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Show REPORT OF THE COXMI8SIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 65 this office for information regarding the proposed contract. Inquiries made of this office personally and by letter from various parts of the country, showed that knowledge of the proposed lettingof a contract for a water supply on the Fort Hall Reservation was widely disseminated. These proposals contemplated the construction of a canal heading in the Snake River at or above the town of Basalt, the water taken from Snake River to he car-ried across the Blackfoot by a flume, to he carried ontoand across the reservation by the highest practicable route, said route to be indicated by a map of preliminary survey, and to receive the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. They also con-templated the extension of the canal beyond Ross Fork Creek to whatever point might he necessary to aupply the main body of lands lying between Ross Fork Creek and the Port Neuf River. Also that the successful bidder should deliver in perpetuity cubic feet of water per second of time at such points as might he designated by the Commissioner of Indian Afiaim along the line of the canal to he constructed between the Blackfoot River and Rosa Fork Creek, for a stipulated sum, and anannual maintenance charge not exceeding $15 per cubic foot, and contract to furnish, whenever the same might be needed, a sufficient water supply for the surplus lands lying under the canal between RA Fork Creek and the port Neuf, and convey a perpetual water right at not to exceed $5 per acre for not exceeding 1 cubic foot of water per second for 80 acres, the annual maintenance charge not toexceed 75 cent.? per ac;. The terms of payment prescribed in the specifications were as follows: Onehdf upon the delivery of 100 cubic feet of water at some point or points to he designated by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and to he not more than 4 miles south from Blackfoot River, such delivery to be not later than the 1st day of June, 1896. Onefourth of the entire amount upon the delivery of 100 cubic feet additional, at a point to he designated by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, such designated point to be at or near the croasing of the proposed canal and Ross Fork Creek, which delivery was to be made at or before the beginning of the irrigation season next suc-ceeding the date of the first payment, hut such delivery not to be required earlier than three months and not later than one vear from the date of the first u.a w" nent. The remaining one-fourth to be paid upon the delivery of the 100 cubic feet neces-earv to include the entire amount of 300 cubic feet, but not before the expiration of one year from the date of the second payment. In case of failure to deliver the su.p.d .v of water agreed upon for auv twenty con-necutive clays during the irrigation wwn, th? rnxinu'nxnrt, chargra for the anrrr-sronclin- c y.e ar were to he withheld and iorfeitrtl, and i n of iuilure to rlcliver the supply agreed upon for ~y ten consecutive days during June, July, and August, 50 per cent of the maintenance charges for that year was to be forfeited. In case of failure to deliver the specified quantity of water at the time or times specified, the contractor was to be liable to a. penalty of '$50 per day for such failwe. The date for the delivery of the first 100 cubic feet of water was fixed for June 1, 1896, as this was the latest date rtt which it would be available for the irrigating sea-son of this vear, and a failure to secure a water supply from this contiact would necessitate the expenditure of $2,500 or $3,000 to &;c"re a water supply for the Indians living under the small constmeted canal oi the Idaho Canal Company. The following bids were received: J. J. Ousick, Pocatello, Idaho, offered to construct a ditch for $74,500 and an annual maintenance charge of $14 per cubic foot, prowled a reasonable time in which to do the work was allowed; did not deem it advisable to submit a certified check, as required of all bidders. 6266-5 |