lies there more than a few days, while here it lies for five months, and they were perfectly willing to come up to this location once a week to draw rations, when they would immediately return. Their only idea of an agency is that it shall be a place where they get supplies, since no crops had ever been grown here, and only a sprinkle of vegetables, watered from pails, and they had only a vague idea what it is to engage in farming; in short, they protested against any change …
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Due to space constraints, the remainder of this letter will be published in next week’s edition.
Special to the Herald Times
