440 INDIAN TRIBES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 



portions of Washington and Oregon Territories, and thus blot out forever from the map of our 

 country what is now looked upon as the great desert, as it were, extending from the Missouri to 

 a hundred miles west of the Rocky mountains, thus occupying a central position in the heart of 

 our country, and replace it by one continued belt of thriving settlements and villages, where the 

 stir and bustle of business shall resound, without cessation, as along our civilized and settled 

 borders. Should the matter be let passed during the coming season, I doubt whether it can ever 

 be undertaken again under as favorable auspices. Should you have received any intelligence 

 from Washington in regard to the subject, you will oblige me by referring to it in your commu 

 nication to me in the Bitter Root valley. 



Truly, your obedient servant, 



J. MULLAN, 



Lieutenant United States Army. 

 Governor I. I. STEVENS, 



In Command of N. P. Railroad Survey, fyc. 



CANTONMENT STEVENS, BITTER ROOT VALLEY, 



Washington Territory, January 25, 1854. 



SIR : I have the honor to report that, in conformity to your letter of instructions, dated at the 

 Flathead village of St. Mary s, October 3, 1853, &quot;to report on the probable cost of erecting 

 agency buildings, &c., in the Bitter Root valley, and the cost necessary for keeping up the same,&quot; 

 upon examination I find there will be needed a building for an agent, for the Indian farmer, 

 a council-room, a store-room, a blacksmith s shop, a building for the blacksmith, and two em 

 ployes for the Indian farmer, and a room for the interpreter. I deem it necessary that a full 

 agent should be sent to this section, and that the tribes included in this agency should be the 

 Flatheads, the Pend d Oreilles, and the Kootenaies ; for these but one interpreter will be needed, 

 since the man Gabriel, whom I have employed as interpreter, speaks each of the languages, and 

 who could be appointed the interpreter for the agency. I think the agency should be established 

 at or somewhere near the &quot;Hell Gate,&quot; which is the great thoroughfare for all the Indians in 

 going and returning from the buffalo hunt east of the mountains. Should any sub-agents be ap 

 pointed, one is needed, beyond a doubt, among the Flathead Indians ; and I therefore recommend 

 to you that an appropriation of five thousand dollars be made to defray the expenses of erecting 

 the buildings, furnishing five yoke of oxen, supplying blacksmith s tools, &c., furnishing ten ploughs, 

 seed for farming, one wagon, such carpenter s tools as would be needed, and, in a word, for 

 supplying the agency with everything needed. I am confident that the Indians will do a great 

 deal towards the erection of the buildings, &c. 



There will be needed, then, one agent pay $1,500 00 



One interpreter 500 00 



[The pay should be $500 for an interpreter, since he can speak three languages.] 



Pay of Indian farmer 500 00 



Pay of two men associated with the farmer, at $300 600 00 



Presents to Indians visiting agency, &c., in goods, &c 500 00 



Provisions to be given to Indians visiting the agency on business, &c., to consist of 



sugar, coffee, beans, rice, and hard bread 500 00 



Meat provision to be obtained in the country 500 00 



4,600 00 

 For travelling and contingent expenses 1,000 00 



