The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-04
INDIAN AFFAIRS.

INSTRUMENTATION OF AGENTS At THE FORT
SILL AND wAsHrrA AGEScIEs-REPoET OF
THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES ON
THE RESERVATION SUFFERING TOR FOOD.
WASHINGTON May g. 1875.
The following report was received at the War
Department today
HEADQUARTERS FORT SILL, l. TIL
April TO- 1875.
ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL, headquarters De.
partment OF the Missouri
oIR-Freqneut complaints having been made by
Indians camped near TINS post that they suffer-
ing rom hunger, have MADE an lnyestiaation
and md that The complaints are well founded.
The following Is the ration allowed by tle indian
Department.
THE RATION.
Beel, lbs. gross the noon one day in fifteen
tbree-quarters OF pound OF bacon Is issued In leu
OF beel; hour or oreac y H.. to the 100 ratons,
soap and Il 10. oil tobacco.
TINS ration was established when the Indian
could partly support himself ny hunting. With no
other nelp Z ~ barely enough TO prevent hunger.
IL IL not, however, all issued. There is al the
aBehnSJ ~ tioel, anu hob ofSI oue.tnlIu tne
authorized amount mas been issued during the
present nscal year. There Is no sugar, and not
over tyo-thlrds the regular issue has been made
during the same time. me beer lately issued mas
been shanelully bad. IL Is so poor that the gross
Is altoSether out OF proportion to the net weight.
One OF my officers reports the following rs coming
directly under his notice within the past lew
days:-A beef just issued broke down in being
driven less than two miles from the agency
was forced to send men 10 Kill IL ana BRING
the beef into camp. The Indian agent, VT. Ha-
worth, has been absent several weeks. The act
ing agent Mr.. Howard, ACKNOWLEDGES that the
beef lately issued was unfit for food, but states
tnat IL was all he had for issue. Under these cir
cunstances / nave directed the Assistant Com
missioner OF subsistence at the post TO Issue full
ratons OF -four or bread and sugar to those pris-
Oners OF war who have oeen until now fed by the
Indian Department., That department. asserting
that after this time they will be able TO furnish beef
OF better quality. lie IL not reasonable 10 suppose
that The Indians would remain here and starve
When along days ride would take them 10 the buff
faio country: and were they once out hosttlltles
would soon be renewed Inciudlng the issues
made by the military authorities under the above
order, we will be feeding less imam one-third oil the
kiowas and Commences, VINO are here restrained
from hunting. THIS new issue VIII, however, De a
great relief to ALL as when the provisions are out
in one lodge the occupants 20 10 another, when u
there Is food IL Is never refused. me number 70
whom were before issuing Is $50. la addition
TO this. issues are MADE 10 fourteen prisoners who
are confined In the guardhouse ana attached 60
companies Tor rations. Before closing | would
state that the condition OF affairs at the Wasnita
agency Is worse tnan here. Tnere has been no
hour there Tor long time. fne agent Is absent
and the Indians are killing anu eating their
horses. | am, SIR, very respectfully, your opedienl
servant, JOHN L. HATCH,
Lieutenant Colonel Fourth United states Cavalry
Commanding Post.
Upon the foregoing communication was placed
the following:-