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Show 1 ... 52 HEPORT OF TEE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIES. chinery, in order that steps might be taken to have the same reported upon. May 16, 1891, I submitted offioial correspondence, showing the importance of the immediate purchase of appliances for irrigation upon -. the Oolorado River Reservation in Arizona, the cost of which was esti-mated by the agent to be $5,010, also the necessity for similar appliances on the Navajo Reservation, Arizona, and-the Western ShoshoneReserv in Nevada. ? The report of Mr. Wilson, of the Geological survey, dated June 13, 1891, on the irrigation of the Mojave .School Reservation in Arizona, was reoeived September 30. Be recommends the purchase of machin-my, for which his lowest estimate is $4,81.3. This report will be con-sidered at an early day. No report kss as yet been received regarding the other resehations mentioned. Authority has been granted for the expenditure of small sums, ag-gregating some $2,000, for the repair of ditohes and machinery at the Nevada, Westeru Shoshone, Xavajo, and Pima agencies. The act of March 3, 1891, also authorized the Secretary of the Inte-. rior to grant right of way into and across the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho to canal, ditch, or reservoir companies, for the purpose of en-abling the citizens of Pocatello to rwcive a water supply, with a pro-vision that he might attach such conditions as to the supply of surplus water to Indians upon this reservation as might he reasonable, and might prescribe roles and regulations for the same. Under this act Mr. L. E. Hall, president of the Idaho Canal Company, was inform~d on the 3d of last July that a right of way across the Fort Hall Reservation would be formally granted that company when a map of definite localion should be Bled and the compauy should agree to all the stipula$ions, conditious, and agreementd contained in its application. This was the only company that submitted a formal proposition for a right of way under the act. I hope to make arrange-ments for locating Indians along the line of the proposed caual,aud if this can he done a considersble amount. of land may be utilized. Itwill be seen that but little progress has been made during the year in supplying the much-needed appliances for irrigation as contempla-ted in the appropriation of $30,000 j it is believed, however, that the amount may be utilized before the close of the fiscal year. Such appro-priation should be continued annually and should include all Indian reservations where irrigation is necessary to the successful, cultivation of the soil. If it is. thought desirable to haveinvestigation made as to each particular reservation before the purchase of machinery or the construction of irrigating appliances is undertaken, it seems to me that it will be economy, certainly of t.ime if not of money, if the appointment of a competeut engineer to siiperintend such work be authorized by law |
