Sir: In reply to your letter of the 10th instant relative to an amount remitted to you per tabular statement for first quarter, 1879, for pay of herder and Indian assistant herder to be paid from the “subsistence fund”, under treaty with the Utes, I have to advise you that the subsistence amount should be kept separate from funds under sub-head “Pay of employees” in making accounts.
Very respectfully,
E. A. HAYT,
Commissioner
N.C. MEEKER, Esq.,
United States Indian Agent, White River Agency, Colo.
White River Agency, Colorado
March 24, 1879
Sir: Jack, the chief of the absentee Utes, numbering perhaps 75 lodges, came in from Bear River a few days ago, having been gone six months and he proposed to me to go to farming a little less than half way between this and Powell, and have a town of their own in opposition to Douglas In Powell Valley. The location is pretty fair, and as the two factions cannot possibly live together, I agreed to it at once and offered every facility for their going to work. Whether they will do enough to raise a crop this year, as it is now late and fencing must be done, is doubtful, but Jack goes back to his camp today to talk with his retainers. For the present a ditch of quite limited capacity can be taken out, sufficient for, say 40 acres, enough for a start.
I think this measure will be carried out, and when it shall be all the disaffected will be consolidated under two industrial leaders, when the vexed problem of getting them all to work will be on the way to favorable solution.
Respectfully,
N. C. MEEKER,
Indian Agent.
HON. E. A. HAYT, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C.
White River Agency, Colorado.
March 24, 1879.
Sir: I ask your authority for the payment of Albert S. Smart, Hayden, Colo. for feeding and care of a government mule from October 26 to March 19, inclusive, amounting to the sum of $15.
The cause of this outlay originated in sending Edgar G. Clark, an employee, October 7, 1878, over the range to get a blacksmith, as the one we had was incapable of doing absolutely necessary work, and was discharged. Mr. Clark rode said mule over the mountains and met violent storms, both in going and coming, and when near Hayden the mule could go no further and was abandoned and a horse hired. (See particulars voucher 16, fourth quarter, 1878). The mule is now on the way hither in care of the mail-rider and it is said to be in good condition. It is true that the mule is old, like the rest of the stock, but in our scarcity of teams he will help greatly in our spring plowing. I think the bill is low and that it should be paid,
Respectfully,
N. C. MEEKER,
Indian Agent.
HON. E.A. HAYT, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C.
Special to the Herald Times
