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Show I XXVIII REPORT OF THE COJIXISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. Congress at its coming session, in order that thenecessary appropriations may be had to relieve the del~artmenot f this most serious embarrass-ment. RAILROADS THROUGH INDIAN RESERVATIONS. Sinre the date of the last annual report negotiations have been per-fected, under the sanction of the department, with the several tribes or bands of Sioux Indians, occupying the great Sioux Reserve in Dakota - for a right of mamyac ross tho reserve to the Dakota Central Railway Company and the Chicago, Milwankee and Saint Pan1 Railway Com-pany (esteusion to Black Hills), respectively ; also, with the Indians ' occupying the Uinatilla Reserve, in Oregon, for a right of may to the Oregon Railway and Navigation Comp:my. Tl~esea rrangements kive been ~nadein accordance with treaty stipnlatiolls with the Indians in-terested, relative to the coustruction of railroads upon their lands, and reasouable compensation to them by the railroad coinpauies for the quantity of land required has been provided for in each case. Successfi~l negotiations have also been had, by special agents ap-pointed by t'he department, with the Shoshone and Bannack Indians, for the extinguislm~ent by the government, nnder the several acts of Congress in that behalf, of their t,itle to so much of the lands of their reservatiou in Idaho as ma,y be necessary for the pnrposes of the Utah and Northern Railroad Cornpany in the construction of a road from ea,st to west across saidreservation; also, with the Crow Indians for the ces-sion of so much of their reservation lands in SIontana as are required by the Northern Pacific Ra.ilroad Company for the constrnction of it.s road westwardly throng the salue. Agreements embodying the ter~nx of purchase by the gorernment in each case have been prepared and erecnterl by the Inrliaus, and bills for tho neces8ar.y ratification thereof by Congress will be submitted by this office in due conrse. The incursions of the XissouriEiver hare compelled the Atchisou and Nebraska Railroad Com~~antoy set back its track upon the Iowa 1Le-serve in Nebraska. The requisite quantity of land has been obtained from the Indians, and reasonable compensation has been stipulated to be paid tl~einb y the railroad eompany therefor. In the Indian Territory an unauthorized attempt was made in April last by the ;CIissonri, Kanvas and Texas Railway Cornpauy to survey a branch line to Fort Smith, Ark. Upon complail~ot f the Cherolcee au-thorities to the department, tile local agent was directed to stop the snrvey and rernove tie intruders, which was successfully accomplished; The company, however, still claims the right., nuder statutory provis-ions, to const r~~tchte branch road, and the matter is now pending be-fore the department for adjndication. It is gratifying to remark that the Indians have offered no opposi-tion to the passage of railroads over their reservations; on the con-trary, they hail their constroction withevery evidence of satisfiaction. |