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.
United States Indian Service,
White River Agency,
December 9, 1878.
Sir: I had yours of October 12, ’78, C. Colorado, M. 1816, ’78, and November 12, ‘78, C. Colorado, 1930, ’78, refusing to suspend the law in regard to sale of ammunition to Indians in favor of some trader at this agency. I have to report the need for a store at this agency is great, but that no one will undertake to have one, for the reason that there are four stores on the northern border of the reservation which do sell ammunition, viz; Charles Perkins, on Snake River, 90 miles distant, with heavy stocks of goods; Mr. Lithgow, on Bear, 45 miles distant, with heavy stocks of goods; Mr. Peck, on Bear, about the same distance, and Taylor & Perkins, on Mill Creek, 29 miles just over the line. As a consequence the Indians all go to those stores to sell buckskin and expend what money they can get ahold of, so that with the trade of a few settlers, almost all stock men and not engaged in farming, these establishments are doing a thriving business. I have been told on pretty good authority, though I do not know it to be true, that some of these stores buy Indian blankets, etc. I heard of their buying suits of coats, pants, and vests for three. I am told, too, that the Indians sell flour and clothing to the settlers, but probably in no great amount. Sometimes though not often, an Indian sells a horse, and then he has money. Thus it is that with abundant supplies at this agency about half the Indians are off their reservation, but I am satisfied they would not do so If we could have a store. This it seems we cannot have while these outside stores are permitted to sell ammunition, though the keepers know, for I have told them, they are violating the law. I wish some steps could be taken to suppress the sale of ammunition, so that we could have a store. I do not suppose I can exercise any authority outside the reservation. This condition of affairs leads to continued demoralization of the Indians for, first, the traders tell them they ought to hunt and not work, and, second, the Indians interfere with the cattle of stock men by keeping their horses on their ranch, eating what they call their grass. One complaint from George Boggs, a heavy stock man, was so serious, including the stampeding of cattle, that I have sent Henry James, Indian interpreter, to order the Indians back to their reservation. But you must see that the traders will use their influence to keep the Indians on those rivers that they may have their trade, and there is but little prospect of their coming back, perhaps not till midsummer. The remainder of the Indians, mostly subject to Douglas, the chief, are in Powell Valley, or on their own mountains hunting. Still they are obliged to make journeys, which are always short, to those stores to trade.
This seems to be a vexatious question, because to suppress the sale of ammunition is to forbid the Indians from pursuing the only industry they can now engage in, and even this would be the case if those outside stores were shut up and a store upon here not selling ammunition.
This letter ls to explain why so many Indians are off the reservation.
Respectfully,
N. C. MEEKER,
Indian Agent
HON. E. A. HAYT,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington D.C..
Note. In another letter of even date herewith I wrote you concerning the issue of a large quantity of bar lead recently received. N.C.M.
