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Show I REPORT OF THE 007dMI88[ONER OF INDIAN AH'FAIRS. 67 as fine a system of irrigation as can be found in any of the irrigated States; and, with the exception of the rock cuttings, all the earthwork of Ohis system has been done by the Indians. While this work could probably have been accomplished cheaper and mare speedily under contract hy white labor, yet the policy of the Department in allowine the Inrlirtus to do the work wm undouhtedlv a wise one. The result of thin policy ltne brrn a great i!npri.vemr$rt irt fhr cin.u~nstlr,rcea n81 col~ditiono f the Cruwa, ant1 the work unun these dirchra h.m iwrn a p.w ilt knefit fu the t r ih, Loth from a civilizing and educations1 standpoint. Nearly all the ditehes in operation an the reservation have already paid for t.hem-selves by the crops raised under them, and it is only a question of a few years when the Bighorn anal will have paid for itself in the same manner. In a report dated August 21, 1901, Inspector W. H. Graves refers to the work on the Crow Reservation as follows: The aecamplishment of the construction of the Bighorn ditch is now in sight. The principal di5cnlties have been overcome and the expensive work has now been performed, and there a n be no possible doubt as to the justification of the imnder-taking. It is oneof the largest irrigation canals in the country and ranks among the best in point of construdlon, and, while it has been more than ordinarily di5cult to constrnct, yet it will compare favorably in cost of construction with nlost of the large irrigating ci~uale of the country, notwithstanding the employment of Indian labor chiefly and the remoteness of the locality. There is one fact that should not be lost si.gh t of, and that is, the cost of the work has been borne by the Indians, and the money expended in the execution of the work-which was lar-~e.lvre turned to thern-would have been g.iv en to them in any event in annuity payments, and that they are in a hundred ways better off for having worked for the money than they would have been if they had received it in installments and thereby been enabled to live in idleness. LOGGING ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS. Chippewa lands, Minnesota.-The Indian appropriation act approved ' June 7,1897 (30 Stats., 62-90), contains the following clause in regard to the disposition of "dead and down" timber belonging to the Chip. pewa Indians: The Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, from year to year, under such regulations as he mav prescribe, authorize the Indians residina on any Indian reser-vation in the State oi Minnesota, whether the same has been allottedin severalty or is still unallotted, to fell, cut, remove, sell, or otherwise dispose of the dead timber, standing or fallen, on such reservation, or any part thereof, for the sole henelit of such Indians; and he may also in like manner authorize the Chippewa Indians of Minnesota who have any interest 'or right in the proceeds derived from the sales of ceded Indian lands or the timber growing thereon, whereof the fee is still in the United States, to fell, cut, remove, sell, or otherwise dispose of the dead timber, standing or fallen, on such ceded land. But whenever there is reason to believe that such dead timber in either case has been killed, burned, girdled, or otherwiseinjured lor the purpose of securing its sale under this act, then in that case such authority shall not be granted. December 6,1898, the Department granted authority for the Indians of the White Earth and Red Lake diminished reservations to conduct |
