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United States. Office of Indian Affairs / Annual report of the commissioner of Indian affairs, for the year 1879
([1879])
Reports of agents in Colorado, pp. 15-19
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Page 15
REPORTS OF AGENTS IN COLORADO. 15- many instances, practiced the grossest frauds in the payment of their wages. In some instances goods of one kind or other were given them in lieu of money, at such prices as to make the price of a day's labor to the employer not exceed ten cents. In- stances were related me in which they received their wages in intoxicating liquor, which of course, resulted in a drunken debauch, from which they recovered only when the supply was exhausted, to find themselves without the necessaries of life for their des- titute families. Everywhere liquor was being sold to them in defiance of law. And, although fre- quent arrests were made of the guilty parties, under State authority, few, if any, were ever convicted of their crimes because of the adversc popular sentiment which obtains in this locality in regard to this form of the liquor traffic. Not a few have gained a competency by the traffic with these Indians, while the sentiment prevails to a great extent, that "there is no more harm in selling liquor to an Indian than to a white man." My first work in assuming the duties of thiis agency a year ago was to secure just and honorable dealing towards these Indians on the part of employers, and to break up the demoralizing traffic in liquor among them. By close and diligent inquiry as to the wages they received, and the method of payment, I discovered the dishonest tricksters, and by enforcing just and honest payment, when it was refused, as well as by publish. ing the rascalities practiced by certain parties who employed them in considerable numbers, I have succeeded in a great measure in securing just and fair dealing, so much so that few complaints of this character come to me now. By a no less close and vigilant effort in ferreting out liquor-selling, and by a vigorous prosecution before the United States authorities of all parties engaged in the traffic, a reformation has been wrought in this particular that is very marked. It has now come to be regarded as a dangerous business to sell or furnish liquor to Indians. Many abuses and wrongs of this kind must necessarily go undetected, and the high- est efficiency in the service at this agency will not be attained until these Indians are. more directly under the eye and control of the agent. Scattered over such a large extent of country as they now are, many of them remote from the agency, they are a common prey to the rapacity of designing white men. The agent cannot know every- thing that is transpiring within the limits of his jurisdiction. Withal, in looking over the year that is past, and considering the disadvantages of the situation at this agency, I congratulate myself upon the success which has attended my efforts in the only direc- tion in which I could find anything to do. It is due, in this connection, to speak of the most excellent subehief, Captain John, who is my interpreter and efficient fellow-helper at the agency; without him'I doubt whether the same results would have been attained. His value to the service cannot be estimated by dollars and cents; while a nobler specimen of the possibilities of civ- ilization upon those of his race, under proper influences, is nowhere to be found. He is indebted for what he is to the wholesome influences of a just and honorable gentle- man in this vicinity in whose employ he labored for some years. The sanitary condition of the tribes is not what it should be. Venereal as well as other forms of disease are common among them, and in the absence of a physician they have always been left to such remedies as are found only in their own system of doc- toring. The consequence is many die who might otherwise have been restored to health. I have been notified, however, that a physician will be allowed at this agency, and have sent the name of one, whose appointment I trust will soon follow. To make his services available in the more distant settlements, it will be necessary for the physician to accompany the agent in his visits to them. There are always sick and suffering ones to be found to whom the coming of a physician would prove a very godsend, and with whom medicines can be left, with directions for their use. Under the peculiar circumstances of their situation, it is difficult to state correctly the present population of the tribes, since no actual count is possible. With certain data at my command, I estinate their number at 3,000, which is 1,400 less than the estimate last reported. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. S. LAWSON, United States Indian Ageut. The COMMISSIO.NEIR OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. Los PiNos INDIAN AGENCY, COLORADO, August 18, 1879. SiR: In compliance with instructions, I have the honor to submit the following as my first annual report of affairs pertaining to this agency. I arrived here on the evening of the 5th of july nltimo and on the 6th entered upon the duties of Indian agent, relieving my predecessor, Leverett M. Kelley. Owing to the fact, perhaps, that my predecessor expected to be relieved at an early day, together with the employds under him, I found the affairs of the agency in a slip-
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