The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-10-30
THE SOUTHERN UTES
Will Probably be Removed
to San Juan County.
THEIR HABITS AND CUSTOMS
Bow Cowboys aud Others Have Pre-
cipitated "Wars" in Order to
Sell Supplies to the Troops.

| the san Juan country. he was seen
yesterday by HERALD representative,
who had heard that be was present on
one or more occasions when the Ute
Commission held conferences with the
Southern Utes, with the view Of iu-
ducing them to leave their present
reservation in Colorado and take up
their abode in San Juan County. The
Bishop has had years of experience
among the Utes, Navajoes and other
tribes, and no one, possibly, is more
familiar with their habits and charac'
teristics than he. Asked for his opinion
on the outcome OF the present negotia-
tons, he said he had a strong belief that
the Indians would agree to leave Clio
RADIO and settle in San Juan County
Oh certain conditions. The land offered
them in exchange for their present
reservation includes all, or nearly all
of San Juan County, one of the largest
in the Territory, and one well suited to
their needs. The climate is very
good one, affo ding at present an ex-
cellent summer and winter range for
stock.
WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT.
II think" said Mr.. Hammon land
l have so informed several of the Lead
ing men among the Southern Utes,
that the change OF reservations would
be q good thing for them. but If they
do decide TO make the change
they will probably demand a bonus
of 500 600 or more from the gov
eminent or some one else. That the
government will accede to such de-
mand, l have not the slightest doubt
but in case Congress should not see eye
to eye with the braves on this subject,
1 b. lieve that sum could be easily raised
in Colorado, with the guarantee given
that the Indians would leave the State,
and thus throw the ground now occu-
pied By them open TO settlement. 1t
will be but short time, anyhow, in my
opinion, before the Southern Utes will
be crowded out of Colorado, and they
might Just as we'll make a virtue Of
necessity and accept the inevitable. In
company with the commission. several
of the chiefs set out with view to in
specting the land it was proposed to
give them in exchange, but they turned
back before finishing the task. They
said if the commission would give them
Moab and all of La Sal mountain they
would be inclined to talk and accsde to
the wishes of the Great Father. This
being out of the question, they con-
cluded it would be useless to go fur
Their, because several Of them knew
what the country wss like. The
Southern Ute is great lover of fruit,
and it was the good watermelon crop,
and the apples and peaches raised in
Moab that caught their fancy. During
the winter their present reservation is
covered with two and half to three
| feet OF snow"
WON'T GO TO UIETAH
LAS you are aware, the idea was
mooted at one time of transferring the
Indians to the Uintah Agency, but this
they most decidedly objected to, and
would not 60 on any terms. They gave
as the reason for their refusal that they
could not live in peace in Uintah. AL
though of the same nation, and speak
ing the same language, there is deadly
feud between what are known as the
Northern Utes and the Southern Utes.
So far as could learn, it appears that
the two factions had some serious trou-
BILE thirty years or more ago, and bad
! blood still continues between them. not
| withstanding the lapse of consi derable
over a quarter of century. The cause
of the trouble-why the hatred has been
fostered-I was never able to definitely
understand.
NOT AFRAID OF COWBOYS.
cit has been asserted. Mr.. Ham
mond." said the reporter, "that while
the Southern Utes have no fear of the
regular troops, they are morta'ly afraid
of the average COWBOY. Is that true2"
1T is not, was the emphatic reply.
"The case is exactly the reverse. The
average cowboy is more afraid of q
Southern Ute than of the devil himself.
Once let it be known that an Indian is
in shooting distance, and there is gen.
ecal scare. The idea that the Indians
will all be ma sacred if they are trans
ferred to San Juan County Is the sheer
est nonsense. The sight OF Winchester
Jim. whose name alone has terror for
the cowboy, is amply sufficient to send
him heller SHELTER. There have been
many brushes between the cowboys and
the Indians, but the latter have always
come out or top, and Winchester Jim
has a habit of haunting them of the
fact whenever ne gets an opportunity
If the Indians are never obliterated
from the face Of the earth until it is
done by the cowboys, their existance is
good for all time. 1 will however, make
an execution of the Texan steer engi-
neer. The Indians do not love these,
because they are daring riders and ex-
cellenr shots. These latter, however
seldom annoy the reds. The military
q, is almost useless in such country; the
idea of sending two-story houses there
is ridiculous"
A TEAPOT TEMPEST.
what is your opinion of the late
Southern Ute War; which cost Colo
RADIO so much money, and which was
so deliberately detailed in the Denver
pspers2"
ut was veritabla tempest in a tea
pot, for which Their was not the slight
est excuse. In all the troubles between
the whites and the Indians, investi
cation will prove that the cowboys and
those interested in the disposal of such
supplies as would be consumed by
| troops have hnan the QpoYess0rs n cd