New-York tribune., 1876-03-29
THE DEFICIENCY AT RED CLOUD.


THE PUZZLE OF IT'S GAUGE NOT FULLY SOLVED
AGENT sAvIrLE LEAVES THE AGENCY RECORDS
INA STATE THAT BEwIIDERs INVESTIGATION
THE CURIosITIRs OF COUNTING INDIANS.
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, March 2S.-The President has
sent 10 the House OF Representatives areport Of Lieut.
Col Merritt Of the 9th Cavalry charged by the Secretary
with the duty of making inquiries into the causes
OF the exhaustion OF the appropriation for the support
and subsistence the Sioux Indians for tue present s
year. Col Merritt in opening his report says that
in prosecuting the investigation he forced TO rely
such information given him by the Indian agent
and his employees. aud that their knowledge on many
points with reference 10 matters concerning which there
Is no valuable information outside of the Indian Depart
ment In Washington very meager, his report is in
some parts Incomplete.
The deficiency which has arisen results, II claimed
from feeding the visiting Indians who belong TO other
agencies and 10 the Northern wild Tribes during the past
year, and also to insufficient ap ropriatOns for the
year deficiency arising from this source Col Merritt
says. Of easy calculation and there should be
corresponding surplus at the agencies from which these
Indians came. In pursuance OF this branch OF the in
ycsgaon he found that the visiting Indians fed at Red
Cloud Agency numbered 5000 and, with the exception
of 500 spotted Tail Agency, they we fed six
weeks The latter present at Red Cloud only ten
days.
In regard TO the amount Of appropriation needed TO
supply the deficiency for the present year. Col Merritt
estimates that $134711 Will be needed and he remarks
tat he safely that this estimate Is not too small,
az 1t based figures and facts given him by those who
are sufficiently Interested In making the sum large as
n properly be made besides, when In doubt he has
erred If at ALL in favor OF the appropriation. The
amount asked by the Department was $225.OOO
The Colonel says that the Indians at Red Cloud have
never been properly counted. They are estimated by
lodges and the number in each 10 reported by the ln-
dams. This being the case. the number OF Indians
rpoted al the agency is less fictitious. depend
m n the quantity OF hand and the character
q the weather as well upon the character Of the
agent and Of the Indians II supplies are plenty, the
s.ent is not as careful 10 restricting the number OF
Indians reported; II the weather IA incelnent the
Iudans exaggerate their numbers in order to secure
more abundant supply Of food for consumption and
Lsrter To Illus rate Col Merritt that during the
last month November. 1870 in which Dr. savllie'
farmer agent controlled at Red Cloud Agency the Issue
of beef between the LIST and Goth Of the month,
differed by 1913 head OF catte, representing de
crease of more than $500 Indians In that time.
Tn. nrrsent cgent estimates The number OF IN
dions as then reported, much too small, ana
.,v, that it u'ust be attributed to other
c.nses than the departure OF that numbr OF Indians
yon the res,rvaton possibly to scarcity OF supplies
n.rbaps 10 all Impending Inv ssaton OF tile Affairs OF
m. agency When Col Merritt proposed " nave the III
dian. st the ayency counted be was told o0th ny ms
and Indian officials that would be impractcabie "ih
am ar er force OF troops than was available lie sus
st that the Indians should be carefully counted ana
t,eir numbers verified ut least once month