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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XV der escort to the Musselshell their,prcsenoe there, so near the cattle-rengea east of the Judith and Snowy Mountsins and the lower ranges of the Musselshell, would be a source of tmuble. Laat winter these and other Indiana in that country were t,he prey of illicit-whisky traders, and consequently derived very little benetit from the robes and peltries procured, and no doubt that experience would be repeated. There has been for the past two years, as the settlements have apread and ranges for cattle have been occupied, srubraoing generally a11 the country to the sonth of the Marian Biver and the Missouri and west of the Mosselshell, an increasing feeling of hostility on the pert of cattle-owners add settlers concerned, to the presence of my Indians in the region mentioned, and recently several org8,bi~atians of stook-owners have had meetings with apparent intent to prevent Indians from crossingthe ranges ; and same, no doobt, woold not hesitate, if opportonity offered, to &at eith a pofpwe of bringing matters to a crieis in expectation of a final settlemeut resulting, by which the Indians would be confined to their reservations; and this applies as well to the 'settlers on the Yellowstone with respect to the Crows, Flatheads, &c. The time hae oome when the Indians attached to the Blackfeet Agency at least shaold be supplied with soffioient food on their rasenation. I have not the data. from which to make an accurate eatimate of the amount reqnisite far this winter in addition to the present appropriation, but not less than $15,000 is necessary, sad which should be expended for food onlr. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOS. H. RUGER, Colmol Eighteenth Infantry, Commalrding Di~trict. To the ADJUTANT GENERAL DEPARTMEATOP DAKOTA, Pwt Snelltng, Minnesota. DEFICIENUY APPROPRIATIONS. As stated under the head of ~'Appropriations," owing to the large iu-creask in the price of beef paid during the fiscal year 1882, the appro-priations for the Indian service during 1882 will in many cases be in-s~~ ffieientO. n the 20th of July last, the War Department turned over tb this bureau 2,813 ~ioux~ndi anbse,l onging to Sitting Bull's band, and for whose support no appropriationwas made by Congress. tinder your authority s deficiency of $195,000 was incurred for the purchase of the supplies and clothing for these Indians and the amonnt will be included in the deficiencq- cstima,te to be submitted to Congress. Ad-clitional funds for the support of the following Indians for the present iiscal year. and for other purposes, mill also be required, as follows : S~~ppoFoft Apaches in Arizona and New Mexico, $25,000; s ~ ~ p p o r t of Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Apaches, Kiowas, Comanches, and U'icl~itas,. $100,000; snpport of Blackfeet, Bloods, and Piegans, $15,000; support of Indians in central superintendency, $7,500; support of Modocs, $5,000; s ~ ~ ; ~ oofr tN avajoes, $5,000 ; support of Nez Perch8 of Joseph's band, $7,500; support of scfiools, $60,000; telegraphing and purchase of Indian supplies, $5,000 ; transporta-tion of Indian supplies, $28,000. Large sums are also dne different parties for goods and supplies fur-nished and for services rendered in 1873 and 1874, which have repeated17 |