| OCR Text |
Show 112 REPORT OE THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AF'AIRS. Blackfeet Resmation, Mont.-My last annual report gave a brief his-tory of the extension of the St. Pad, Minneapolis and Manitoba Rail-way- the Great Northern Railway Line--through 'the above reserva-tion. Mention was also made of thefaot that the map of definite location presented by the company for approval represented an area of land for station purposes greater than the limit fixed in the agreement with the Indians, rn~dth at the company had been called upon in office letter of 'July 1,1891, for an explanation of the matter. The company was again called upon in office letter of December 23,1891, to file a new map of definite location through the reservation conformable with the agree-ment with the Iudians. Up to date the company has neglected to do this. The company tendered Xebruai-y 26,1892, a draft for $2,629.75 in pay-ment in full for timber taken from the Reservation in the construction of the road.' Crow Reservation, &font.-The history of the application for right of way of the Big Horn Southern Railway through the Crow Reservation will be found in my last annual report. On January 14, 1891, tho agent forwarded the report of the proceedings of the council held by him with the Indians,. in which the latter agreed upon the rate of com-pensation to be paid the tribe for right of way through the tribal lands. The maps of definite locaition were retained at the agency pending the negotiations to be had with the individual occupants for right of way though the individual tracts. Under date of July 19,1892, the agent forwarded the report of the proceedings of a oonucilheld by him on July 18,1892, with the individual occupants of tracts through which the right of way of the road passes, according to the maps of definite location, for the purpose of negotiating with them individually for right of way through their separate tracts. The Indians, one and all, refused to name a price at which they would consent to t,he passage of the roid through their respective tracts, and refused to negotiate with the company for the desired right of w~y. They insisted that the road should run "along the hills') where it would not pass through any occupied tracts and where it would do little or no damage. There is now pending before Congress a bill (Senate bill 3317) to extend the time two years from December 20, 1892, within which the company may construct the road. Yakama Reservation, Wash.-Congress has not yet taken the neces-sary action to ratify the agreement made with the Indians of the Yakama Reservation granting to the Nprthern Pacific Railroad the right of way through that reservation. This office has on numerous occa-sious recommended that theagreement be ratified and that the Indians be paid the amount agreed upon. A full report of all the correspond- * Ootober 18,1892, the company, through Thos. R. Benton, Esq., land attorney, tendered a, draft for $5,540 in payment for right of way and station grounds which smdunt ha-e been credited to the company. . |
