This letter, dated February 11, 1871 from United States (US) Secretary of the Interior Columbus Delano to Speaker of the US House of Representatives James G. Blaine, also known as US House of Representatives Executive Document 115, transmits communications from US Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ely S. Parker, Dakota Territory Governor and ex-officio Superintendent of Indian Affairs John A. Burbank, and D. W. Marsh, agent for the Leavenworth, Kansas firm of Durfee & Peck, from whom the Upper Missouri Indian Agency has been renting the Fort Berthold Agency buildings for the sum of $3,500 per year. The agent for Durfee & Peck has offered to sell the buildings for $16,000, and the matter is being  respectfully submitted to Congress for such action as may be deemed proper by that body. 
The document also contains a detailed inventory of buildings and structures to be included in the purchase.https://commons.und.edu/indigenous-gov-docs/1112/thumbnail.jp

United States Congress

US Department of the Interior

US Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs

US House of Representatives

English

UND Scholarly Commons (University of North Dakota)

University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons US Government Documents related to Indigenous Nations Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections 2-11-1871 Durfee & Peck. Letter from the Secretary of the Interior, inclosing an account of Messrs. Durfee & Peck, for rent of agency buildings at Fort Berthold. February 11, 1871 United States Congress US House of Representatives US Department of the Interior US Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/indigenous-gov-docs  Part of the American Politics Commons, Indigenous, Indian, and Aboriginal Law Commons, Indigenous Studies Commons, Law and Politics Commons, Native American Studies Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation United States, Congress, House. "Durfee & Peck. Letter from the Secretary of the Interior, inclosing an account of Messrs. Durfee & Peck, for rent of agency buildings at Fort Berthold. February 11, 1871. -- Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed." 41st Congress, 3rd Session, H.Exec.Doc. 115, 1871. Readex: Readex AllSearch. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.library.und.edu/apps/readex/doc?p=ARDX&docref=image/v2%3A0FD2A62D41CEB699%40SERIAL-10B1181D9FEAE9E8%40-12BC2920137B9068%400 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in US Government Documents related to Indigenous Nations by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact und.commons@library.und.edu. 41ST CONGRESS, } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 3d Session. DURFEE & PECK. LETTER FRO:\I THE { Ex.Doc. No.115. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, An account of Messrs. Dm-fee d'i Peele, fo,· rent of agency bu.ilclings a.t Fort Berthold. FEBR"C"ARY 11, ld71.-Refeued to the Committee on :Military Affairs and ordered t.o be printed. DEP A.RT)'I:EN'l' OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, D. O., February 9, 1871. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a communica-tion from the Uommissioner of Indian Affairs, dated to-day, inclosing an account of Messrs. Durfee & Peck, for rent of agency buildings at Fort Berthold, amounting to $3,500, and a proposition of these gentle-men for the sale to the Government of all the property owned by them at that agency, for the sum of $16,000. Agreeably to the recommendation of the Commissioner of Indian .Affairs, the subject is; respectfully submitted to Congress; for such action as may be deemed proper by that body. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 0. DELANO, Secretary~ Hon. JA.iWES G. BLAINE, Speaker of the House of Representatives. DEP ART::.\IENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D. O., February 9, 1871. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith duplicate copies of a letter trom Hon. J_ohn A._ Burbank, governor and (late) ex-officio super-rntemlent Indum affairs, Dakota Territory, of.November 17 1870 inclos-ing an account of Messrs. Durfee & Peck, for rent of age1~cy bt{ildino·s at Fort_ Bertllok~ Indian agency, from July 1, 1870, to July 1, 1871, amountmg to $3,o00; also letter from same of same date, iuclosing pro-position of the above-mentioned gentlemen to sell all the property owned by them at Fort Berthold for the sum of $16,000, giving description of 2 DlTRFEE AND PECK. the same, with the recommendation of Agent Clifford that the same should be purchased. I have the honor to say that there are no buildings at the agenc~T owned. by the Government, and that this Burean is at present paying a yearly rental of thirty-fl ve hundred dollars for the use of a portion of the building owned by l\Iessrs. Durfee c ... Peck. In the opinion of this office, it would be more economical to purchase said buildings at the price for which they are offered tban it would be to continue to pay a yearly rental for them, and I therefore respectfully recommend that the _ papers in the case be laid before Con'gress, in order that the necessary funds may be appropriated to purchase said buildings, should that body deem it aclvisable to do so. As there is rent due Messrs. Durfee & Peck from the 1st of July, 1870, I have also to recommend that the sum of $3,500, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be appropriated in order that this Bureau may have sufficient fnnd:s to pay the rent due on the buildings up to the time when the purchase shall be consummated. Very respectfully, your obedient serYant, Bon. C. DELA.No, E. S. PARKER, Conimitssione,·. Secretary of the Interior. EXECL'TIVE OFFICE, J-ankivn, Dakotci Tel'ritory, Xoi·ember 17, lt,,0. Srn: I baYe tbe houor to tramm1it herewith bill of :Messrs. Durfee & Peck, for one year's rent of buildings occnpied for the Indian agenc~T at Fort Berthold, for the year heginr.ing July 1, 1870, amounting to $3,500, together with the iudorsernent of Agent Clifford thereon. In connection therewith, your attention is respectfully directed to office lettn of this date, tran~mitting proposition of Messrs. Dnrfee & Peck for the sale to the Goverumc11t of the buildings owned by them at Fort Berthold. Ycry respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. E. S. P.\.mrnu, JOHN A. BURBAJ\'"I~, Gorel'nor a11cl ex-o.fficio Superintendent I11clian .J.ffairs. Commissioner Indian Affairs, Trashi11gto11, D. C. FORT BEHTIIOLD, D. T., Oetobe1· 10, 1870. Srn.: "\Ye have the ltonor to respectfully call your attention to Lill of rent of bnild-ings for use of agency, and reqnest the pa~'ment thereof. Very respectfully, 3rour obedient servants, DURFEE & PECK. D. W. l\fAHSII, Agent. Captain "\Y. CLIFFOnD, United States Indian _.,Jgent, Dpper Missonl'i ~lgency, .Fol't Bertholcl, D. T. F01n BEHTIIOLD, D. T., Octobe1· 10, 1870. UPPER MISSO"URI AGEXCY, To DvRFE1'~ & PECI{, For rent of buildings for use of agency from July 1, 1 70, to July 1, 1871, at ~ $:3,G00 . - - - - - . - . - - - . - - - - ........ - . - - - - - - - - •. - - - - .. - • - - . - - •••••••••••• - ••••• e.3, 500 lleceived payment. DURFEE AXD PECK. [Indorsement.] FORT BERTHOLD AGENCY, Fort Berthold, D. T., Ootobm· 27, 1870. 3 Respectfully fonrnrde<l to Hon. J. A. Burbank, governor and ex-o.ffecio superinten<lent Indian affairs. I tllink l\Iessrs. Durfee & Peck would abate a part if not all of the within amount of rent if the buildings were purchased on or before the 1 t January, 1871. \V. CLIFFORD, Captain united States Ar,,ny and Inclimi Agent. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, rankton, D. T., }{01:enibe1· li, 1870. -·rn: I ban the honor to transmit hernwith letter of Messrs. Durfee & Peck, dated October 20, containing a proposition to se11 the property owned by them at Fort Ber-thold, together with the indorsement of Agent Clifford thereon. The suuject is one tle en-ing of special and immediate attention. By a letter from this office of the 29th ultimo, forwarding one from Agent Clifford, (1ated September 21, the cla,ims of the Indians at Fort Berthold concerning their res-ervation, an<l the importance of taking some action toward settling them quietly upon their lands, or a portion of them, and securing to them the benefits already made by them previous to the building of the Iorthern Pacific Railroad, was laid before you. If these Indian. are to be perwitted to remain there, as they desire to do, their improved lands, with such amount unimproved as may be necessary, should be secured to them. The pnrchase of the lmilclings which are now only rented for agency pnrpo.·cs wouhl also go far toward securing this end, and in satisfying the Indians of a disposition to properly care for them. The agent, tates that the buildings could not be put there for less than $25,000, and it would seem from the enumeration of them, anfl the remote position of the po t, that this e ti.mate is none too large. They are, ho,YeYer, offered for the sum of $Hi,000, and woulu an. wer all the purpo ·es of an aiency for several years to come. The Govern-ment i now paying a yearly rental of "':3,500, nearly one-fonrth of the snm a keel for a portion only of these building . The agent also states that if the purchase should l)e made preYions to the 1st of January next, the proprietors woultl, he lJelieYes, rnmit a large part of the half year's rent which will h:we accrued at that time, if not the whole of it. From an economic point of view, therefore, as well as for the other cousillerations named, it is guite important that some action should be taken to secure this purchase if pos,.ible, unless it shall be determined to remove the Indians to some other point. In that event, of course, these reasons given for making the purchase would all fail. Very respectfnlly, your ohcdient sernmt, Hon. J. s. P.\.RKER, JOH~ A. BURBAXK, Gorernor ancl e.c-o.ffecio S11pcri11te11cle11t Indian ..::ljj'c1irs. Co,,~1nissione1· of I11clia11 ...1.tfail'.s, Trashington, D. C. FonT BERTHOLD, D.\.KOT.\. TERJUTOH :1.·, Octoba 20, 11:370. . .-rn: orne month:,; :ince we made to yon a proposal for the sale of certain build-rng: _to your a~e1~cy. . "\Ye again haxe the honor to submit to ;you another proposal, em-hracrn~ all bmldmgs m our po. esl'lion at tllis poiut cornsistino· of the followi1w de-. ·crihed prnperty : ' 0 "" One stocka<k<l fort, 1 0 by 1!35 feet, comprising the follo,dng lmildings: I. 1. One oftice, 20 lJy 16 feet, of hewn timlJer, 3 window.' arnl floor, sawn lnml,er. ~- One d well~ng, ~0 hy 16 ~t>et, of hev.·n timber, 2 windows and floor, sawn l nmheL ,L One d\\·ell.rng, 20 h,r lG feet, of hewn timber, 2 windows an1l floor, sa,n1 lnmlJer. ~- One chvell~ng1 20 by I::! ~cct, of hewn timlJer, 1 "'iutlow· aml floor, snw-n lumber. :!· One <lwell~ug, 20 Ly 1:l f,eet, of he"-n timher, 2 wirnlo,,s and floor, 8awn lumbf'r. II. One clwellmg, ~Oby 14 feet, of sa,Yn timher, 2 wimlO\n, au1l floor, :,,awn lnml,er. 7. One dwelling, 20 liy 1.) feet, of ,-a wu timber :3 window,.; antl floor, :sawn lnmber. 4 DURFEE AND PECK. 8. One l1welling, 20 by 11 feet, of sawn timber, 2 windows and floor, sawn lumber. 9. Storehouse, 20 by 36 feet, of hewn timber, 3 windows and floor, sawn lumber. 10. One storehouse, 20 by 30 feet, of hewn timber, 3 windows and floor, sawn lumber. 11. One granary, 20 by 14 feet, sawn timber, 2 windows and floor, sawn lnmber. 12. One stable, 20 by 36 feet, of sawn timber, 2 windows and floor, sawn lumber. 13. One warehouse, 20 by 20 feet, of hewn timber, 1 window tmd floor, sawn lumber, with cellar. 14. One warehouse, 20 by 28 feet, of hewn timber, 2 windows and floor, hewn lumber. 15. One -n·arehouse, 20 by 23 feet, of hewn timber, 1 window a,nd floor, sawn lumuer. 16. One kitchen, 22 by 13 feet, of hewn timber, 2 windows and floor, sawn lumber. 17. One mess-house, 22 by 10 feet, of hewn timber, 1 window and floor, sawn lumber, with cellar. 18. One dwelling 22 by 26 feet, hewn timber, 3 windows and floor, sawn lumber. 19. One dwelling, 22 by 24 feet, hewn tiJnbcr, 2 windows and floor, sawn lumber. 20. One dwelling, 22 by 24 feet, hewn timber, 2 windows and floor, srtwn lumber. 21. One dwelling, 22 by 24 feet, hewn timber, 2 win<lows and floor, sawn lumber. 22. One carpenter shop, 18 by 24 feet, sawn timber, 3 windows and floor, sawn lumber. 23. One stable, 100 by 14 feet, he,;,n timber, 4 sky-light windows, no floor. 24. One granary, 14 by 16 feet, hewn timber, 2 windows and floor, sawn lumber. 25. One 1.Jast.i.on, 14 by 14 feet, hewn timber, 2 stories, loop-holed, and 6-pound gun mounted, comman<.ling south and east sides of stockade. 26. One bastion, 14 by 14 feet, hewn timber, 2 stories, loop-holed, and 6-pouud gun mounted, commanding north and east sides of stockade. The whole inclosed by a stockade of hewn timber, 14 feet higb, with entrance from east and west by double gates 10 feet in width, also upon the south by wicket. II. One stockade fort, 100 by 125 feet, comprising the following 1.Juildi'ngs: 1. One dwelling, 24 by :36 feet, divided into two apartments, with three windows~ and floor of sawn lumber. 2. One dwelling, 22 by 36 feet, divided into two apartwents, with :3 windows, and floor of sawn lumber. 3. One block dwelling-house, divided into 3 apartments, each 20 by 20 feet, 2 winclows each, and floor sawn luruller. 4. One storehouse, 26 by 22 feet,, with 2 windows, no floor. 5. One ice-house an<l ice-vault, 20 by 18 feet, with 1 window, floor sawn lumber. 6. One mess-house, 20 by 12 feet, with 1 window, floor sawn lumber. 7. One kitchen, 20 by 16 feet, with 2 windows, floor sawn lumber. 8. One dwelling, 20 l,y 16 feet, with 2 windows, floor sawn lnmber. ~- One dwelling, 20 by 16 feet, with 2 windows, floor sawn lumber. 10. One store-house, 20 by 28 feet, with one wiuclow, floor sawn lumber. 11. One uastion, 12 hy 12 feet, loop-holed, commanding north and east tiides of stock-a<le. Between each 1.Jlock of buildings is a stockade, 12 feet high, with entrance from south by douule gates, 10 feet in width; also upon the east, entrance by a wicket. III. One log building, divided as follows: 1. One warehouse, 22 by 60 feet, with three windows. 2. One warehouse, 22 by 14 feet, with two windows. IV. One block of log buildings, divided as follows: :3. One blacksmith shop, :l2 by 30 feet, two windows. -!. One tinners' shop, 22 by 12 feet, one window. 5. One storehouse, 22 by 16 feet, two windows. v. 6. Two ice-horn;es arn1 vaults, 12 by 16 and 22 by 16 feet; floor, sawn lumber. We are now desirous of disposing by sale of this our entire stock of buil<liugs at t,his point. Our price for the complete list, as herein enumerated and described, is $16,000. Rent is now due from July 1, 1870, ou buildings now occupied by agency, marked in forerroing abstract as second, third, and fourth. Terms of rent, $3,fi00 a year. Should pnnf'hase be made of the property in accordance ·with terms herein set forth prior to January 1, 1871, the second quarter of the year's rcut, viz, from Octoller 1 to Decem-l1er 31, 1870, will be remitted. \Ve are, sir, ,ery respectfully, your obedient sen·ants, DURFEE & PECK. D. W. MARSH, Age,it. Capt. vV. CLIFFORD, , Unitecl States I11clia11 ..dgent, TJppel' Missoul'i ..::lgeucy, Ful'f Bertlwlcl, Dakota J'erritory. DURFEE .AND PECK. 5 [Indorsement. J FORT BERTHOLD AGENCY, Fort Berthold, D. T., October 25, 1870. Respectfully forwarded to Hon. J. A. Burbank, governor and ex-officio uperintendent of Indian affairs, approved and urgently recommended. The description of the buildings given within is correct. From my own experience and a careful gathering of the opinions of those long resident in the county, I am convinced that the same amount of building could not be put here for less than $25,000. The buildings are all that will be required for the use of the agency for every purpose (agents, physicians, and employes, quartermaster's store, and school-room) for a number of years. I am the more in favor of this purchase as, in all probability, the track of the Union Pacific Railroad will soon be lajd in this vicinity, which I fear will deprive the Indians of all their lands unless they have some such claim. For a while a number of the Indians were in fa,or of moving away, but now they declare that they will not move. A great de.al of work has been clone here, and this land and all the improvements that are on the land should belong to these Indians, and to them alone. This they consider their land, and it should be made so in fact. The land is good, the only want being wood, and this they are learning to do without, using coal instead. Unless it is the design of the Department to move these Indians farther south, I am of the opinion that this purchase would be very greatly to their benefit. ~.\.nother consideration is that Government is now paying a yearly rental of $3,500 on a part of buildings mentioned in abstract, but which in four years' time alone would nearly pay the sum asked for the entire prop-erty. The poiut of land is one of the most defen.sible upon the river against attacks of hostile Sioux, from which the people suffer so much. H. Ex. 115--2 W. CLIFFORD, Captain U. S. Army ancl Indian Agent. 0 

Durfee & Peck. Letter from the Secretary of the Interior, inclosing an account of Messrs. Durfee & Peck, for rent of agency buildings at Fort Berthold. February 11, 1871

https://commons.und.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1112&context=indigenous-gov-docs

Durfee & Peck. Letter from the Secretary of the Interior, inclosing an account of Messrs. Durfee & Peck, for rent of agency buildings at Fort Berthold. February 11, 1871

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

UND Scholarly Commons (University of North Dakota)