Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-05-28
GOV. POTTS ON THE CROW
AGENCY.

A Bozeman CORES pondent Of the uel
lena Herald furnishes solase extracts rela
: tive to the management of the Crov
Agency from letter from Gov. Potts t
. the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs
letter being embodied in the last printe'
report of the Board. The Governor, u
speaking Of the employees at the Grow
Agency, says:
"a full set Of emf loyes has been pait
annually at the Grow Agency since 1869
and venture to say that two ~ men II
one season Git good Cnes) would perform
more labor and make more show than hal
been pei formed by all the employees o
that agency Tor six years.
We dor 4: exactly comprehend what the
Governor means by ~ full s. Of en-
ployes,' but presume he refers to tbt
numbtr OF employees allowed BY law al
the Agency. However. in his stat men'
that "two men in one season would per-
form more labor and make more show
than has been performed by all the cm
tpIoyes Of that agency for six years. -
Governor Potts displays objectionable
ignorance for one occupying his position,
and does an act OF injustice to those who
have occupied the position Of Agent en-
airely unjustifiable. The statistics of the
amount OF work performed at the Grow
Agency during the PAST six years. which
should be aud no doubt are, in possession
OF the Commissioner, will demonstrate
the utter ridiculI usness of this assertion
of our Terrific, isl Executive. We would
feigu believe that the statements Of Gov.
Potts in regard to the Grow Agency were
made from hearsay, but ii our memory is
correct hclias visited that agency several
times during the past few years, and it
would have been an easy matter for him
to have gather d Information by which he
could have Appropriated the amount OF
work done by the employees. We pre-
sumo he did, as he positively assumes
and so states 10 the Commissioner, tina
''two good men in one season Three
month. would perform more labor than
has b, tn performed by all the employees
in six years." Wherein the Governor
displays more ignorance than he attrib
ltes to the Agency farmers. Let US SEE.
During the past SIX years, all the tx'en-
sive buildings Of the Agency (Which
make splendid "show'c have been erect
I'd; about three years ago large number
IF them were destroyed by fire. and have
,ince been rebuilt. The annual rtquisi-
ion calls for several hundrs d cords Of
wood and like amount OF hay, the daily
services of good carpenter and black
smith are required the year round (and
We are informed by those who have filled
he situations that they always earned
heir money!; vegetable and cereal farm
S cultivated; school is in constant oper-
ltion; rations have to be issued; and there
re thousand little details that have to
'e attended to, requiring the services OF
employees. And yet, Governor Potts in
Orns the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs ,
hat two good lien in three months would
ave p, rf0rmed all these manifold duties |,
or which "a full set of employees has !
'een paid annually since 1862"
The Governor further says, speaking
{ Montana agencies generally, "M.n !
aid as farmers are unable to harness a
orsc or hold pillow, and the carpenters
nd Others are about as incompetent.
the Governor intended this to apply to r
he Grow Agency, he is entirely wrong. r
he mechanics employed there are known i
throughout the Territory as superior :
'OrkMcn.
We are not the apologist of any dishon- !,
1t Indian agent, ror do We desire to cover :
p their DEFICIENCIES or shield them from !
l>t reprcba'ion, but, on account OF the !
reat corruption which is supposed to !,
Aist among them. we take pleasure in :
Directing false statements III regard to :,
,e management OF an agency in which =
nr people are, and have been since the :.
,ttlrment OF tue vall,y, materially inter- !.
sfof1 .