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much higher price ($3.00 per 100 pounds) than this contractor 

 had originally bound himself to do. This contract was illegal, 

 as it was given by the Commissioner without advertising for 

 proposals. The bond required in this contract was $40,000. 

 How the contract was carried out will be seen from the testi- 

 mony of Lieutenant W. L. Carpenter and others given below. 



Lieutenant Carpenter was with me on my expedition in 

 November, and was subsequently stationed at Red Cloud Agency, 

 where he had the best opportunity to observe the whole manage- 

 ment of affairs. Mr. Louis Reshaw (Richard) was also at the 

 Agency, and intimately acquainted with what transpired there. 

 Both were present at cattle issues in May last, and the results of 

 their observation are embodied in their certificates here given : 



I certify that on or about the 13th day of May, 1875, I witnessed an issue of 

 beef cattle to the Indians at the Red Cloud Agency, Neb. That the cattle then 

 issued were wretchedly poor, and about one half of them ridiculously small. Out 

 of about 200 head which I saw killed at that time, there were but three oxen 

 which would be accepted by an Army Commissary for issue to Troops. There 

 were many yearlings in the herd, which would not net two hundred (200) lbs. of 

 beef ; and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the entire herd would not 

 average seven hundred and fifty (750) lbs. gross weight. 



W. L. CARPENTER, 

 1st Lieut. 9th Infantry. 

 Camp near Trinidad, Col., June 22d, 1875. 



Washington, June 5th, 1875. 

 I hereby certify that I was at Red Cloud Agency, at the first beef issue in 

 May, 1875, and that of the cattle then issued to the Indians more than one third 

 were yearlings. I have full knowledge of this fact as I bought of the Indians 

 over sixty hides of the cattle issued at that time. The remainder of the cattle 

 left after this issue were all small, and not larger than those issued. 



In the above issue no allowance was made to the Indians for the small cattle 

 delivered, all counting alike. 



LOUIS RESHAW. 



It will be remembered that the contractor received a much 

 higher price for these cattle than for those previously delivered, 

 and that the contract called for " good merchantable beef 

 cattle, averaging 850 pounds," and that, " if any cattle offered 

 for acceptance should fail to conform to the requirements of this 

 contract the same shall be rejected by the Agent.". The above 



