OCR Text |
Show j4# period of time, nearly ell the purchases made under this head have been made for cash from their individual Indian money. It has become necessary, however, in a few cases to extend the time for payment for articles such as farm tools and wire for fencing. During the past year several Indians have started little flocks of sheep and given every indication of making a success of this adventure. Due to the size of the individual allotments and to the fact that there is no tribal grazing land on this reservation these flocks must necessarily be small, but I believe that if each industrious Indian was furnished with a small flock of sheep as a start that this would become a material help in their support and a factor in their agricultural life. ihis is a cattle country, strickly speaking, but can be utilized profitably for sheep and goats. If the Office thinks favorably of this plan 1 would reouest to be instructed to submit more definite plans and requirements, in order that the moL't deserving of the Southern Ute farmers be furnished with a flock of sheep or a flock of goats under reimbursable agreements. The work stock of the Indians in nearly every case fills the present needs. Several teams have been purchased during the past year by the Indians with their own individ. ua! indian money. Fifty thousand pounds of woven wire and fifty thousand pounds of barbed wire have been purchased by the Indians during the past year for repairs and building fences. This amount I expect to duplicate during the present year and in time a very creditable and substantial fence will surround each allotment. |