The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-06-04
NOT AuAPPYLOT.
The Unenviabie Position of an Indian
Agent and His Seven Associates.

Agent and His Seven Associates.
There are two Indian agencies, the
Uintah and Ouray, each about thirty
miles from this settlement. writes an
Ashley Forks Utah) correspondent OF
the Denver Nevs There are about
twenty-five hundred Indians on the two
reservations, and they are all armed
(and we'll armed) with the latest i'm
proved weapons. The Mormon dealers
and others in this valley sell them guns,
pistols, and ammunition whenever
asked for. In fact, there is fraternal
harmony existing between the Mormon
and the Indian. which has been nursed
and cultured by the Mormon church,
for the fact is well known that leaders
of the Mormon church located here are
allowed to expend Il certain sum annu-
ally to negotiate the friendship of the
savage. The traders ut the agencies
are not allowed by the regulations of
the Indian department to sell fixed am
munition, and yet they do carry in
stock, without limit, powder, lead, pri-
mers, shells, and reloading outfits.
Herein consistency is jewel
The agent and employees allowed here
number eight AL told. These men are
placed among one thousand or twelve
hundred brutes, and no defense of any
kind allowed them. The situation of
these two agencies is deplorable. The
distance to railroad or telegraph sta
ton by the nearest mail route is over
two hundred miles, the roads are i'm
passible nearly five months out of Il
year for any vehicle but blackboard,
and in case of an outbreak the settlers
would have to suffer for weeks before
military aid could be had. The agent
and his seven men are supposed to act
as n standing army, missionaries, and
general civilizers, the articles of war,
peace and ndustry-universal contor-
tionists, SO to speak.
The agent must be general arbitra-
tor for and between the government,
the Indians, and the settlers in the sur
rounding country. He must listen TO all
complaints of the Indians, which alone
are burdensome, and ameliorate their
grievances. The settlers give him sheol
because he does not keep the Indians
on the reservation and don't know
how to handle 'em, and because he
don't make the lazy cusses work" The
government holds an agent responsible
until satisfactorily explained (p) for any
breach of the regulations which may be
brought about by II conspiracy of cir
cumstances. For instance. an officious
Mormon reported having seen u coil of
fenc e-wire in this place which had been
stol en- from one of the adjoining agen-
cics. Without any inquiry the coil of
wire was charged up to the agent by
the department.
An agent is expected to be ut his
agency, everywhere OH the reservation,
and all around on the outside, all in the
same moment. If misdeed be perpe-
trated he can not commence procedure
himself, but report the matter to the de-
partment, and then, if considered of
Importance, it is showed into the judici-
airy department and filed for its turn,
and, if ever reached, referred to the dis
trict attorney to ''look up" BY this
time the mischief is done, the offender
escaped, or the important moment gone
by. An agent is warned by the rcgula-
lions If he commences proceedings in
any case he does so on his own rcspon-
sibility. 1t is poor encouragement for
an agent to undertake any matter and
often those who are unacquaintcd with
the red tape route ask why nothing was
done about SO and so. The uninstigated
and inhuman stinginess and parsimony
ot the government in prov ding for the
comfort and safety of IN agent is with
out parallel, and the settlers who crowd
to the front and open up the country
a. loft with ~ ,N,.D4nnt;,., b,,4
one.
AT the time of the Meekcr massacre
Father Mceker was writing and tele-
graphing the Indian department. for
ninety days that Perkins and other deal
ers on Beard and Snake rivers were sell
ing the Indians ammunition. and an
outbreak was feared. 1t took. all the
time for the fred tape to move and
start troops from Fort Steele, distance
Of Ito miles, and the agent and en-
ployes were let out on the scalp route
before they (the troops) had travelled
125 miles. And still the ''red tape" is
slowly ruled, the suckers which consti-
tutc the army are safely housed mid
civic multiplicity, and an Indian agent
is placed with seven men to hold down
and control thousand savage brutes
and stand off the border ruffians, the
interloper, and astute Mormon, who
teaches the Indian that the government
is common enemy, and trades them
rum and ruin. Last summer one or the
agents notified the department OF the
lawlessness of the Mormons and others
furnishing the Indians with whisky,
who came to the agency drunk and dis
orderly, and requested something be
done to stop it. A communication was
received in reply that the matter had
been referred to the district attorney.
That was the last of it. The officials at
Washington are safe. The army is
safely housed. Tho Indians continue to
get whisky and raise the devil around
the country, and settlers who are I'M
easy ask "Why isn't something done to
stop itP" And a relentless echo replies:
"Stop it."