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Show 62 REPORT OF THE OOMMISSIONER OR INDIAN DRAIRB. down to the end, and eliminate the Idaho Canal Company altogether from the affairs of the reservation, it would be better for all concerned and would place the Govern-ment in position to advanee and improve the condition of these Indians in some effective way. As a matter of convenient reference the following history of the steps taken to secure a water supply for the Fort Hall Reservation is here given, being extracts from o5ce letter of December 3, 1896: July 1, 1891, the Acting Secretary of the Interior authorized this office to inform the Idaho C a d Company that the right of way into and acroas the Fort Hall Indian Reservation would be formally granted to said company when certain conditions had been complied with, and granted permission for the company to commence work on the reservation subject to these conditions and the intercourse laws. Previously to this Commissioner Morgan had had considerable correspondence with Mr. Hall, the president of the Idsho Canal Company, concerning this right of way, and regarding terms and conditions upon which the company would furnish a supply of water for the Indians. This action was baaed on the tenth section of the act of Congress of Septemher 1, 1888 (25 Stat. L., 455), and that of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat. L., 1011). September 6, 1891, Agent Fisher, of the Fort Hall Agency, advised this office that he had been informed by Mr. L. E. Hall, pregident of the Idaho Canal Company, that the proposed irrigating canal acroas the resewation, for which right of way had been granted as above stated, could hardly be constructed for some time to come, as the company was composed of men of limited means, and it had been ascertained that the cost of construction would be more than double the amount anticipated. a June 2,1892, Special Agent Leonard reported to this office that it would be neees-aary to provide ageneral system of water -supply for irrigation and domestic purposes on the Fort Hall Resewation, in order to induce the Indians to establish homes. cultivate the soil, and properly for their domestic animals, poultry, etc.; that the water in the Blackfoot River had already been appropriated by the whites; and that it was only. a q-u estion of time until all the water in Snake River wonld be appropriated north of the resewation. He expremed the opinion that the Pocatello town-site fund would be best invested in establishiw a svstem of irrieation. October 15, 1892, Acting Commissioner Belt directed Agent Fish;.r to submit a report indicating what system or systems of irrigation it were possible to construct in order to afford an ample supply of water for the Indiana for all purposes, and the estimated cost of the same. He was also directed, in case he was unable to do this without the aid of a surveyor, to submit an estimste of the cost involved in the employment of such surveyor. October 27. 1892. Acting Commissioner Belt recommended that the De~zrtment authorize the Fort Hall agent to expend $200 for the purpose of preparing plans and estimates for a system of irrigation on this reservation. This recommendation was based on Agent disher's letter of October 20, 1892. July 12, 1893, the Department returned the above report for further consideration and report. Acting Agent Van Omdale having been called upon for a recommendation in the matter, he reported under date of August 10,1893, that it was certainly advisable to decide soon upon some system of irrigation and to begin work. He also reported that the Idaho Canal Company proposed to guarantee a perpetual flow of water at $250 per cubic foot, the Government to take at leaat 300 cubic feet, which would bring the original cost up to $75,000, with annual maintenance tax of $7,500 to irrigate 24,000 acres. August 18, 1893, I renewed the recommendation of my predecessor for the employ-ment of a surveyor, and on August 21, 1893, the Department granted the necessary authority. |