The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-07
DO YOU CALL THIS A SWAP?
NOW THE SOUTHERN UTEs or COLORA-
DO NAVE BEEN DEFRiUDED.



LAS ANIMAs, Col, June 90 write from
ono of the fertile ranches in the valley Of the
Rio Las Animas. Il northern tributary Of the
Ban Juan river On the right bank Of
this stream. some sixty miles north.
stands the PROSPEROUS town Of Silver
ton. the scat Of San Juan county
The town site is in Bakers Park. named aftcrthc
brave pioneer who was lost some ten years ago
in the mountains only few menibcrs Of his
expedition finding their way back t. the Plains.
The Park contains about one thousand acres Of
smooth. level land. through which run the
Animas and several tributary streams. 1t is
heavily timbcrcd. In the valley there is n flne
deposit of coal and many rich mineral lodes
crop out from The mountains on either side
But my purpose N this letter ~ simply to call
attention To- the fraud and outrage that have
been. and still are, pcrp.trated on the Southern
Ctes. the original owners of this rich country.
get the facts from one of the first settlers and
IRON representative men OF the southern Utcs
Several years ago treaty was made with the
USs through their chief Ouray ~ which II
vast section " country n the southwestern por-
ton OF Colorado. now known Ha the San Juan
country. was added TO the United States and
opened Tor settlement. The tract thus cedcd
however. did not include that portion now
known as La Plata county. which was occupied
by band Of southern Ties under n rival chief
Ignncus, who did not acknowledge the iuris-
dictiOn Of Ouray. Subsequently. between three
anu four yrors ago. supplemental treaty was
mineral Ian Is and fertile valleys of the country
they occupied wcrc ccded to the Government
for an annuity of $4,000. These lands wore ut
once opened To settlement and to-day there Is n
siaimant Tor every foot Of arabic soil Saw mills
have been brought in timber IL being taken
from me mountains. towns are springing up.
mineral odcs have been opened, and placer
mines are being worked.
fnt not one cent in any shape or form have
theso Indians yet received for their former
hunting grounds. As Bed Jacket ono Of the
cnlcls OF the Southern Utcs asked the writer
:. % YOU call this swap"
To the credit OF thcs" Indians. be IL said. they
nave born" their wrongs patiently and without
commit ng any hostile nets. though not without
murmuring. Lust fall, indeed they felt that
patience had ceased to hc virtue and ordered
cas- and Las pinos 10 Leave the country: hut the
Tanchm.n dil not oN'y and they were not mo-
Tested. These lniians are a superior tribe and
some OF them have considerable fiurks If cattle
horses sheep. and goats. They feel deeply tho
outrage p.rpetrat"l upon Them. but are power
less 10 right th"mselv,S or obtain Justice.
IN investigation mudr last season by "a prom
i.nennt gentleman ~ Washington showed that
s2JpOOO in United States bonds had been duly
placed 10 the credit oi the Interior Department
the accrued interest II which WAS To- b. paid to
these Indians. Within two years after the COM
pirtlon oi the treaty. over al 900 of this ac-
rrurd interest had been drawn through the In
ulan Bur"Hu-hy who'll and iOr.whai purpose
cpulh not l.. a-c"rtAnrd. Certain II Is these In
pinhs, 10 whom the money belonged. never re-
cclNcd a cont ut IL.
may add that the agent accrc litcd TO these
Indians has mover been upon the reservation
although required 10y law To- reside ON it, Ii
prci'rs To- stay ~ home in TERRA Amarilla a
pleasant town Of New Mexico.