, 1875-10-02
THE UMATILLA RESERVATION.
Letter from the Agent The New Wagon
Road and Telertapb Line.

CAATILLA INDIAN AGENCY, Sept %. 1875.
EDITOR STATESMAN II 80 far presume
upon our fOrmer friendly relations. a. To in
'rude upon Your columns matter Of public
concern which has been the subject of much
comment and criticism. do this with more
confidence, since you have treated the same
subject In "A former issue Of vour paper in
manner which reflects srm-~ hat harrh!y
upon my course IN CONNECTION with II. which
am sure you would not have doue had yUu
been informed Of all the facts. II Is with
vie" OF JustItying myself, and removing
wrong impression, that ask OF you the inser-
ton ot this letter. | allude 10 the newly
projected WAGON ruad aud telegraph linz,
ACROSS tn Reservation, from Walla v ALA tic
Weston to intersett the Meachan road:
4 very errOneOus impression has gone
abroad concerning my action in the premises,
and motives aud feelings have been imputed
To me, as L learn, of which 1 am entirely in
capable. These are the facts, and refer With
contdence TO Maj Connoyer, my predecessor
here, Tor the Correctness ut this statement:
II IL generally known rhar have bu fety
Recently entered upon the duties of Indian
agent here, filling II vacancy arising out Of
the resigna,ion Of Maj. Connoyer, who had
been the faithful aud Efficient agent for more
than four years; land cannot let so fitting
an opportunity pass without acknowledging
the pleasure l have received from The urbaue
and cordial spirit N which on his part the
change has been effected. Among other
things connected with the business of the
agency, l learn that some time lsst spring
All etforr had been made by the people Of
Pendle'On To open highway from that town
to Lees Eneampment, but the agent deemed
II his duty undrr the law 10 interfere i'll be-
halt ot the Indians, rs n violation of their
rights Inder the treaty; that the people then
petlildned the government, they should
have dOrie at first, and that the petition had
not been acted on. | find upon the files Of
official correspondence III this officr, in answer
to an inquiry from the department at Wash
ington, IN which the agent says: - If this
petition OF the people of Prndleron is granted,
1t will lead 10 other parties trying to get
roads through from different sections Of the
corntry 10 connect with j., which would
necessarily prove very injurious, if it did not
entirely destroy the range of the Indians"
Within = week after came here, two Of
the chiefs aud many of the leading Indians
CT the reservation, called on ME to enter their
protest against a new road and telegraph line
from Weston crossing the river 10 or u miles
above the agency, and urgently pressed the
same objection, that it would destroy their
winter range, and insisted that should make
their protest known at Washington. A day
or two after this, Mr.. Charles McMorris, of
Weston, called and informed me that a petit
tiOn had gone on for the tight Of way; that
Maj. COnnoyer had signed Il and WAS willing
the work should go on; asking mr. consent
that they should Commence operations even
in advance of the action OF the authorities at
Washington on their petition. I expressed
my entire sympathy with such improvements
generally, and only hoped it would be in my
power to favor his views, by which | should
be greatly influenced in my action. Fo,tu-
na'ely Maj. CUnuoyer came up before Mr.
McMorris left, and the matter was referred
10 him, when he told Mr. McMOrriS that
while he had signed the petition, because he
thought the road public necessity, he neTer
once thought OF cuusenting to their entering
upon the work until the government had
spoken III the ma ter, and had they done so
either upon the road or telegraph line, he
wouid have stopped them
After being informed of the facts, and the
law in the case, l was compelled, RS much n5
l regretted it. TO refuse my consent to the
work, until the government had acted in
the premises How absurd 10 suppose AN
Indian agent 10 DO any snch thing as
was asked to do here. Aud how more
than unreasonable is II, that the machinery
of public scandal should be set TO work 10
dis'ort conscienrious discharge of public
duty into vainglUrious display Of official
! Importance
This whole question, Mr.. Editor, is dis
posed of by the lO;h article of the treaty
with these Indians. II Is short and to the
point. but has been made 10 serve some very
contrary purposes. Here II Is:
The confferated bIuds agree thar when
ever in The Op1lon Of tie President of tie United
States, the puolIC iU'"re~t may TequIr- it, that
all roads, hig hways aud railroads, shall have
the right IF way 'irough the reservation"
Snw, who ella. than the President has the
right 10 settle this question Of roads across
TIN. reservation Certainly NOT the agent.
and every intel igent mau must see IT. How
then can he escap- fr,m the dnry which the
Law plac,s upon him2
On last Thursday evening I received a
| Telegram from the Commissioner of Indian
affairs TO "p-rmir the Nevada and Northern
Telegraph Company 10 build rhrir line ncIoss
the reservation of The jEtaclam c1eek road And
AZ there il no such road as that meatiun-d il
was al'oserhrr TOO indefinite for me 10 act
npon, 40. on the same day, l telegraphed for
more definite instructions As soon as they
arrive the company shall have the benefit of
them. !, however, went 10 Weston the next
morning and communicated the dispatch 10
those interested, with permission for them
to avail of its advantages If they could make
ANYTHING out of it. II is needless to say
they were not more successful than | had
teen, and as ! was still asked 10 consent to
something not authorized by he dispatch,
there was no result ATTAINED If inconven-
| ience has resulted from any mis- AXE in he
dictation of the dispatch, it is not my doing,
and am not answerable for it.
! In conclusion, will say that have never
uttered word of opposition 10 these enter
| urises, for | entertain none but friendly feel
/ ing to all improvements of the kind, and
| shall throw no obstacles in The way OF their
completion when am clothed with author
! ity in the prrmises-
| Pardon me for the length of my communi-
| cation, but deemed it essential 10 give the
particulars T. W TALIAFERRO.
U. S. Indian Agent.