| OCR Text |
Show , d5. 1' he irrigation water for most of the irrigable Indian land comes from the Pine, Piedra, LosAnimas and Florida. At the present time, I believe that ost of the water of these streams has been filed upon, theoretically, there is abundant irrigation water for all Indian land, but my actual experience during the past two years has shown me that at periods during the irrigation season Indians! land and crops have suffered severely through the lack of water. * his has been caused by several thin- s. Among which I would name, lack of proper outlets, and measuring boxes, weirs and the like throughout the irrigation system. There is yet been installed nothing by which the flow of water can be regulated through any single allotment or ranch, " hites and Mexicans who own ranches or lease ranches, supplied from the same ditches that supply Indian land, have without exception taken too much water to the disadvantage of the Indian. ' rne allotment of funds for irrigation on this reservation for the coming year, I believe, is far too small to meet the present urgent needs. Forty or fifty thousand dollars should be made immediately available in order that, the present ditches may be put in a workable condition; that the water may be regulated to each user in order to protect the Indian ranches. I- know of nothing more discouraging to white men or Indians, than to get a crop in good growing condition and demanding sufficient amount of water for irrisation, and then be unable to obtain it. Thus seeing his crop destroyed through no fault of his. When this occurs as it has occurred in several cases it is very difficult |
