White River Agency, Colorado
April 28, 1879
Sir: Yours of 15th instant, “F. Colo., M 204, ‘79” requests me “to submit a report of the condition of the buildings at the new agency location”, and I reply: First, is a blacksmith shop; second; another building occupied by myself and for storage; and, third, and employees house, used for lodging and cooking, each about 16 by 30. The latter house, was built there, the others, were hauled from this place. They are all of logs, with poles and dirt thereon for roofs. If the covering is not thick, mud and water come through at the time it rains; if thick, not till the next day. In addition is a log stable for six mules, covered with old hay, tolerably warm, and adjacent is a good-sized corral with divisions for horses and cows, and for stacks. Six Indian families come to the corral night and morning to milk cows, which they help break, and added. As these structures occupy the south side of the street, and two corners of streets, on the northeast is the 8-acre field, where [there] are crops growing, enclosed by a first-class wire and pole fence. At the southwest corner of this field is a vacancy of about 150 feet square, left for suitable agency buildings.
About three-fourths of a mile east, on the river bank, is a boom, perhaps 300 feet long, made of a line of two logs chained and bolted together for holding saw-logs, 350 of which are cut, 40 miles below, and which are to be floated down in high water in June. It is at the foot of this boom that the saw-mill is to be erected when moved, the capacity of which is given on another sheet.
Respectfully yours,
N. C. MEEKER,
Indian Agent
HON. E.A. HAYT,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C.
White River Agency, Colorado
May 5, 1879
Sir: Last week I sent you a general description of the capacity of our saw-mill, and this is a supplementary detail of the same. Engine made by Gates & Co., Chicago, Ill., cylinder 9 inches diameter; stroke 14 inches; piston 1 5/8 inches; shaft 3 7/8; drive-pulley 4 feet 8 inches—9-inch face; boiler 10 by 3 feet; 35 flues.
N. C. MEEKER
Indian Agent
HON. E.A. HAYT,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C.
