The New York herald., 1876-03-07

Juncture or affairs On the OF peace and the
distribution Of the troops the suffers positions be-
came very attractive in consequence OF the collateral
advantages connected with Indian trading and local
contracts for quartermasters supplies Of fuel forage
&c, and these places very much sought for. AT
Fort Sill, for instance where extensive Indian
reservation established and large force perma-
ncntly maintained.
TnE PROSPECTIVE PROFITS
OF the sutler loomed up in gigantic proportions This
appointment secured by J. l. Evans, OF Ken
tucky who conceded all sides be personally
most agreeable and fair dealing merchant Evans
a very great expense in erecting the buildings
requisite for his purpose. or everything at
the outset was attended with much difficulty.
The remote position Of the post located in the heart Of
the Indian country, where no white man had ever been
before, the impossbility OF obtaining transportation
except at enormous outlay-ali required large
capital and attended with much uncertainty and
risk Evans, however. when once established, sue
ceeded in making the business In fact,
when the first obstacles overcome suffers bust
is attended with fewer risks aud losses than ord
mary business OF any other kind. The soldiers pay
cash for everything when they have IT, and as the suit
Ter is allowed collect at the pay table any debts
which the soldiers incur within reasonable limit he
has few accounts to carry profit and loss.
The pay OF the officers and soldiers Of regiment OF
a thousand amounts to over $500, 900, of which
the suter receives the greater portion at profit of
twenty-five TO 100 per cent and when to this is added
the profits OF the Indian trade and that which be
from contracts 1t is very easy
TO that position OF this kind has, TO a
phrase, "a good deal of money it," When the
change in the law took place and the suffers were
vertcd into 'traders' appointed by the See
retarv OF War; and afterward the organized
ada fha trnbar Mr. Evnn
found himself a very unfortunate position In
full confidence that the rights and privileges acquired
by him In honorable and In accordance with
the usages of the service would be protected he had
invested everything he possessed in this business He
had every reason to believe that so long he con-
Quoted himself and his business TO the satisfaction of
those who had appointed him he should be undisurbcd
Gong to Washington with the amplest recommenda
the officers of the post he anticipated that
he should have little difficulty in maintaining the posi-
ton he had secured much labor and expense, but
he was doomed to disappointment The Secretary of
War appointed Caleb Marsh post trader at Fort Sill,
and there nothing left for Evans but to make the
best bargain he could with the iegalzed hehwayman
who demanded his money. Large was the sum de-
manded and paid it after all no loss to Evans
That part his contract with Marsh that does ap
pear in writing, but which was nevertheless carried
out to the letter, was that
THR SOLDIERS FORT SILL
should out of their poor pittance OF Sl3 month, pay
tax through excessive charges TO the amount of
$l2 600 per annum, levied upon them the helpless
victims of this infamous conspiracy. Is there nothing
to be said Of Congress that passes the law which OBJ
lterates the tmehonored custom that established the
council Of administration TO place cheek upon such
extortion by limiting the percentage OF profit Has
the Congress that rendered this conspiracy possible
rl,fa is aba1t
keenly did Evans feel tho shame and Injustice (which
he was the medium that he felt necessary
the that practlsed by acknowledging that
the tribute he compelled pay for retaining
his position Evans establishment at Fort Sill is
extensive than any other trading house along that line
OF posts. familiarity with the Indian dialect
gives him unusual facilities Tor trading
with the Indians the reservation. The Indians
bring in buffalo robes and other spos of the chase.
which they exchange for goods The trade with the
Indians sometimes very large, and Evans Co. have
succeeded in making a great deal Of money. Their
store is very large one, and their assortment of
goods extensive and of great variety. In coming in
IRON their camps to barter for goods the Indians
ride their ponies with squaw running along
side on whose back the buffalo robes are strapped,
and in returning the means of transportation are
used for conveying the blankets calcoes and othor
things received in exchange. So II seems that the
squaws both ends OF the line have all the prin
cipal interest In tho matters connected with post
traders and their backs the burdens profits fall
in the end, whether represented by Worth dresses in
Washington blankets at Fort Sill
INTEGRITY AND INTELLIGENCE.
From the Evening Post Of yesterday.l
We publish the Ecening Post to-day a communlca-
on from correspondent who afirns his belief tho
innocence Of General Bcknap. We should like to share
our correspondents faith all good citizens would
joice to-day know that :hc charge against the ex
Secretary Is founded upon mistake and that all the
suspicious circumstances may be easily explained.
What is called 'true story" Is teegraphed from
Washington to a morning newspaper II We believe it
we must believe the OF the Secretary deco vcd
hun as the Of her transactions with Marsh;
that she pretended that she had invested her own
money with the latter who had increased by proat
able management, and that the Secretary supposed
that the payments made upon that account The
objection this story and to others like it is that they
assume Belknap TO have been fool
The sale OF trading posts Is fresh matter 1t has
been for years the subject of common talk on the
Plains, In Washington and in newspaper columns. The
traders have excused themselves for charging high
prices for their goods by saying that they were CON-
PEELED pay high prices for their privileges The par
ticulars of this very contract between Marsh and
Evans at Fort Sill were published IN 1871 Is u
cevable that Belknaps attention not directed to
the publication Is probable that he, Who ought to
have had the lveest concern in the matter shou OF
all have been ignorant OF II indifferent to itY
Is conceivable that he would not have asked himself
whether the Marsh interested in the trading post was
not the Marsh managing profitable invest
mcn,s for Mrs. Belknap, aud whether she too might
not have a share in the contracts To suppose that
nothing this would have occurred TO Bolknap to
suppose HIM to DO fool; and that theory OF the case
has not yet been suggested anywhere. HIS knowledge
OF the made clear beyond doubt unless uncon-
tradic,ed assertions false. It is said that
Ia 1871 General Hazcn, having ascertaincd
the facts. about Fort Sill and other posts
communicated them to the Committee Mill
tary Affairs OF the House OF Representatives. he