Transcript
Transcript for "From Salt Lake," Frontier Guardian, 11 Nov. 1852, 2
Mr. Stephen Rose, United States Indian Agent for the Shoshones and Utahs, and general acting Agent for the Indians in Salt Lake Valley, arrived in the city yesterday evening, on the steamer Polar Star. He left Salt Lake on the 31st of August. At the Sweet Water, about the 18th of September, he encountered a severe storm of cold rain, which lasted until about the 21st during which time he lost several animals and could not travel. After that time the weather was fine and comfortable. He arrived at Fort Laramie on the 22d of September, Fort Kearney on the 2d of October, and reached Independence on the 17th.
At Fort Laramie the Government train had arrived with the goods intended for annuities to the Indians. A great number of Sioux Indions were assembled around the Fort, awaiting the arrival of Major Fitzpatrick, who was out on the South Fork of the Platte, with the Chayennes and Arrapohoes. The Indians were quite impatient for his arrival, so much so that the commanding officer of the Fort had deemed it prudent to give them some provisions.
At Fort Bridger, when Mr. R. passed, a large number of the Sankes, Nez Perces and Flat Heads, had assembled, expecting presents from the United States Government, which, really, they had no right to expect. A portion of the Snakes, and a few of the Flat Heads, attended the Treaty at Fort Laramie last year, and there received a few presents. As the Snakes and Flat Heads are intermixed with these other tribes, they partake of the common expectation, but none of them were embraced in the treaty, as they were out of the jurisdiction of Col. Mitchell and the Commission to make the treaty. They were friendly, but much disappointed in not receiving annuities.
During the season the Snakes came in and made a treaty with the Yamponees. After the treaty was made, they went out on a Buffalo hunt, and fell in with a band of Chayennes, who killed some of the party, and they returned, asking advice and permission to go out on a war party--which was deferred until they could be advised by their Great Father.
The Snakes, and other tribes, have sent an embassy to Walker, the celebrated chief of the Utahs, desiring to make a treaty of peace with him and his tribe. No answer has been returned, and it was doubtful whether he would meet them.
During the trip in, Mr. Rose's party experienced no molestation from the Indians. They learned below Fort Kearney that a war party of Pawnees were out against the Sioux, and for a few nights guarded their horses, fearing they might be stolen, but they were not molested.
They met Mr. Phelps' train twenty-five miles from Independence Rock. The Secretary of the Territory was with them, and they were getting along well. The train in which the Judges of Utah, Messrs. Reed and Shaffer, were traveling, was met between the Big and Little Blue--all getting along well.
On the Sweet Water and the South Platte, they found innumerable herds of buffalo. The number was greater than any of the company had ever before seen.
In the Salt Lake Valley, everything was going on prosperously and quietly. The crops this year are hardly equal to what was expected, but much greater than the demand for consumption. The Mormons are building up a dense city at Salt Lake. They have finished their Tabernacle, and have commenced the Temple Wall. This is a wall fifteen feet high, which is to surround the Temple grounds, an area of about ten acres. The Temple is to be commenced in April next. Trade and business has been reasonably brisk in the Valley during the season, and the settlements are extending themselves out in various directions.
Mr. Rose met the train having in charge the machinery for the manufactory of sugar from the beet, at Independence Rock, and the last Mormon train twelve miles this side, all getting along very well.--St. Louis Rep. 20th ult.