report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1864, pages 219 and 232; also by letter of For the 66 head of horses and mules lost on the 21st August, 1864... $3.30 1.650 3,3m For the 88 head of brood-mares and young stock lost October 21, 1865.. which amounts, when paid, shall be charged to the respective tribes who took the said stock, and shall be deducted from any annuities or money due or to become due said respective tribes. We herewith report a bill for the payment of the same. It will be borne in mind that Holladay, the claimant, sustained his losses while carrying the transcontinental mails through the same region at a period when their transportation was of highest importance to the whole country. Mr. Holladay's losses were very large, and we think he is equitably entitled to some relief. Under all the circumstances, we have concluded to recommend that he be paid the sum of five hundred and twenty-six thousand seven hundred and thirty-nine dolars, in full payment and satisfaction of all claims of said Holladay against the United States for spoliations by hostile Indians on his property while carrying the Unites, States mails during the existence of Indian hostilities on the line of said mail-roat. for property taken and used by United States troops for the benefit of the Unitës, States; and for losses of property and expenses incurred in changing his mail-route, in compliance with the orders of the United States commanding officer; and we accordingly report the accompanying bill and recommend that it do pass, when amended as proposed. APPENDIX A. The cost of removal from the North Platte and Sweet Water, or South Pass route, te the route through Bridger's Pass, along Laramie Plains and Bitter Creek, sometimes called the Cherokee Trail, or Butes Creek route, and the damages incident to it, 28 shown by the affidavit of Col. Isaac E. Eaton (p. 12) in the printed copies of evidence He was superintendent of the Overland Mail Line under Holladay, in 1862, when the Indian raids, detailed in his evidence, were perpetrated. He states that Holladay was compelled to abandon 26 stations, worth $2,000 each, and a large amount of forage, and other articles of value, necessary to the running of the line, of the amount of whic he could form no true estimate; but Holladay, who had to pay for supplies to replace those lost on the old line, and abandoned, under the enforced removal, states (p. 63 of printed evidence) that the sum of $25,000 would not cover these losses. Under the circumstances, the line being changed in the face of hostile savages, it mas be apparent that no exact computation could be made of the various articles of equpment existing necessarily at each of the twenty-six abandoned stations, as the remova was a retreat in the face of a vigilant and dangerous foe, in the midst of actual hostle ties, and under the apprehension of destruction to the lives of the employés. Ther could have been no time for anything like taking account of the articles left behind The hostile attitude of the savages is abundantly proven by General Craig, who stated that the line could only have been kept up by consent of the Indians; and the removal ordered was a wise measure in all respects." (P. 55 of printed evidenceDavid Street, an officer of the line (p. 51 of printed evidence), testities to the abardonment of a great deal of valuable property, owing to the hasty manner of the re moval; and also that the stations abandoned were of a substantial character, all ef them; and that the one at Horse-Shoe Creek, which was a supply-station, was a blacksmith shop, coach and harness shop, warehouses, lodging-houses, offices, and corrals, cẨ the most substantial nature, erected at heavy outlay. APPENDIX B. The cost of removal from the Platte River route to the so-called Cut-off route, 1* order of Colonel Chivington, is shown by the evidence (p. 56) of George K. Otis, what gave instructions for it, as he was then acting as superintendent of the line. He states that he made an estimate of the cost-knowing the number of trans necessary, the distance to haul, as well as an estimate of the loss of grain and hay n removal and that he is well satisfied that it did cost $50,000; fully that, if not more. David Street (p. 51 of the evidence) sustains Otis in the statement he makes, that the line was subjected to heavy losses in consequence of the removal. The evidence of the claimant is to the effect that he objected to removal, stating to the military officer that winter was on him, the stations then supplied, the grain-sacks emptied into bins, and the sacks sent off to be filled again, fuel procured, &c.; and that the stations had to be pulled down, hauled, and put up again; all which he represented to that officer. Edward F. Hooker (p. 48 of evidence) states that, in his opinion, the loss of hay and grain, and putting up new stations, the labor of removal, &c., would cost not under $5,000 a station. George H. Carlyle (p 35 of evidence) stated that the sum of $50,000 for removing the station, and the loss of grain and hay and corrals, and wood, &c., was not too great. His evidence is very full on the subject, and minutely describes the process of removing stations, and the distance for removal from 25 to 60 miles. William Reynolds, superintendent of the line (p. 20 of the evidence), also states matter of importance in regard to the damage by removal, showing the nature of the removal, its incidents, and extent of work necessary to accomplish the act. APPENDIX C. The damages sustained by the claimant for grain, fuel, hay, &c., used by the military forces in the line of the claimant in the Territory of Colorado, is proven by Carlyle (p. 35 of the evidence). He states that the military forces took at one time twenty-nine head of oxen from the line at Fort Kearney, worth $100 a head, and one hundred cords of wood at Julesburg, worth $50 a cord; and that from what he knew to have been destroyed and used by the soldiers, he did not consider $30,000 an overestimate of the damage inflicted by the military on the line of the claimant, and that when a receipt for anything used was wanted it was refused. He stated that they were in the habit of going to stations and getting whatever was wanted by them, grain or provisions, until to stop the raids a military order was procured, and that this damage was done between October, 1864, and December, 1865. David Street (p. 51 of the evidence) also gave evidence that the line was subjected to serious losses in consequence of damage done and property taken by the United States soldiers. Then, George K. Otis states (p. 56 of the evidence) that he made the estimate of the damages done by the military forces to the property of the claimant, and that he made the estimate of $30,000 after consultation with the division agents and men employed on the stage-line; that no record could be kept of the property taken or used, or what was eaten up and consumed; but from the number of troops constantly passing up and down the road, he was satisfied that at least $30,000 would be required to indemnify the claimant. William Reynolds (p. 20), superintendent of the line from October, 1864, to March 1866, stated that large amounts of grain and hay and wood were consumed by the military forces on the line, the property of claimant, while he was superintendent of the line, and several houses and stables used for fuel and other purposes. APPENDIX D. I. The Indian depredations on the stage-line of the claimant, as established by the evidence, appear as follows: A. D. 1863. 173 horses and 34 mules, near Fort Halleck, page 4, printed evidence of R. L. Pease, total value.. II. Loss at 3-Crossings Station: April 16, 1862. 22 mules and horses, at $225 each 10 sets 4-horse harness, at $110 each. April 17, 1862. 9 head mules, at $200 each 9 sets 4-horse harness, at $110 each. $41,400 00 $1,950 00 1,100 00 150 00 1,800 00 990 00 500 00 6,390 00 May 23, 1862. 35 sacks barley, 3,500 pounds, at 15 cents per pound..... At Upper Crossings Sweet Water: 18 sacks barley, 1,800 pounds, at 15 cents... 2,000 00 100 2,650 00 270 7958 Damage done to stations at 3-Crossings, Sweet Water, Split 1,5 To establish the damages above claimed, reference is made to the evidence of Flowers, division agent (p. 3 of evidence); R. Murray, employé (p. 4 of same). To prove the loss above claimed, reference is made to the evidence of J. A. Slade division agent (p. 7 of evidence). IV. April, 1862. 100 sacks barley, 100,000 pounds, at 15 cents 50 sacks oats, 5,000 pounds, at 15 cents ..... Damage to station at Pacific Springs, Dry Sandy, and Little Sandy, at $500 each 800 00 100 00 90 00 500 00 1,490 00 800 00 200 00 1,500 00 2,500 00 At Little Sandy Station: 30 sacks oats, at $5 per sack 150 00 To establish the losses above, reference is had to the evidence of J. E. Bromley, divison agent, pages 8 and 9 of the same printed evidence. To prove this loss, reference is made to the evidence of W. A. Reid, division agent, #ges 8 and 9 of evidence. At Wells Station: VIII. ril 20, 1862. 2 horses, at $150 each....... This loss is established by the evidence of Johnson, page 9 of evidence. IX. Loss at Midway Station: gust, 1864. Dishes and furniture destroyed... At Platte Station: 4 horses, at $350 each....... 250 sacks corn, 28,000 pounds, at 20 cents $300 00 $500 00 1,400 00 5,600 00 400 00 7,900 00 At Plum Creek Station: 250 sacks corn, 28,000 pounds, at 20 cents per pound.................. 250 sacks corn, 28,000 pounds, at 20 cents per pound................ $5,600 00 56006 2.900 6 14, 100 ** The evidence to prove these losses consists of the proof made by George H. Carlyland Solomon Riddle, pages 11, 12, 13, 14, of the printed evidence, reported. X. Losses at Diamond Springs: August, 1864. 250 sacks corn, 28,000 pounds, at 20 cents. 15 tons hay, at $40.. $5.600. 600 * 6,200 For the evidence to establish these losses above mentioned, see evidence of Ri pages 13, 14, of printed testimony; Murphy, also, pages 23, 24, of same. |