Page 138

138                  REPORT OF AGENT IN        UTAH. 
done were they equally distributed, but while some have more than they need,
others 
have very few, and, as is the case with white people, the most industrious
and provi- 
dent are the best supplied. I would recommend that in the future all the
beef needed 
for this agency be purchased of the Indians themselves, as it will encourage
the indus- 
trious and provident and stimulate the others to imitate their example. By
the 
means thus obtained they will be enabled to procure for themselves what they
would 
otherwise have to obtain from the government. 
They are gradually raising a better class of horses, and utilizing them more
and 
more in their farming operations, having, as might be supposed more taste
and genius 
for the management and use of horses in their industrial pursuits than for
oxen. 
Five additional wagons, one new and four second-hand ones, have been purchased
by the Indians, also several-sets of double harness, thus showing a laudable
ambition to 
supply themselves with necessary and useful articles. More labor has been
expended in 
the removal and building of fences and corrals than in any former year, thus
necessitat- 
ing the employment of more wagons-and teams at one time than can be made
available. 
These are a great disideratum, and no one thing would so much add to the
amount and 
efficiency of their labors as a good supply. 
DISPOSITION OF INDIANS TO ADOPT CIVILIZED HABITS AND USAGES. 
We are not able to supply houses as fast as they are desired. Only one frame
house 
has been built, but so anxious are they for them that several have, with
a little help 
from my employds, erected rude log houses for temporary occupancy. Several
have 
furnished themselves with cook-stoves, table ware, &c., and are anxious
for tables, 
cupboards, bedsteads, chairs, &c. Their adoption of citizens' dress is
only limited by 
the supply, and many of them spend their own means to procure it. It must,
however, 
be admitted that some still prefer the Indian costume, but there is a growing
disposi- 
tion to discard it. In their intercourse with our families there is a growing
disposi- 
tion to conform to our usages and desires. Many things which it would be
difficult 
and tedious to name indicate growth towards civilization. Profanity and vulgarity
are seldom noticed in their intercourse with the whites. 
SCHOOLS, MISSIONARY AN]D RELIGIOUS TRAINING. 
After our last year's experience our hopes of success were not bright as
to the main 
tenance and success of a school, but we determined to give it another faithful
trial 
I accordingly employed the teacher, and by giving the children dinner to
induce them 
to attend regularly, succeeded in maintaining it for seven months at a cost
to the gov- 
ernment of $412.37, but the labor of cooking and waiting on the pupils was
too great for 
my wife and the teacher, upon whom it devolved. My wife became sick, so that
feature 
had to be abandoned, and of course the school fell off, and finally the teacher
resigned. 
During the continuance of the school most of the pupils made gratifying progress.
Several bright little girls, which was a new feature, gave promise of much
usefulness. 
Altogether we had reason to be pleased with the results as long as it continued,
but 
the time was too short to accomplish much. As stated in my last report, we
do not 
consider these efforts without good results, but certainly not as productive
of good as 
they would be if continuous. As I have heretofore stated, from the distance
of the In- 
dian houses and lodgesfrom the agency buildings, and the irregular and careless
habits 
of the Indians, the best results can only be secured by a boarding industrial
school, 
where the children of both sexes can be separated from their families and
be taught 
not only the ordinary branches but industrial pursuits and habits, and the
moral cul- 
ture attended to more than it can otherwise be. The culture of the young
is the only 
hope of this or any other tribe or band of Indians, and I sincerely hope
provision may 
be made for a school such as above alluded to. In a late conversation with
our In- 
dians relative to this matter they expressed themselvesstrongly in favor
of such a one, 
and most of them are pleased when the school is going on, but of course they
do not 
fully appreciate the subject. I fully believe that the small amount necessary
to es- 
tablish and maintain a school-here would show as good results as any other
place in 
the service. 
No missionary or religious services have ever been inaugurated for the benefit
of our 
Indians, except our regular Sabbath services, upon which they are encouraged
to at- 
tend, but which of course are inadequate from their being imperfectly understood
to 
produce any marked or decided improvement. The fact, however, that these
services, 
upon which some of them attend, are held and all work ceases on the Sabbath
, has a 
manifest beneficial influence. In this matter again as in the case of theschool
I am 
decidedly of the opinion that the labors of at least one missionary would
be produetive 
of as much good as in any other field.