| OCR Text |
Show It is understood that the matter of protecting the interest of the Indiana and the Government will shortly be fully considered by the Assistant Attorney-General. Crow Reservation, Mont.-The work of completing the system of irri-gation on the Crow Reservation under the supervision of Supt. W. B. Hill is proceeding in a satisfactory manner, his efforts being directed mainly to the completion of the "Big Horn" ditch, although he has constructed a ditch of fair size on Pryor Creek that will water from 800 to 1,000 acres, which is now practically completed and carrying water to several farms that have been planted in grain this year for the first time. The "head gate" or the main regulating or controlling weir of the Big Horn ditch-said to be the most expensive and complete struc-ture of the kind in the United States-has been practically completed. Superintendent Hall has expended some $66,000 of Crow funds during the year. The construction of the extensive system of irrigation on the Crow Reservation, which has been in progress during the past eight years, has resulted in great improvement and advancement among the Indians aside from providing one of the best systems in the country. The money, which belongs to the Crows, has been paid out for the most part to the Indians themselves, and this money they expend much more judiciously than that which they receive as annuity payments and which comes to them without labor or effort on their part. Wind River Reservation, Wyo.-Inspector Graves having reported that considerable money had been wasted on this reservation in the construction of useless and worthless ditches, Mr. George Butler was appointed, October 28, 1899, superintendent of irrigation, and on November 21, 1899, instructed to examine the reservation thoroughly with the view of ascertaining what irrigation is needed and what sys-tem will beat supply the greatest number of Indians with least cost to the United States. He was also instructed to examine the ditch con-structed while Colonel Ray was in charge of the agency to ascertain whether it could be placed in proper condition to deliver water upon the lands situated under it, and if so to submit a detailed estimate of the oost. May 12, 1900, he submitted a preliminary report in which he stated that the "Ray Ditch" was the most poorly executed and valueless piece of work he had ever met. He recommended that a reconnoissauce of certain tracts be made, preliminary lines run, and maps prepared showing the lines of ditches, and the allotments covered by the pro-posed ditches, as well as those impracticable to reach or unwise to cover owing to too great expense; also that the necessary structures be shown, and that estimates of oost of the several systems be prepared in detail. June 28, 1900, the Department concurred in the suggestion of this |
