Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs - 1889

Page 38

32 REPORT OF,THE CObfBC188IONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. ,, ' : them directly, bnc was to be deposited in the Treasury by the agent, , , , . and afterwards expended for. their benefit i n a manner discretionary with the Secretary of the Interior. The proper adjustment of this grazing question is one of the most urgent matters I have to present to the Department, and I desire to renew the recommendations made by this office upon the snbject in fhe , ' annual report of 1885 and in each sncceeding report. There are vast areas of unoccupied land within many reservations upon which spon. - . taneons crops of luxnriant grass annually grow up, and decay or are . ~ destroyed by fire, bringing but little substantial benefit to the moil a;nd . , . no financial return to the Indians. If Congress by suitable legislation wonld provide for the leasing of the unoccupied portions of these res-ervations, what is now wasted might be utilized and the proceeds , , therefrom might be applted to the amelioration of the condition of the ,.' . . Indians. It is earnestly hoped that Congress will provide the neces- , ' sary legislation at the next session. , I . ' , -, .,, ., . \ . , ,., . . ~, T I , . . ,, . I,:! . . , EAILEOADS. Since the date of the last annual report of this office; the, following grants of right of way to railroads through Indian reservations hare been made by Congress : CROW RESERVATION, MONT. Big Horn 8outhernRailroad.-By act of February 12,1889 (25 Stats., 660 and page428 of this report), the Big Horn Sonthern Railroad Com-pany was granted9the right of way through the Crow Reservation for the construction, operation, and maintenance of its railroad, telegraph, and telephone line, beginning at a point on the Northern Pacific Rail-road, in the vicini'ty of the month of the Big Horn River, in Yellowstone County ; thence by the most practicable route up said Big Horn River ' to or near the mouth of the Little Big Horn River ; thence np said Lit-tle Big Horn River to or near the mouth of Owl Creek ; thence up said Oreek to and across the southern boundary line of said reservation. The sixth section of the act provides" that said railroad company shall have the right to survey and locate its road immediately after the pessege of this act." Under date of March 18,1889, the Department authorized the railroati company to proceed with the survey, with the understanding that no work in the construction of the road should be begun or attempted upon the reservatioq until further orders from the Department. Five maps (in duplicate) of definite location, covering e diitance of 89.8 miles, were filed in the Department, with letter dated September 12,1889, and referred to this office September 18, 1889. BOND DU LAC RESEEVATION, m. Duluth and Winnipeg Railway.-By accof October 17,1888 (25 Stat., 658), the Duluth and Winnipeg Railway Company is granted the right