Feb 14, 1883 Rev James H Wilbur  Late US Indian Agent   Goldendale My Dear Brother  I have been sick in bed for two days which is the reason I have not sent this statement sooner. I had it all ready to send Monday but was not able to be up. On looking it over I found some errors which rendered it necessary to write it up again but with no material difference the over- payment being 58 cts instead of 31 cts as I wrote you   I send my own affidavit and a form which if you think proper you can swear to and send with it. I think if I were you I would not send this unless they ask for it or you are very certain they will ask for it   From the report of the   
        Commissioner, I see he complains of the Complicated system of recounts, and as they regard you as one of the very best Agents ever in the Service, (for which they have good reason), and know you to be entirely honest, I am of opinion they  will pay no attention to Gardiner   s rec- ommendation, but take your accounts as rendered. I am confirmed in this by seeing in a Chicago paper that Agent Tiffany of San Carlos in Arizona whose suspension was recommended by Gardiner under the very gravest and most positive charges, has been entirely exhonerated a Special Agent who was sent to investigate having found only an error of  50 in his accounts. There is something so entirely and ridiculously absurd in Inspector Gardiner   s Report      that from personal inspection he had seen that your Indians were more advanced than any others he had seen    and consequently you had better accomplished the object of your  mission      that he had every confidence in  your integrity, honesty, and bountifulness     
        and then   one would naturally suppose commending you for your efficiency    but recommending that your accounts be Suspended. The very idea of such  a report is so ridiculous that I dont believe the Department will notice it.  Your letter enclosing  22.50 for payment of Webb came to hand to-day and I  beg to tender my thanks  I had looked over your latter suspen- sions (sent the other day), and commenced to answer Saturday night, but for two days have not been able to do any- thing   I hope tomorrow I shall be able to go to work again. I see nothing in this last   so far as the cash accounts are concerned   to cause the slightest trouble   the property accounts I think will all be easily answered unless it may be about the 10 head  
        Cattle, and that we will fix up in some way   I am so nervous that I can hardly write to-night and I hope you will excuse this scrawl  My wife desires to be remembered to Mrs Wilbur and yourself All write in regards  We have had the coldest weather I ever experienced in this country    thermometer ranging for two or three weeks at from 12 to 22 below O/ Snow about two feet  Very Truly Yours  JH Fairchild Ross has resigned   There were grave charges against him which it is but fair to say he strenuously denied.  Every thing here about as usual except that perhaps outside matters miss somewhat the eye of the master, and   If this weather continues I fear we shall get out of feed    The General has let the Indians have considerable    But I trust all will come out right.