OCR Text |
Show Mr. Geo. B. Lockwood, Editor, The National Republican, 425 Tenth St. N.W. Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: Your letter dated February 10, 1923 addressed to the Secretary of the Interior, inclosing a communication from Mr. H.C. Perkins of Blanding, Utah, has been referred to this Office for reply. Your correspondent's letter refers to depredations alleged to heve been committed by certain Indians located in Allen Canyon about fifteen miles west of Blanding, and Mr. Perkins espresses the opinion that the Indians should be confined to a reservation. According to the records of this Office these particular Indians have been living in Allen Canyon and in that immediate vicinity for a number of years, and have it is believed acquired certain rights to particular tracts they have occupied and improved, that should be respected. An effort was made several years ago to persuade these Indians to return to the Southern Ute reservation in Colorado but without success. It is our present intention of sending an allotting agent to the vicinity of Allen Canyon within the near future to assist the Indians in filling proper applications for the lands they have occupied and improved. It i s hoped that something along this line may be accomplished at an early date end that we may protect the rights of the Indians without interfering in any way with the rights or privileges of white residents. An extra copy of this letter is inclosed, and your correspondent's letter is returned. Sincerely yours, Charles Burke Commissioner Copy Consolidated Ute Agency |