White River Agency, Colorado
May 5, 1879
Sir: In regard to Indian apprentices, I note in your circular “accounts No. 22., July 9, 1878”, paragraph 6, that each white mechanic is to have charge of two Indian apprentices. Now, hitherto this has been impracticable, but the prospect is that during the season the plan may be entered upon. But my experience le that boys cannot be had unless they are waifs without homes, and that, therefore, they must be provided with a home if they are to become mechanics, for the Indian home is not suited to regular labor habits, the meals are irregular, dinner at noon is never prepared, while the residence itself is often moved sometimes miles away. Such an obstacle presented itself when adults began to work, and it was necessary to establish an Indian boarding-house, a poor affair, but one that answers in moderate weather during half the year. My plan would be to establish a boarding house both for apprentices and young men at work, managed by a white cook, with Indian women or girls for assistants; and this might or might not be in connection with the school; probably it had better be, having the teacher in charge of the whole; but it would be impossible for her to do all the cooking; she must have efficient help, that would cost, say, $30 a month, board included. By such a plan the Indian laborers would be removed from tribal associations and acquire other tastes and habits, while the Indian women would learn to make bread, which they need much to learn, to wash, iron, sew, &c. (etc.), and come to know the value of household utensils. I see no hope of progress for families living and cooking on the ground, and with no means for saving, nor for doing decent work, even if they knew better.
I am decidedly of the opinion that the direct way to civilize the Indians is with better and a greater variety of food, provided largely by their own labor, and with comfortable dwellings. They all like white people’s cooking much better than their own, the women in particular, and I know they will do far more work, and be able to do it, with something good to eat than without. There are stronger inducements in coffee, milk, sugar, and dried fruit than in money; and if I had things properly provided and organized, I would prefer horses, wagons, harness, stoves, crockery, bedsteads, chairs, looking-glasses, and the like, to all the money one might get, because the Indians value these things; money they do not know the value of, nor know how to use it. I know this is not exactly “business” writing, but it seems to me that the Indian question is first an industrial and next a social one.
Respectfully,
N. C. MEEKER,
Indian Agent.
HON. E.A. HAYT,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C.
White River Agency, Colorado
May 10, 1879
Sir: I shall be obliged if you will correct error in my return of property for fourth quarter, 1878, in the item of calico, October 2, 1878, voucher No. 1, for third quarter, since 47 yards of calico were issued where it was not entered in abstract D, issued to Indians for said fourth quarter, making a total for said quarter, 3,467½ yards instead of 3,600½ yards, as reported, which leaves the true balance on hand at the close of the quarter 187¼ yards, instead of 234¼ yards, as stated.
Respectfully,
N. C. MEEKER,
Indian Agent.
HON. E.A. HAYT,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C.
