The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-07-24

of the Platte, where they winter, had gone
out on their summer hunt to provide theil
winter supply of buffalo meat. They had
met with some Sioux or Cheyennes, with
whom they are at war, and becoming alarm
ed took advantage Of their vicinity to Fort
kearney for protection, and were encamped
in the neighborhood to the number of thirty
five hundred. The day after my arrival, | was
present at a council which Captain Whar-
ton held with the chiefs and principal men.
They complained that their Great Father,
the President had purchased from the
Omahas and Otoes lands claimed and right
fully belonging to them, without investiga-
ting their claims, and that now road was
being run through their possessions without
their consent and without their having been
paid for the privilege, as had been done with
other Indian tribes. They said that our party
should not be molested in locating the road;
that they would trust to the justice of their
Great Father to compensate them for their
concessions. At the same time they seri-
ously objected to the road. They had OBJ
served that roads always brought white men,
who chased away the game, which has al
ready become too scarce to furnish them q
supply within the limits that have been pre-
scrbed for them. Other Indians depredate
on trains passing over these roads, the blame
of which they have to bear, and it is con-
stantly involving them in trouble.
The survey was completed on the 18th of
August, and on the 10th, having discharged
part of the men, started with the train and
extra animals to Fort Leavenworth, and
turned them over to the quartermaster's de-
partment. On the 26th, having stored the
instruments and other public property be-
longing to the road in the quartermaster's
store. house, discharged the remainder of
the party. and started for St. Louis with my
assistants to draw the plans and prepare for
the letting of the bridges.
A contract which has been forwarded you,
has been entered into with Matthew j. Ra-
gan, for bridging Omaha branch, the two
Pappillon creeks, Elkhorn river, Rawhide
and Shell creeks, and for the grading on the
west bank of the Elkhorn. After,paying for
which, and defraying the expenses Of the
survey, there will be about four thousand
five hundred dollars N$4, ,5OO) Of the appro-
priation to expend on the other portions Of
road.
With this the officer in charge can take a
small party and 60 over the route improving
the ford ut Wood river, making the corduroy
crossing of Boovis and Prairie creeks, and
some of the worst ravines and sIoughs.
The appropriation, when expended, will
make a good wagon road for the greater
part of the year. To render it passable at
all seasons, an additional appropriation of
about twenty-five thousand dollars (S25 ,O0O)
will be necessary, the line Of the road cross
ing many small sloughs and low places which
are at times overAowed, and which become
miry after heavy rains. A little corduroy
at the slough, and embankment across low
places, for which l submit an estimate be-
low, would makes them passable at all times,
and would respectfully recommend that an
appropriation Of twenty-five thou
sand dollars be asked for to complete the
work.
The contractor has gone to Omaha to
commence the work, intending to put up
some of the smaller bridges this fall and
winter; one Of my assistants will be sent up
there to supervise the work, while the other
will be engaged here on the map and profile
Of the route. Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN ii. DICKERSON.
Captain United States Arn,y.