OCR Text |
Show ICO. The expenditures on the San Ildefouso and other pueblos, and the Navaho, Southern Ute, and Wind River reservations during the past fiswl year aggregated some $31,300. The balance of the appro-priation was expended in repairs, maintenance, and ditch extension on a number of rese.mations, payment of the salary of one clerk and agency employees engaged in irrigation work. Of the appropriation for the current fiscal year some $36,500 is required for the pay and expense of two superintendents, pay of one clerk, and for work authorized on various reservations the most impor-tant being $4,000 for the Southern Ute, 84,000 for Zuni, $7,463.35 for Klamath, and $1,208 for the Western Shoshoni. Superintendent Butler is engaged in preliminary work on the Walker River and Pyra-mid Lake reservations. which is expected to require the expenditure of some $10,000. Wind River Reservation, Wyo.-March 29, 1901, Superintendent Butler submitted a report of his investigations of the Wind River Reservation, with maps and profiles of five systems of irrigation and the estimated cost of each. Their aggregate cost was some $760,000, with contemplated extensions to cost as much more. Subsequently Superintendent Butler wau ordered to this city for consultation. July 19 the office reported to the Department that it was not deemed advisable for the Government to undertake this expenditure at this time, and it was recommended that Special Agent F. C. Armstrong be directed to visit the Wind River Reservation and to report particu-larly as to the advisability of reducing its size. It was believed that a considerable portion might be ceded by the Indians and the proceeds applied to furnishing irrigation on a plan similar to that pursued with the Crow Indians of Montana. August 21 last Special Agent Armstrong submitted his report to the Department, in which he said: At some future time much of the land north of the Big Wind Bver a n be sold. This should not be done, however, until their irrigation system is established and the Indims are on their allotments. The surplus a n then be disposed of t~ advan-tage. The fntnre of these people can be well provided for, but the start now in the right direction is of the greatest importance. It is wholly impracticable to commence the construction of the sys-tems of irrigation planned by Superintendent Butler from the regular appropriation for irrigation on Indian reservations. The least expen-sive of them iti estimated to cost some $37,000. Not more than $25,000, at the highest estimate, can be spared in any one year; hence the construction of the several systems, if the yearly appropriation uhould continue the same, would require some thirty yews, and to complete the extensions contemplated would require in all sixty years. If, therefore, the systems of irrigation are to be completed before any cession of lands is made, special appropriation for that purpose will have to be made. |