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Show Consolidated Ute Agency, Ignacio, Colorado October 10t 1925 Commissioner of I n d im Affairs, IV as hi ng to n , D. C. 1' y dear Kr. Commissionert Reference is made to Office instruction to ma to confer with Superintendent tfneale at Ship-rock regarding the construction of a l i n o fence, and the employment of a l i n e r i d e r along the border bo- • tween ths Ute Mountain and San Juan Reservations* I wont to Shiprock the l a t t e r part of September and went over t h i s matter with Superintendent Knealo. Wo concluded that it would bo a needless expense to construct a fence between those tv? o r e s ervations* The stock men of the country and employees who have been at Ute Ltountain for several years inform mo that shortly after the present fenoa was b u i l t , the Navajos cut it and drove t h e i r sheep and c a t t l e across the l i n e . The only effective method of preventing the Navajo a from trespassing on tho Ute fountain Reservat i o n would bo the employment of a r e l i a b l e line rider or two. I believo that ono capable man would ba suff i c i e n t . Inasmuch as tho KaraJos1 sheep have eaten about a l l the grass that con be had during the present year upon t h a t section of tho Reservation which they have occupied, we concluded to recommend to the Offico that a l i n e rider be employed beginning tho f i r s t of next Inarch, when the spring range might bo available. Superintendent Kne ale said that he would ijjjno-d i a t e ly request an allotment of funds to provide for payment of " half the salary of t h i s 15JIO rider who would be employed for the four l a s t months of the f i s c a l year. Ho also advised me t h a t he would take immediate steps to remove certain bands of sheep who have been treapaS3ing upon l « nd leased to white c a t t l e men upon the Ute Mountain Reservation* These dr- not inoludc five or ??_>: bau^ s of cheep that have eaten most |
