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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XLIX Various expedients were then resort.ed to in order to obtain lawful possession of the discoveries. Appeals mere made for the segregation b of the coal.bearing lands from the reservation; requests for leases were presented, and proposals submitted for an exchange of the coal lands for lai~cIsa djacent to the reservation elsewhere. A bill mas introduced in Oongress (H. R. 4146) having for its object the restoration of the lands embracing the coal beds to the public domain, as well as a strip extending along the entire westeru boundary of the reservation. AII-other bill, having a similar object (H. R. 5378), provides for an exchange of the coal-bearing lands ibr grazing and arable lands to be added to the reservation on the north and mest. The practicability of removing the Iudiaiis to the Indiari Territory was discussed, and a proposition of that kind was preseuted to the 111dianst hemselves; but it mas fonnd~ that they were decidetlly and nnalterahly opposed to any such meas-ure. This office bas been in xymllathy rrith t.he general desire to have these ralnable deposits made available to the piiblic use, but how to accomplish that end withont working injustmiceto the Iudian~h as been a question requiring serious consideration. General Sherman, when on a recent risit to the San Carlos reserre, exl~resseilt he opinion that the Indians could uerer be prevailed npou to remove again, and it is 'xceed-iugly doubtful if they nrould be satisfied mith auy further reduction of their reservation, it having already been cut clo\vu no less than fire times within the la.st ten years. TLie governu~enct auuot nndertake to work the mines, nor are the Indians anfficiently atlvanced as artisans or in ordinary manual-labor pursuits to do so advantageously, had they the necessar7 authority to enable them to tlisl~oseo f the coal a s a means of profit to themselves. aforeover, uuder existinglaw tbereis no aothor-ity for permitting the severance ancl remoral fi.om an Iudiab reservation, for purposes of sale or speculation, of auy material att,ached to or forming a part of the realty, such as timber, coal, or other minerals. After carefi~llyc onsidering the questions iuvolred, this office became convinced that the most practicable solution of the matter mould be the. adoption of a system of leasing upon aroyalty plan; and accordingly a draft of a joint resolutiou mas prepared in this office :tnd submitted to t6e department in April last with a view to securing the needful legis-lation therefor. It mas believed t,hat by this means a very large part of the annual expenditure for the support and care of the Indians of Arizona and New Mexicomight be reimbursed to the government from the profit of the mines without hardship to consumers, and that the Indians themselves would be greatly be~ef i ted~noontl y by the example of industry set, but through the opportunity that mould be afforded them to earn wages by their own labor. The draft of resolution as prepared, was trausmitted to Congress by the President on April 17, following, but no final action had been taken thereon at the date of adjournment.. IND-N |