Dec 31st, 188 . Rev James H Wilbur  US Indian Agent My Dear Brother   There is so much I wish to say  and so little time that I must only touch on the principal points   Since Inspector P. discovered that notes were being taken of his acts and words, his demeanor has entirely changed   He is either an honest man desiring to make an honest investigation, who has now become convinced there is no dishonesty here, and who did not intend to  convey any wrong impression, or he is satisfied he has gone too far for his own safety   I should prefer the  former hypothesis, but how to account for his actions at the Council   All the Indians noticed it, and next day Joe Stwire George Waters and Calvin Hale came to the Office to see if their Agent whom they had known so long was really a thief   When they saw that the names were not on the sheet as having cattle, they lost confidence in the Inspector   even Eneas asked why he lied to them so   The Inspector is a most pleasant gentleman socially. he has rendered good service to   written sideways in the margin   Your list of exceptions came to hand per last mail, but my time has been so fully occupied that I have had no time to look over them   I will try and get at them tonight  
        the Department, and I believe really wishes to do good to the Indians, but I notice that he never hints to the Indians one word in commendation of the Agt.  I think he has now become convinced that though there may be irregularities in the accounts, and in the manner of disposing of annuity goods, yet you have kept the Department so fully informed of every thing, and shown openly and plainly in your papers what you were doing, that there will be nothing there to base any charge on, because you have already told them every thing more plain- ly than he could do   I think his chief weapon will be your last report   Annual   He will try to show that not half the number of Indians men- tioned are on the Reservation   I showed him that your report did not state that they were on the Reservation, but belonged here   Next he will try to show that the number of houses has been more than overstated   He will try and make a handle of that   next he will try to show that the amount of grain raised is greatly exaggerated    To this it may be replied that the report only claims to be an estimate made before hand before harvest and had there been a good crop would probably not  
        have been overstated. There will be several other points but I am inclined to think there will be the principal, and at the worst they only amount to an error in judgement. I do not think any thing will be said to impugn the in- tegrity of the Agent   indeed, from his conversation and demeanor for the last few days, I should think his report would on the whole be favorable, did not the recollection of that performance at the Council, remind me that appearances must not be trusted. Although there may be no intention on the Inspectors part to state any thing unfairly, I am determined to keep you informed of every thing   I send notes of the  questions  amp;c to Smith at the Council, and conversation yesterday at the grist mill   It may be foolish to send it, but there is no harm in your knowing all. I think I would not say anything to the Secretary yet   wait till he goes the Inspector and you get the whole history. He says he will be in Washington in 6 weeks   I do most earnestly hope he will leave   Since he has been here I have done no Office work except make papers and statements for him, and it will be at least 2 weeks before I can get the Office straitened up so that I can get at work at the 4th Qr accounts  
        The new regulations say that no employee or Agent is entitied to fuel   the Inspector speaks of this often but as he said that the Agent did not probably know and therefore permitted it, he will not say any-thing about that   perhaps   It seems to me that in this cold Country, we ought to be allowed our wood   At least now that the wood is all up for the winter and it would be imp- ossible to properly divide the cash among the employees. the Sec ought to except this Agency   for this winter at least   Why at this house we keep   1 fire in the parlor for Inspector   1 dining room   1 kitchen   1 in Miss Whitcombs room morning  amp; evening   1 in Inspectors bedroom morning  amp; evening   2 in the Offices, and some- times 1 in our bedroom   For the Inspector more wood is burned than any other 4 fires   Now I certainly do not think I ought to pay this. Please send the Council Fire for Calvin Marm   I feel great apprehensions about the cattle   Snow now 18 inches and coming slowly   I fear that round up will cost  us a great many head   though it was stopped, they had started the cattle all over the range, in a terrible storm, and whether the drive was abandoned with the cattle in shelter, we cannot now know   Mr Miller has taken every possible means to preserve the cattle   All send love to Mrs W  amp; yourself Yours Truly JH Fairchild