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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 25 competerlt man to superintend the work of developing a water supply and oonstructing a system of irrigation on the Navajo Eeservation suffi-cient to meet at leastthe immediateneeds a ~ i dw ants of the Navajoes, for which work Congress had appropriated at various tirnes certain sums. March 10, 1894;x. C. Vincent, of Staunton, Va., was appointed by you for the duty indicated, and on the 2lst of that month instrnctione for his guidance were issued by this o%c ~m, hich were approved by t h e Department March 23. March 28, these instrnctions were transmitted to Superintendent Vinceut with directions to proceed at once to the Navajo Reservatio~ai ,nd enter upon the discharge of the duties assigned him. He is now in the field prosecuting the work outlined. He was advised that owing to the immediate need of water supply for stock and domestic purposes attention should first be given to the development of as many springs and wells as possible upon the reser-vation. Tliis plan it was hoped would afford better water facilities for the grazing lands and bring into use tracts hitherto ungrazed, so as to furnish sufficient water for the numerous flocks and herds of the Navajoes. He was also instructed, while conducting this work, to note places: where conditions seemed favorable for obtaining artesian water, and to carefully investigate the surrounding country, so as to estimate the probable cost of sinking artesian wells where the indications are most hopeful, and where such wells will be most. needed. At the same time he was directed to make investigations in regard to irrigation with a view specially ti, constructing and keeping in opera-tion, under the directiouof competent farmers, small irrigating systems, by whichthe Indians may gradually be instructed in the proper methods of irrigation. Owing to the limited funds available for irrigation purposes on the Navajo Reservation and the probable difficulty of bringing any larga body of Navajoes together for agricultural pursuits-as they are, in the main, apastoral people-it will doubtless be best to begin by constxucb ing a few small ditches at various points on the reservation, tliese minor projects, however, to be so plannedthat, they willnot interfere with the future developn~ent of water resources should it become pract,icahle to supply a large number of Indian farms by tlie construction of an extel~sives ystem of irrigatio~~T. he lands of the reservation suitable for agricultural purposes are scattered and are in small areas, except on the San Juan River, where a large and well.eonstructed system of irrigation would be more beneficial and economical than smaller ditches. UmmatillaReaervation,Oreg.-The act of January 12,1893 (27Stats.,417), granting to the Blue Mountain Irrigation and Improvement Dompauy a right of way for reservoir and canals through the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, authorized the appoinbment of three commis-sioners to inquire into and report to the Secretary of the Interior the / |
