Special to the Herald Times
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
Colorado
June 21, 1875
Sir: I write to gain some information in regard to the course and location of a certain wagon road which has been chartered, I am told, by the legislature of Colorado, and passes from Empire through Middle Park, by way of Hot Springs, Egeria Park, Gove’s Range and to be laid out through the western boundary of Colorado and into Utah. I am also told that upon striking the present government road between this agency and Rawlings at its crossing of Bear River, the said new road will follow the course of said government road to this agency, and thence down to the White River into Utah. I ask whether the legislature of Colorado has granted a charter to any person or company to lay out and keep open a public road through this part of the Ute Indian Reservation; and whether any authority has been granted by the President of the United States or by the honorable Secretary of the Interior to the legislature of Colorado to confer such a charter, or to any person or company to lay out a wagon-road through this portion of said reservation?
If such be the case, the agent here should be informed at once, and advised and directed in regard to the course he should pursue, should the Indians belonging here seriously, and perhaps violently, oppose the progress of the work. I am told that such work is proposed this summer. I fervently hope that I have been misinformed.
I respectfully ask an early answer to my letter.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
E. H. DANFORTH,
United States Indian Agent
HON. L.P. SMITH,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C.
