Show gency SQUAWS PLAY e time in the indian school Correspond enca or the this is the land of broad acres people here count their quarter sections and eve evea a their acres as we in utah county our ton acre lots achley is a beautiful valley rolled out in one broad field of splendid farming land producing under the hands of industry fine crops of wheat oats corn potatoes onions fruit etc some of the finest mineral deposits for which our utah is so celebrated are found here and are being successfully developed I 1 remarked to a prominent citizen of vernal that the coa here seemed to bo a very guiod quality and asked if it was abundant he jocularly replied yes every man has his own coal mine there are mountains of it here miles in length A large company are developing gypsum mines another company are engaged in opening up asphalt deposits another company has been formed for the purpose of boang for oil which from present indications is supposed to be abundant still another company are engaged in tho copper mines there arc quite a number of men engaged in stock raising as this is a very fine grazing country A good market is afforded the people of ashley at the military post and indian agencies for their grain flour pota toes lucern butter eggs vegetables coal etc there are quite a bumbar of fine dwelling houses erected and others are being built the country is new yet everybody seems blest with an abundance of the and quite a number with the luxuries of life and a more kind or hospitable people I 1 have never met I 1 must not forget to mention our pleasant trip to the uintah indian agency on the reservation about thirty five miles west from vernal it is a beautiful location situated on the uintah river a splendid stream f clear running water about the size of the american fork river tall pine trees line its banks from the mountains down to below the agency everything presented a neat appearance about the place natives were abundant every where tho males at cirod in their peculiar tog each one according to his fancy and no two some alike ath suits some with broad striped grey colored blankets some who were on the police force wore officers stripes and saoul der straps the females presented a appearance some wore fancy calico dresses some were very neatly attired some with fancy and even costly shawls over their shoulders and all wore gay colors shortly after our arrival we weye much amused in witnessing a game called chinney ehin ney played by the squads squaws it consists of working a ball along the ground with a crooked stick a game that is a great favorite with the dusky maidens nearly all of whom joined in i some of the indians have good farms with comfortable log cabins on them each one is allowed to cultivate as much land as he desires and is furnished with seed and implements they who farm have their own teams they can sell all the grain they wish to or can raise to tho agent we had the pleasure of attending the industrial school the teacher miss A A busby received courteously and gave us many interesting items concerning the members of the school when we went in to the schoolroom it was their play hour and they enjoying it in high glee not as our white boys and girls would do with ball and bat but they were enjoying it all tho same in a bear dance formed in two lines the boys on one side and girls on ala opposite keeping perfect time to a queer instrument of native origin played by one of tho natives As one side advanced the other side retreated and vice versa this was continued and heartily enjoyed by all especially ally ourselves who furnished an appreciative audience for half an hour when the superintendent miss A weeks appeared and after speaking to us pleasantly gave a tap of the bell and all was as still as the grave another tap and all were nicely arranged in marching order another and all marched around to tho back part of the room the most perfect order prevailing all the while the boys formed a circle the girls a line on the other side when all were properly arranged with their arms folded up miss weeks put them through a most interesting catechism on tho scriptures such as who created tho world where does god live whom do we pray to who is the great evil spirit what is the place called where the devil lives who was the first man who was the first woman who was tho oldest man who was the nicest man will god love ua if we are wicked will he hear our prayers if we are good who is the savior of the world how did he die who killed him where will we go if wo are good where if bad and many other question all of which were answered with surprising promptness and correctness then they all knelt down and offered a prayer to god in concert it made my heart glad to see those little sons and daughter of our ancient american race offering a prayer to that being who has preserved and perpetuated petua ted them the earth through all choso long centuries and that too for a great and glorious purpose and my heart echoed and my lips pronounced a hearty amon at the conclusion of their earnest and dimple prayer it was now about 9 p m their hour for rei tiang and as each little boy went out ho made a polite bow and as each little maiden passed out received a good night kiss from misa meeks very strong in their affection for those they love and certainly the ladies who are devoting their time to the culture of these children have and they deserve to have aarde share of their love we were shows some specimens of penmanship and drawing and were greatly astonished to see what splendid progress they had mado in that lino we have seen some white children who might well and profitably after those in point of obedience discipline and progress in their studies the boys were dressed in coat pants hat shoes etc the girls wore good dresses with white aprons shoes and stockings and presented all a cleanly appearance many of them came up to us and were introduced by their ty acher they were very polite and would take olf their hat and bow when shaking hands and would answer yes sir or no sir according to our questioned quest ione the indians draw an annuity of 14 for each man woman and child except those who took partin the meaker massacre they draw 7 designed as a punishment for the of fence they all appear to be healthy hearty and happy L PRATT VERNAL co april |