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Show - - -' --J "I U - i . i i U .< - '- . ~Uu Ja**.\»jt fu. \ WK.HT OK Tlll'l HOOKY MOUNTAINS. Utnl INDIANS \ The valley was once, occupied by people from man, who nun n,,,,. five towns, and it is claimed that more than 2,000 people were in the valley at one, lime. On ;t survey of tho Stale and territorial Hues, it w,w found that this valley was- within the, boundaries of Nevada, and H,,. people, who had .settled hereon the supposition that they were in Hit* Territory of Arizona, not wishing to remain in Nevada, returned again to Utah. While there they built an extensive system of irrigating canal.-., and planted trees, cotto.nwoods chielly, and vineyards, and made niaiiv oilier improvements. When they left, other settlers came in am! estali lisheil claim's over a p a r i of the, territory which hail been occupied Initio .Mormons. Mr. Lngalls and myself have examined these claims ami valued them at S32,0.*.b. The CHAIRMAN. In estimating the value of these claims did y«m value the laud or improvements'! .Major l'owm.L. The improvements. Land is of no value without irrigation. Most of these improvements consist of means for irrigation. There is also a mill race and dam ami mill building. Hundreds, of thousands of cottonwood trees, some of them fifty or sixty feet high, many vineyards-one of ten acres. Most of these improvements can be made useful by the Cove.riii.ncnt, but the vineyards would perhaps be of least value as they are liable lo be destroyed, at least to some degree, by I he, Indians who do n o t e d l y appreciate their value. The Mormon people made improvements of a value perhaps exceeding $200,000, originally, and still of much value to the Government, but the commissioners decided that though tho people, laid claim to all that had been done by themselves and by the former owners, (the Mormons.) they had' no right to more than was included in the JG0 acres allowed to squatters. Some of. the claims of these settlers have been surveyed under 'the laws of Nevada, enacted for (he purpose of giving possessory titles; others have not been surveyed. All of the facts concerning these riuims, the surveys, the amount of improvements on each claim, &c.,aro all fully set forth in our report on that subject. The CHAIRMAN. When was this reservation laid outf Major POWELL. Last year. The 1,2th of March. The CHAIRMAN'. These white people were on there before the reservation was laid outf • " . . . v Major POWELL. Yes. The Cn AIRMAN. Is the country large enough to support these .Indians! Major POWELL. There are but a few thousand acres in tho valley which can be redeemed by irrigation, because of the scarcity-of water; but, by extending the lino of tho reservation to tho Crust of the mountains on the east about six miles, three or four thousand acres of additional land could be included, which will be lit for cultivation. Altogether this will, perhaps, be as much as will be needed by the Indians. Jt should be remembered that, in this climate, two crops can bo raised-annually. The CHAIRMAN. And there arc about 2,!>00 persons to be removed ? Major POWELL. Yes. Question. Are there any settlements on that land to the east? Major POWELL. None;' there has been, but they are now abandoned.- Tim Indians are already showing a n earnest desire to settle there. About 4(H) Indians are on the reservation, and they have beguu to cultivate the soil. They put in about 300 acres o^ wheat this fall. Question. How many white settlers are t h e r e! Major PoWELL. There arc ten claims; but some of the claims are owned by two or more persons, who have joined together to cultivate tho INDIANS WKsr I,I|' Tin: .1 land iu company. 1 suppose l i f t . .<<« v'* many of them having liimilii.'-. Question. Mow long have ihe-r c-...,. w Major POWELL. Prom two t«. I-..• •... on the abandonment of the »•<. mir-. • • •., Question. What is the . \ n i.' -i '.<•• •-» Major POWELL. Tims i l.i'i i . . but iii ourconsidcralioi) Mi-1; ,.*•• \. . , . .<: the. amount of land-was nut .-: ••••. • -' value. It was a question ,.t n..;.i- «•».,• the main all the, imprnveini u'» •"••• • claim. There are already in.ii.j l v i > i« ous difficulty in inducing tin- i.'.*.'n« "-•• r persuade them all. but llii-ri- •» •••> •"••' Three hundred of these lnd.i.i:i-,V' m •• vation, now reporl to ilma-i 1.1 -.'. >• ••*•' v.ilion already establisli.nl lij <<• •'• ' •' Indians. This is known a- I1" I • "• •• the Shoshone and Purl N- ''I t w.-»^ known in the reports as tin- **••*•'•""'• have already gone In lli-: n • ' >'• , , them bv Mr. lngalls and r-i\ - :r. -' •• \ next, spring There ate I «• ' " [ in all 1,437 Indians aired'. .i« .•'•'•» • and Central Nevada «••• li.i*«- f »•"'•' To-so-wates, Id. eats. M\. non.u ••''.' •• CHSigc. A p a r t o l ' lln-m ai '': " •' " niission, of which C.cti.'t.d f!i..i.V.* •; • and while in that c.mnirj ' • " • * » • ; " , ', lngalls and myself, and "••• »••«• • p . ^ - t b . There is no d.lln -ill* •"• " Indians to make that r.->«-i»««»* , ,M " tilling the soil U.a b.ml.'l • 7 " . " ' " laud, but all espcc.d >d,M,.. to b. several tribes, but ihn . - « » • ' «"« sc explained tion at Fort Hall. H is l.,'lie\.d that tbc> . There is iibuiit' irrigating purpose; . extensive and \ agrici duiral lands, and abogcthc I able The Pa-viO'tsos or Pah Ptes of 1 IV. llU,p) have not sullieiH.I laud .on. v T^mdcetheningriimUnnMsi ' b They are willing lu work, an a 1 BUlhcient water and good . » - H would behest to let them remain, 1. t tlieieseivationi.rig vada and Eastern California |