The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-01
RADNLETT'S LETTER.
Reply to an Official Copy of the Act
of Congress.

Uintah Indian Agency, via Fort Du-
chesne. Utah, June 30.-The all-absorb-
ing topic of discussion now prevailing
among not only Indians. soldiers, Of
ficers and civilians upon the Ulntan
and Uncompahgre reservations, IS the
approaching movements incidental 10
carrying out the recent act Oh congress
aIlotting UncOmpalgre indian tribe
lands in severalty, excepting valuable
mineral lands. When this particular
act may be completed, the balance OF
the reservation is to be thrown open on
April l, 1898, to home seekers under the
United States land laws.
Associated Press dispatches today an
nounced that the Uintah Utes were
ready to participate in goodbye, good
luck dance in honor of Colonel Rand
lett, their retiring acting agent. The
following official report of Colonel
RandleIt. appertaining to his recent
talk with the UncomDahgres at Ouray
agency, has today been forwarded TO
Washington:
..Uintah and Uncompahgre Agency,
White Rocks, Utah. June 30.
Hon. Commissioner of Indian Aftalrs,
washington:
7 have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of an official copy of the act OF
congress approved June II, 1897. max
ing an appropriation for the expenses
of the Indian department for the asc2l
year ending June 80, 1898; also to report
that Immediately after its receipt pro-
ceeded to Ouray agency, where the IN
compahgre UteS were assembled in
general council, and communicated TO
these Indians the substance OF the Oh
rections given in said act TO the nom
orable secretary of the interior, to aliot
them lands in severalty, and fxinS the
date when the unallotted lands of thSse
reservations should be opened for loca-
ton and entry under the laws of the
United States. The UncompahSres
were not entirely unprepared fer re-
ceiving this information: they had
heard very much about the efforts that
have been made during the past i've
years to secure legislation providing for
the opening Of the reservation for set
Element. They gave no oral expressions
to the sensa tons this information Dro-
duced but their silence and their sad
dened faces betrayed the disapp1int-
ment it had brought 10 them. 1t is
said that Chief ChaVenau and the
head men of this tribe are determined
to await, patiently. further develop
ments in this matter. and that they are
inclined to hope that provision viii yet
be made whereby homesteadS may ne
allotted to them, and to their people in
accordance with the promises IN Inc
treaty of 1880, under which promise
they sold to the government their lands
in Colorado and were removed TO utah.
have felt justified in encouraging this
hope.
Very respectfully,
JAMES T. RANDLETT.
Lieutenant Colonel United States
army, acting Indian agent.
Indians Of these tribes, amongst
whom are quite a number of White
River Utes, some CT whom were en-
gagged in destroying White River
agency in 1879. and the massacre of
Father Meeier. agent for the White
River Uges, and several agency en-
ployees, also carrying off iE captivity
Mrs Meeker, Miss Rose Meaker, Mrs.
White and child, all of whom wele
rescued by troopers after i long chase,
are aware OF the early arrival OF Cap
tain Beck, their new agent. The III
dams are riding to and fro throughG ht
the reservation. The next two weeks
Will witness some interesting pow wo%s
with the United States representatives,
as we'll as star chamber councils among
the Indians themselves.
Chief ChavenauX, CT the UnComnah-
gres. is somewhat ansered at being
characterized from Washington as a
half-breed Indian. and said to the AS
ISOLATED Press representative, recently:
Washington man talk heap-tell hiEl.
no half-bres1; heap fu!.
blood Ute; brother TO great dead chief,
Ouray."