They are reported to number about five thousand souls, but will most likely exceed that number. Colonel Walker, the agent appointed to take charge of those Indians, is now en route to the agency, and will, during the coming winter, collect more reliable information about them. His agency is, however, so remote from the superintendency, and the mode of communication so difficult and dangerous, that it must be some time before the Indians in that region are made to feel the benefits of the liberal and humane policy of government. The suggestions contained in the report of Agent Steck, which you will receive with this, in regard to colonizing and confining to small agricultural districts theseveral bands of the southern Apaches, meets my entire concurrence and approval, and, as that seems to be the policy of the government in reference to all the roving tribes, I can with the more confidence recommend its adoption with regard to the Indians of this superintendency. The country watered by the Gila river is mostly mountainous and sterile, yet it contains small districts of good land suitable for Indian reserves. Some of these districts are now occupied by the Mogoyon Apaches; and as the Mescaleros and Mimbres Apaches are a part of the same people, speak the same language, and in former years belonged to the same tribe with the Mogoyons, I would respectfully recommend that those three bands be located in the same district, on the waters of the Gila. The location of each tribe or band should be separate and distinct from the others; should contain within its limits arable land sufficient for all the purposes of agriculture; and should be surveyed and the limits distinctly marked by monuments, so that the Indians can understand them. An agent should be required to reside in the immediate vicinity of these reserves, where an agency should be built, large and ample, with store-rooms for grain and provisions. Near the agency there should be a strong military post of at least five companies, as a check on the turbulent and ungovernable characters among the Indians. The agent should be supplied with blacksmiths and carpenters for the use of the agency, and also with farmers and the means to assist the Indians in planting. In the initiation of this policy it will be necessary to feed the Indians for the first few years, and until they can be taught to support themselves by labor. These bands are now so widely separated that it is found impossible for the agent or the troops to exert an influence over them. By concentrating them, as proposed, it will also bring the troops together who are now so much divided as to destroy, to a great extent, their useful ness. The same disposition should be made with the Utahs and Jicarilla Apaches. They should be removed from the settlements to the waters of the Rio San Juan, and located so as to bring them under one agency, and provided for as proposed above for the southern Apaches. It may be asked, will the Indians agree to this arrangement? I believe they will; but whether they agree to it or not, they should be compelled to submit to it. They have no more right to live in the way they have been living for the last few years than the thief has to pursue his calling, and to receive presents to keep him in a good humor with those whom he is robbing. I hold it to be the duty of the government to protect her citizens; and if the safety of the citi zen demands that the Indians should be settled and restrained to civilized pursuits, then it is not only right but the duty of the government to force the adoption of such a policy as will best accomplish the object. That it would be an incalculable saving to the government in the end, no one can for a moment doubt who is familiar with the cost of the two or three last campaigns against the Indians in this superintendency. It would perhaps increase the expenses over the present estimate for a few years; but when the saving to life and property is considered, the additional cost will be a matter of trifling consideration. The presents intended for the Mescalero and Mimbres Apaches have been placed in charge of Agent Steck, and it is my intention to visit the agency in October, to be present when the goods are distributed. Within the last month or two the Camanches and Kiowas, in small numbers, have visited the Mexican settlements, and in some instances have treated the citizens in a menacing manner. General Garland ordered out a small detachment of men to turn them back. I have not learned that any very serious wrong was committed by them, but it is not proper that they should be allowed to come in, and I have requested General Garland not to allow them to do so. The report of Agent Carson has just come to hand, which I herein enclose. It will be seen that he places the number of the Mohuaches at seven hundred and fifty, which will perhaps be more correct than the number mentioned in this report. And the same may be the case with other tribes, for I desired to place them below rather than above the correct number. With regard to estimates for the necessary appropriations for this superintendency during the next fiscal year, I beg leave to suggest, that, in case the policy of colonizing the Indians in the manner proposed in this report should be adopted, it will require at least one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. This will include the estimate for building agencies, locating the grants, and removing and subsisting the Indians during the year. But should the present policy be continued it will only require an amount over and above the estimates of the present year sufficient to meet the expenses incident to the new agency in the Gadsden Purchase, and also a sum sufficient to feed the Tobawaches, who may now be considered as forming a part of the Indians of this superintendency. The estimate for the present year is forty-seven thousand five hundred dollars. Add to that sum twelve thousand five hundred dollars for the above additions, and it will make the round sum of sixty thousand dollars to meet the expenses of the year. Should it be deemed necessary to make new treaties with these tribes, it will require an additional sum for that purpose. As yet there has been no treaty with either the Tobawaches or Mogoyones, and the treaties made by Governor Meriwether have not been ratified by the Senate, and should not be if the Indians are to be colonized as proposed in this report. From the report of Agent Carson, you will observe how important it is that the Indians should be removed from the evil influences of the white settlements. This forms the chief objection to the treaties made by Governor Meriwether; they provide for the location of several of the bands immediately on the borders of the settlements, which would cause almost constant collision between the Mexicans and Indians. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. L. COLLINS, Superintendent Indian Affairs, New Mexico. Hon. J. W. DENVER, Commissioner Indian Affairs, Washington City. SIR: In compliance with the regulations of the Indian department, under which I have the honor to act, I submit the following report of the condition of this agency during the past year: It gives me pleasure to state that the Mohuache band of Utah Indians, for whom I am agent, are at this present date in a more prosperous condition than for years past. They are friendly disposed towards the United States, and are well satisfied with the treatment they receive from government. On the 18th of this month their yearly presents were delivered them at Abiquin, and I can assure you that they never departed from a place more contented. They all were apparently happy and well satisfied with the presents they received. Heretofore they departed from the place that they received their presents in a state of discontentment; and after receiving their presents, in the year 1854, they immediately commenced hostilities. They are now more favorably disposed towards the whites than ever known heretofore. The citizens have no cause of complaint. I hear of no robberies being committed, and have ardent hopes of their remaining in a friendly state. The Mohuache Utahs are not Indians that are addicted to the use of ardent spirits. But I fear, if they are permitted to visit the settlements as they desire, that in a few years they will become accustomed to the use of ardent spirits; and as Indians generally learn the vices and not the virtues of civilized man, they will become a degraded tribe, instead of being, as they are now, the most noble and virtuous tribe within our Territory. Prostitution, drunkenness, and the vices generally, are unknown among them. Humanity, as well as our desire to benefit the Indian race, demands that they be removed as far as practicable from the settlements. Have farmers, mechanics, &c., placed among them, to give instruction in the manner of cultivating the soil to gain their subsistence, and learn them to make the necessary implements to carry on said labor. They would, in a few years, be able to support themselves, and not be, as at present, a burden on the general government. It is true much could not be expected of the present generation, for they have been accustomed to gain their maintenance by the chase and robberies committed on the neighboring tribes and the whites. But i the rising generation be taught to maintain themselves by honest labor, in their manhood they will not depart therefrom, and will feel proud in being able to instruct their children the manner of maintaining themselves in an honest way. Troops, for a period of time, should be stationed near them, for the purpose of protecting them from hostile tribes, and also show unto them that the government has the power to cause them to remain on the lands given them, and not to encroach on that of their neighbors. The Mohuaches maintain themselves by the chase, and, as game is becoming more scarce, the government must furnish them provisions, more especially in the winter season, when, on account of the weakness of their animals and the depth of snow in the mountains, it is utterly impracticable for them to proceed to their hunting grounds. They During the year, the Mohuaches have acted as well as could be expected of an uncivilized nation. They had but one cause of complaint, and that was in February last. A Mexican killed an Indian and squaw of their band, and they, knowing no other law but that of restitution, demanded payment for the Indians murdered. I could not comply with their demand. They stole some fifteen head of horses and mules from the settlements of Rio Colorado and Culibra. have returned them, with the expectation that justice, some day, will be rendered them, either by punishment of the murderer or payment for the murdered. Every means has been used to apprehend the murderer, but without effect. I have been informed that he has left the Territory, so I have but little hopes of ever being able to turn him over to justice. 1 can only give you a rough estimate of the number of the band. They are seldom together, being dispersed among the different lands of the tribe. I am of opinion that of the Mohuache band of Utahs, there are three hundred and fifty males and four hundred females. They maintain themselves by the chase, and such provisions as are given them by government. They are a very tractable race, and I have no doubt but that, by kind treatment, they might be brought to a state of civilization in a short period. During the past and present months, some one hundred and fifty lodges of the Tobawache band of Utahs have visited this section of the country. They expected to receive presents on the 18th of this month, but, as they are not included within the superintendency, little could be given them. They are by far the largest band of the Utahs. Their main hunting grounds are within the limits of this Territory. They range from Grand river west to the headwaters of the Del Norte east. It is impracticable for them to go to the Salt lake to receive presents, on account of the barrenness of the country over which they would have to travel, and the scarcity of game. They have never joined any of the bands of Utahs that have waged war against the citizens of this Territory. I would respectfully suggest that an agent or sub-agent be appointed to reside among them. They are by far the most noble of the Utah tribes. They have not, as yet, been contaminated by intercourse with civilized man. Respectfully submitted. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES L. COLLINS, Esq., C. CARSON, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Santa Fe, New Mexico. No. 121. AGENCY OF THE PUEBLO INDIANS, Santa Fe, New Mexico, August 30, 1857. SIR: In obedience to the requirements of the Indian department, I nerewith transmit the annual report of the condition of the Indians within my agency, together with such suggestions as seems to me to be appropriate. I have been in charge of the duties of this office only about two months, and consequently cannot make as full and complete a report as is usual in annual communications of this kind. I am the less enabled to impart satisfactory information from the fact that my predecessor left no papers from which I could glean data relative to these Indians. I am justified, however, from reliable information, in reporting the condition of the Pueblo Indians improving. Their pursuit, in the main, is farming. The principal product is corn and wheat. I have had visits from the leading men of nine or ten villages, or pueblos, from whom I learned that their crops promised a fair yield, and that, as heretofore, they would raise an ample quantity for the consumption of their people. I have reason to believe that a like encouraging prospect awaits the other pueblos. The annuity presents for the Pueblo Indians are confined entirely to agricultural impliments. The articles designed for them this year arrived too late in the season to be used in planting the spring crops. I shall therefore retain them in my possession until fall, and some of them until next spring. If distributed among them now, when they have no immediate use for them, the better part of their goods might pass from the hands of the Indians to those of the Mexicans, and when the time arrived for their use they would be without them. In this connexion, I deem it pertinent to suggest that the policy of purchasing the annuity goods for these Indians (and, indeed, the Indians of this Territory) by persons living in the States is not by any means advantageous to the government or the Indian service. Various articles have been forwarded for the Indians under my charge |