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Show C0M.MISSIONER INDIAN AFFAIBS. .% sanitary conditious that must of necessity cause the propagation and trdna-mission of the most dangerous diseases, such as tub.er culosis and trachoma. .. . 8. 5 * * 7. The Indian water-right situation on a large number of reservations la such as to demand most serious consideration. Unfortunately, legislation has been enacted by Congress which makes beneficial use of water on Indian lands within certain reservations necessary, if the water rights are to be held by the Indians. Congress has provided appropriations for constructing expep sive irrigation projects on several reservations, reimbursable out of Indian funds, and the Indians are required to make beneficial use of the water on said reservations within a limited time. If this is not done they will be bi danger of losing their water rights and forfeiting the same to subsequent a p propriators of the water. On a large number of the reservations agricultural lands are practically valueless without water. The Government holds the allotted lands in trust for the benefit of Indians for a period of 25 years, be cause of the fact that they are deemed incompetent to protect their propem rights. It seems equally important to conserve the water rights of the Indians, at the same time encouraging them to make beneficial use of the water by farming their allotments. In this connection it should be remembered that the Indians, in a large number of cases, live far remo~ed from railroad facilities, that they are handicapped by lack of adequate live stock and farming imple ments, and that they are living and working under conditions which would discourage even the most progressive white farmers who are well trained and accustomed to hard work on their farms. Legislation will probably be nece% snry in a number of cases to protect fully the water rights ofthe Indians. I find also that Indian tribal funds hare been used in construction and main. tenance of irrigation projects, and that only a certain portion of the Indians have received any benefit from the irrigation systems. This is a question that will necessarily have to be worked out with great care, in order that the Indians who receive the benefits from irrigation projects shall be required to pay the cost of the same. It is proposed to give the question of water rights of Indians very thorough and careful consideration, with the hope of fulls protecting the rights of the wards of the Government * * * * * 9. The conditions existing in eastern Oklahoma among the Five Civilized Tribes in connection with the probating and handling of the estates of minor Indians in the local State courts are such as to require prompt consideration. I consider it very important that an appropriation of at least $75,000 be pro. cured in the next Indian appropriation act, so as ,to enable this office to employ probate attorneys to look after the interests of minor Indians in the Five Civilized Tribes and to meet properly the probate situation now existing in eastern Oklahoma. If proper action is not promptly taken, it is only a question of time until h very large number of the Indians in eastern Oklahoma will be deprived of their -p rop- erty, with the result that they will become charges on the local community. 10. There is undoubtedly a larger field for the improvement of existing indue trlal conditions of the Indians than any other activity of the Indian Service. Many ablebodied Indians who have wluable lands are wholly or PartJaUg without seeds, teams, implements. and other eqnipment to ntili5e properly such |
