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Show REPORTS CONCERNING INDIANS IN IDAHO. 205 on stveml orradior~s,r esultins in consi~lera1,lrv xp~,n<lituroci ink and paper. That a ~ . I : t , ~ l t~ 1 1 r1v entually occnr.i9 d e n ~ o ~ ~ sbty ~thte~ idar t that on eewnl insunces sc.rl,,tm conflirtd hiivi. heen narrowly a\.erted. Srockmnl claim that the plwe fortl,r 1~~~cli:.iirn~ ~.n -~ tlw. r-e~.r .runtic,na. ud the Indian vlairus with reason that it is iniwmible ~~ ~ ~~~ to exist there. and he has as much rinht to roam on Government land as ttie white man until such time as the Government makes it possible to live on hia reservation. Many herds of sheep were destroyed in this section during the resent season, being Indians or trouble would have Lllowed. shot and poisoned, presumabl by cattlemen; but fortunateP y none belonged to The Department files are burdened by reports, special and re ular, on the subject of the unallotted Utes; and Congress, three years ago, authorizA the honorable Sec-retary of the Interior to contract for a water system and money was appropriated for this purpose. I can not understand the obstacles in theway of theconsummation of this work, and there must be a reat misconception of facts or other misunderstand-ing by those in authority, as t%e Dolores River will furnish abundant water when reservoired to provide these Indians with water for domestic and irrigation purposes, all statements to the contrary notwithstanding. With water the lands owned by the unallotted Utes, would he fertile and produc-tive as any in the State of Colorado. The average altltude is 4,500 feet. Cereals of all kinds, grasses, fruits, and melons would grow abundantly, and it would he but a short timeuntil the Indians would be self-sustaining and them present miserable con-dition changed to one reflecting credit upon the Government and its representatives. In justice to these once proud owners of the State of Colorado, now utterly desti-tute, I tmst that the ensuing year will witness the establishment of a system of irrigation for the nuallotted Utes in Colorado. Very respectfully, JO~EPH0. SMITH, United States Indian Agent. The COMMI~~IOoNs EIRN DIAAENF AI ~ . IiEPORTS CONCERNING INDIANS IN IDAHO. REPORT OF AGENT FOR FORT HALL AGENCY. FORHT& L AGENCY, Rossfwk, Idaho, August 15, 1901. SIR: I have the honor to submit my annual report on the affairs of this agency for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901. Location.-This a w r y is located at Rosafork, Idaho, immediate1 on the Oregon Short Line ~ a i l r o a1t 2 kilesnorthof Pocatello. TheposGoffice adire.% is Rassfork, Idaho. Telegmme should be sent to Pocatello, Idaho, whence they may be sent direct to the agency by tele hone, if desired. .A.telegraph office will probably be opened at Rossfcrk at an ear5 date, a depot bmldmug bemng now under canstruct~on. Cenana,-A census was taken June 30,1901, anda copy has been sent to your office. The total population is shown to be 1,408. Males, 716; females, 692; males above 18 years of age, 429; females above 14 years of age, 481; children between the ages of 6 and 16 years, 285. Agricn1tnre.-These Indian-Bannock and Shoshoni-have made considerable advancement in agriculture, having broken much new ground and fenced it, using not on1 20,000 pounds of wire issued to them, hut also several thousand pounds which tgey purchased. Their crops of oats were good and were used principally to feed stock instead of being sold, as heretofore, although about 13,000 pounds were purchasedfromthem by me for subsistenceof agency stock. Eight thousand btishels of wheat were raised. It was thrashed by Indians using agency machines under direction of the fanners, and much of it was converted into flour and feed at the agency mill. Many fa mi lie^ pmduced arden stuff sufficient for their needs during summer and autumn, but few of them $ad anything for winter use. About 1,000 tons of lucern were stacked and 4,000 tons of wild hay were saved in the Fort Hall bottoms. More than 2,200 tons of wild hay were sold to stockmen at $4 per ton, and 400 tons of lucem were sold at $5 per ton. Indian offenses and jodgea.-Twelve Indians have been convicted and sentenced to terms of from three to seven weeksat hard labor at thisagency by thecourtof Indian offenses. I bave had no omion to make any change in judges, nor have I had tc alter their decision in any ease. They are selected from the leading men of the two tribes and are honored as much as are judges in a white community. |
