The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-10-11

Thomas, Salt Lake city, Utah.
V DEAR SIR:-Your favor of the 3lst Of
July is received. 1t reads as follows:
"Wiu you kindly furnish to me for use in my
annual report 10 be made to the secretary OF the
Interior q statement with reference to the con
dition OF the Indians now in san Juan county
also estimate the number of the same, and the
tribe 10 which they belong. or OF which they were
formerly part, together with any suggestions
you may have TO make regarding the same.
am, respectfully,
ARTHUR l.. THOMAS,
Governor
p. ST. would also be pleased to receive from
you a statement respecting the proposed re-
Inoval Of the Colorado Utes, at Durango, be
lieve, to Utah territory, and its probable effect
upon the property of the inhabitants OF San Juan
county; the number OF the inhabitants that will
be affected, and the probable effect upon the
settlement OF the county"
In answer | would respectfully state that
there are about one hundred Indians in San
Jnan county. Part of these are of
THE GENUINE UTE TRIBE,
their home has always been where they are
now located, never having belonged to any
reservation, and apart from the MOancOppy
in Arizona. Their condition is that of the
average mountain Indian, and they live by
the chase and begging. They receive no
aid whatever from the general government.
AS you know, the leading men of Colora-
10 are uldhlLE dll CALOII W hdNC LlAC SOAO
RADIO Utes brought to Utah, and they will
doubtless be successful unless some steps
are taken by the officials of Utah to pre-
vent it.
The probable effect upon the inhabitants
of the county embraced within the lines of
the proposed reservation means nothing
more or less than destruction to all of their
interests, as there would remain no other
alternative for them than to make new
homes elsewhere.
THE NUMBER OF INHABITANTS
that would be affected is thirty families,
averaging seven souls to the family. These
people possess good claims and valuable i'm
provements, and they have no disposition
to leave their homes unless compelled by
the government. Besides these there are
about sixty cattle men, employed by the
different companies owning ranches around
the Blue and Elk mountains in this pro
posed reservation. There are about %, 600
head of horned cattle, u, 900 head of sheep,
and about 900 head of horses owned and
ranged in this part of the country. There
are also about 5 900 head of cattle owned by
men in Colorado, who range their cattle
during the winter, on account of taxes
being lower in Utah than in Colorado.
1t has cost the settlers from $1,000 to
81 LOCO year since 1879 to feed the Indians
and make presents to them, in order to
maintain friendly relations with them. We
lad also to purchase the privilege of running
ssstock on the Elk mountains, the Indians as
Nate as three years ago would not consent to
white mems stock ranging there.
Should the government conclude to
REMOVE THE SOUTHERN UTEs
to this country and Dust the settlers, the
government will receive about two thsu-
sand FIVE hundred acres of fenced
iTT,Vnr-OxTah lanHC HKyith phOut
teen miles of canals; also a few
fine orchards in full bearing and a
number of acres of lucern land yielding
three good crops year One large dwell
ing house costing at least S, 200, located on
the northeastern slope of the Blue noun
tains; siXty-fve log cabins, some rock
houses, school houses, store building, shoe
shop, large number of corrals, with most
of the town lots fenced.
On roads we have expended in the county
S27, SEQ, about seven thousand dollars Of
which, ! think, was appropriated by the
territory These roads are well located,
two of them leading east into Colorado,
one from Bluff and one from Monticello;
one from Bluff eighty miles distant west to
the Colorado river, and another one from
Bluff north to Emery county line, 100 miles
No mines or minerals of any consequence
have been discovered in the region covered
by the lines OF the proposed reservation,
except some placer claims. on the east side
of the Colorado river, some eighty miles
west of Bluff City claimed by one Case,
HE 6, Co, but which have never been
worked. This company has been operating
some four years on the west side of the
river, not in this county, and have, SO am
told, in the way of a city one rudely con
structed house, having small ditch con
structed for the purpose of slucing out gold
These improvements are on the west side
of the Colorado river; but the proposed
reservation line follows the bed of the
river.
In conclusion / would respectfully sug-
cest that the governmentact promptly, and
either open this region for settlement again
las il " as withdrawn last NOvembeT) and
assist the settlers TO claim this desert land,
or else take il for reservation purposes. In
the event of its being
HELD AS A RESERVATION,
would suggest that committee Of three
be appointed, with power to act, who
should repair at once to this region, look
over the country the Utes are to leave and
the country they are to occupy, that they
may see and understand fully what the
government is to give and what it is to re
ceive, and determine the value of the set
tiers claims. This need not occupy more
than twenty days, and thus settle this
vexed question, as the settlers cannot i'm
prove the land in consequence of its hav
ing been withdrawn, and are really in dan
ger because of the restless condition of the
Indians, they regarding the white people
as trespassers. / would suggest also that
practical western men be sent among these
Indians found in San Juan county to teach
them how to farm and live as the whites
live, and after they have first been taught
how to earn their living and become self
sustaining, if the government sees fit, let
schools be introduced umong them.
Yours respectfully,
+. A. HAMMOND.
p. S-The canals at Bluff have cost the
people $1,000 and are now in active Oper-
alton. f. A H.