Special to the Herald Times
White River
Agency, Colorado
January 13, 1879
Sir: I beg leave to call your attention to the fact that if I should succeed, as I think I certainly shall, in getting the Indians to engage in agriculture, and by this means more and more keep them close to the agency, the fine herd of cattle, now numbering about 1,500 head, will, in the course of two years, almost wholly disappear. Even now, with only a part of the Indians here, though more than formerly, the slaughtering of cattle is nearly up to the increase; and yet the amount of beef issued is, on the average, fully 20 percent less than they are allowed. That they get along with this short ration is undoubtedly owing to the excellent quality of the beef. We never slaughter any but full-grown steers in prime order, but the supply of these is running down fearfully, that when these are gone, as they quickly would be upon the accession of any considerably greater number of Indians we should be obliged to butcher two-year-olds, and then yearlings, then cows, when the increase would be cut off, and the herd would disappear.
I know that these Indians have more and better beef than the same average number of white people have anywhere, whether in Europe or in America, and more than own possibly be supplied to white people, and these Indians have more, too, than they deserve; but if as seems to be the case, Government intends to supply them, I conceive it my duty to advise you as to the best method of keeping up their supply.
Now, I think it certain that double the amount of beef now issued will be absolutely required before 18 months are passed; and that the demand may be most economically met, not less than 300 stock cattle should be purchased, and put on some range by itself down the river. Stock cattle includes a proper proportion of cows, calves, two- and three-year-olds, which are bought at so much a head, all under yearlings being thrown in, and the usual price for common grades is from $16 to $22 a head. Therefore the cost of 300 head would be about $6,000. With this addition, and nothing less would answer, the steers would be added to those we have, and the two-year-olds would soon come on so that the business would keep running.
This lot of 300 should Include cattle of a higher grade, so as to keep up the present grade.
I want to get a start of hogs next year, and I mean to have all families who go to farming keep poultry; and besides having plenty of vegetables, the beef ration can be cut down, perhaps one-half, as it ought to be and must be, if we are to have any civilization. Now, this is the situation of affairs, and I await your action.
Respectfully yours,
N. C. MEEKER,
Indian Agent.
HON. E. A. HAYT, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C.
