Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-07-30

The Reply Of Mr. Wilbur.

Auo AoPAy VI NJ. wilbur.
We copy from the Dallcs Moxntainecr
MIR. Wilbur's reply to the report of Super.
intendent Ross, as to the condition of the
Yakama Indian Agency. 1t is dated July
18th, aud addressed to the editor of that
paper:
In your issue Of the 18th, I see what
purports to be a report from Col. Ross,
Superintendent of Indian Affairs w. r.,
in which you say "Co,. Ross informs US
that Mr.. Wilbur's information on the 7th
of June was eragerated." "That the In.
dians never have had more than six hun
dred head of cattle at any one time, and
that since Lieut.. Smith has been Agent,
they have disposed of but one hundred
and ten head, and at very good figures !;
and that the Indians are not scattered, but
are absent by and with the consent of the
Agent. That everything was in good con
dition that the Indians were we'll satisfied
with Mr.. Smith, &c. Now, sir, Col, Ross
has made report from a two days stay
at the Agency that is perfectly contradic.
tory to the afidavits Of these ..men who
had been upon the Reservation from two
and ahalf to ten years.
Waters Carman who has been the miller
upon the Agency for seven aud ahalf
years swears "That he has becu familiar
with the Agency in all its departments
that he believes the Agency has fallen off
in value from thirty to fifty thousand dol.
lars in the nine months since Mr.. Wilbur
left; that there has not been department
log sawed since Mr.. Wilbur left the Agen.
cy; that the Agency was in a highly
prosperous condition when Mr.. Wilbur
lift. 1t Snow in state of ruin"
Dr. S. Nelson. being duly sworn says he
has for more than two and a.half years
been the resident physician upon said
Agency; was familiar with the condition
of said Agency as it was under the control
of Rev. j. II. Wilbur and it is now under
the control of Lieut.. j. NJ. Smith. At
the time said Wilbur was suspended in
the exercise of his functions as Agent. the
Agency in all its departments was in a
most prosperous condition-thc Indians
being happy. contented, industrious, very
rapidly increasing in their property and
improving in their moral, religious and in.
teuec.ual condition aud advancement
That the present Agent has not only uni
turmly manifested an Indifference to the
welfare of the Indians in all these particu-
lars, but he has made them n prey, and left
them prey to the rapacity of others who
seemed to make it their study and business
to dcvour the substance Of these simple
minded people-tlat of the cattle that were
on the Agency belonging to the Indians at
the time Mr. Wilbur. not more than one
fourth remain aud they have nothing to
show for the cattle, that the Indians are
without crops except volunteer, that from
the hight Of prosperity of the Agency under
Mr.. Wiburthe Agency has fallen into a state
of ruin under the present Agent, Lieut.
j. NJ. Smith, that the Indians have more
than half left the reservation ard gone
clear away"
i. G. Prasp who has been upon the
Agency for all the time since the Agency
was established except two years says nc
has been there the whole of the above time.
as gunsmith, that he has become we'll ac-
qnaintcd with the Indians, and knows the
Indians are universally dissatisfied with
Smit.,-that they are widely scattered
where they cannot be gathered up-that
he is rursuaded the Agency has fallen off
from thirty to fifty thousand dollars since
Mr.. Wilbur left, nine months ago, that
he regards the Agency in state of ruin"
This is part of the testimony l have
taken from persons who have resided upon
the reservation for years and were familiar
with all the departments of said Agency.
Now sir. | affirm the Indians did have, as
l verify believe when l left, sixteen hun
dred head of cattle. and l arrived at this
in a most careful way in making up my
annual report from the best information
could get from the Indians, with whom
had lived nine years, and submit to you
aud through you to the public, who can
best judge Of the good condition and gen.
eral prosperity of the Agency, Col. Ross,
who spent two days at said Agency, or the
men that had been steady employees for
the number Of years above stated and the
constant opportunity they had Of know
ing.
Let us weigh up things in even bal.
lances. I can give you moro proof if
ueed.
Hoping the above will put me right with
you and the public.
am sir, Yours truly.