OCR Text |
Show An annual cash per capita payment is made to these tribes from the interest of funds held in trust by the Government. This amounted this year to $13.93 for Uintahs and $8.62 for White Rivers, $3,500 being deducted from the White River annuity to pay what is known ar the Meeker pension. AgengdweUings.-The agency dwellings are a rather rude type of lumber house, wnather-boarded perpendicularly, with rough lumber, no battens, and only whitewashed; the plaster, a l ~ ob,e ing of the rudest sort. I have in the past year repaired the plastering on all, and added new dressed siding to the physiciap's dwelling and squared up, lathed,and plastered the two rooms, mak-lng ~t ialt,ly presentable and quite comfortable. The agent's house should bu sided up with lapsiding, and painted. I have also made additions to the dwel-lings of the farmer, engineer, and issue clerk, making them very good and neat.. Since the finishing of the new school buildings, the old one (made habitable by considerable nork) has keen occupied partly as a dwelling by the blacksmith and carpenter, and partly as a storage-room for goods and supplies. Improvements.-During the last fiscal year I have added to the great improve-ments noted in the last year's report, a fine grislmill, 30 by 40 feet, and 20 feet eaves; all the lumber, fiooring, and shingles bring dressed by our agency ma-chinery. This adds greatly to the appsarauce of the agency, and will be of un-told benefit to the Indians. The two handsome ~cboolhousesw, ith outbuildings, so finely situated 60 rods north of tho agency dwellipgs, also mainly completed within the last year, and inclosed by a five-wire lehce, add much to the general appearance. One new bridge, 30 feet span, and two others completely overha~~ledds, o belong to the year'tl work. The greatest step in advance in agriculture was the purchase and distribulion of some 1,200 fruit trees, and as much small fruit, which were cmefully set out on both reservations by the farmers, who reFort d l of 90 per cent living and do-ing well. . As a civilizing agent no one thing can excel tree cultu~a. Several Indian dwellings have been built. My plan is to require the Indian to build and chink a log house, then my carpentpr adds Roor, roof, windows, and doors. The roof of dirt, being at once cheaper snd morecnmfortable in this dry elimate, both winter and summer, is the one in general use. 1mgatim.-Situated as is this reserve in the very heart of the great intor-mountain plateau of this continent, its future in anagricultural senss,incommon with this entire area, depends entirely on the treabment and development of irrigation. Happily the water for ihat purpose is in such great abundance and the descent of same so great that irrigation is comparatively simple; yet some ditching too costly for Indians to undertake ought to bs donc, because the best lands of the reserve would thus become available for farming, and the impor-tant matter of allotments be furthered by the ambition of the Indian to secure the most eligible locations. As remarked in my last year's report, it was the almost universal opinion that the law of March 3, 1891, concerning ditches on Government reservations applied to Indian reservations, and one company was formed in Uintah County to take out a ditch from White Rock Creek across soma 12 miles of Indian lands on to public lands beyond,which would have been of great benefit to the Indian lands as well as a profit to the oounty. A deci-sion by the honorable CommiasioneE that the said law did not apply in that manner put an end to the movement. I would reccmmend that in oases like the above, where the water is shown to be abundant, that a special permit be granted by the honorable Secretsry of the Interior, to the end that the Indians gain the benefit of these fine land5,and the example of progress be thus set them. - Gradng.-Next in importance to irrigation comes the matter of grazing, This reserve may he said to constitute one vast range, and these Indians have many cattle and horses, but not enoughto consume the grasses. Hencethese iinegraz-ing districts become the coveted prizes of numerous sheep and cattle owners; snd to prevent trespassing, and to oollect proper fines from those who do,, has been a matter of no small importance in the management of the reserve. Within the last year I have been anthorised to and have made definite ar-rangemfnts to rent some 675,840 acres of surplus grazing lands on the western end of this reserve. Having bzen duly advertised, the bidswereopencdon June 23 last; but it was decided by the honorabl~ Commissioner that the bids were all too lowl whereupon Iwas directed to solicit informal bids by correspondence, which I proceeded to do. Although the bids have b ~ emn ateriaily raised, none has as yet been accepted, hence the renting is yet incomplots. The liquor traffio still continues to baffle the best eforts of polioe, United S t a h |