Portland Oregon July 9th 1870. Col. E.S. Parker Commissioner of Indian Affairs Washington D.C.  Sir:   Please pardon my frequent letters in reference to the Service upon the Yakama Indian Reservation W.T. On the 26th of May I reported myself ready to take charge of Said Agency to Col. Ross Olympia W.T. and after a  day   s delay I proceeded to the Agency where I Showed the Agent in Charge Lieut. J.M. Smith your letter of April 22d in which I was informed that I had been reinstated and requested  to enter immediately upon Said Service. He Smith refused to turn over to me because he had not receved orders from Col. Ross. I remained a few days and found there was no prospect of getting possession of the  
        agency I returned to this place  amp; made a report to you on the 6th of June. On the 23d of June I received a Telegram from you, Ordering me to    Proceed immed- -iately to take Charge    of the Agency  amp; informing me that Col. Ross had been instructed by telegram to order Smith to turn over to me. From the 22ond day of April to the first of July two months after Said letter was received by me (and information was acknowledged to have been receved by Col Ross to so direct Smith) no such order had been given to Smith. I met Col Ross and he informed me at that time that no order had been given Smith to to turn over to me. During this interview with Col Ross I inquired of him if I Could have Choice of my Employes upon the agency   He did not Consent: and I found that men that would blight any Service in the  nation, a Class of whom had positions as Employes at the agency at the time were  
        the choice of the Supt: I Said to him I was not prepared to go into the Service unless I could take men that I knew to be good men, that would give the indians a good example, and would be thrifty in their respective positions. He wished me to keep a man who acts as Clerk, known upon the papers as Supt. of instruction who among the indians has the reputation of a low dog among their women   A man that is in the habit of getting drunk, and as I am informed and verily believe is Cohabitating with the lower indian women of the reserve. Now Sir; if it Seems to you that I have  been Slow, or unwilling to enter the Service, or if there should be any Communication made that I am unwilling, or have refused or declined the Service, you have in the above, Some of the reasons why I am here rather than U.S. Indian Agent at the Yakama Agency. Things look in the Superintendency  amp; this agency like all other Rebellions, only on a Small Scale.  
        When I was on the agency June 3d I obtained permission from Lieut Smith to have a talk with the indians who were at their fisheries and asked Capt Smith if Joe Stwire, Head Chief Could go with me for the talk. he Smith Consented to his going and after his returned he was Called to the Office of the Agency and informed he was no longer Head Chief and then Smith destroyed the paper he had receved from the Depar- tment, because he went with me. Things are becoming wonderfully tangled upon the Agency, and I think through the Supt.cy.  Hoping daylight may dawn upon us from the East I remain your obedient Servant  James H Wilbur  U.S. Ind Agent W.T.