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Show Water ran in Cottonwood Creek until June 28 this year, this has been a dry year, rains usually begin early in July. The Posey band this year have approximately thirty- nine acres under cultivation, sone of it hs3 been recently burned off and planted in com although there are other lands cleared off that are net planted thi3 year. The land in most places supports a dense growth of sagebrush and when high winds blow the Indians set fire to the brush and burn it off. Their only implements are the hoe. Thus an acre of com would represent only a few days laborjin clearing and planting. Each cornfield is enclosed with a fence, mostly brush fences that are old and have no value. There is prehaps not more that a mile of wire fence altogether. There is only one log cabin and one of stone and two old hogons. Altoghether I place the vale of their improvements as follows: Clearing and Planting 59 acres $ 590.00 • Fencing 125.00 2wo cabin3 25.00 Half mile ditch 200.00 Total • 0 740.00 There is no question in my mind about Allen Canyon being the proper place to allot the Posey band. Sone objectors state that there is too much snow in the winter, but the altitude at Allen Canyon is no greater than it is at Blanding where ail the Harmons live in the winter. The soil there is very good and well suited to the grewth-ing of alfalfa. I feel sure that with proper supervision these Indians can / be nado soIf- supporting in two or three years. The only problem is to keep then on their allotments and at Work, this I think trill be easy after they have individual'farms started and see their cro- s Crowing. They will require assistance in the construction of new and better ditches and the building of substantial fenc s so that range stock cannot eat their corn. They should be supplied with farming tools and instructed in methods of irrigating and farming and most important of all at the present time kept away from 31anding so that the people there will forget them and stop objecting. It seem that those who object to allotments being made in Allen Canyon have no good reason for their objections, certainly they have no suggestions CCK to offer as to a better place. It is well know thai to any one who has had experience in making public domain allotments that Indians cannot be forced into a place where they do not wish to go given allotments and expected to comply with the settlement regulations. If the Posey Band are forced to take allotments anywhere but in Allen Canyon the allotments would in two years revert to the government and the Indians would again be wanders on the public domain and in trouble again. |