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Show 62 REPORT OB THE OOMXIEISIONER OB INDIAN AFFdIEB. properly surveyed and the correct corners established, but a large majority of them are very poor and subsist upon fish and roots gath- L ered in the mountains, together with the little game which they are able to kill, and as they have nothing with which to improve their land, their future does not look very bright. Those who have the means to begin work are, however, showing a disposition to improve and cultivate their land and to better their condition. On Rock Creek, in the State of Washington, Mr. Keepers states that there are a number of children of school age who should have educational facilities. Mr. Keepers adds that he has proceeded with the work of making allotments very carefully and so as not to interfere with the valid rights of any white settlers. At the outset there was a disposition on the part of a few stockmen to trespass on the Indian lands, but they have been given to understand that the rights of the Indians would be protected, so that no further trouble from that source is anticipated. With the exception of some applications which Special Allotting Agent Keepers assisted the Indians in making, but few applications by Indians for allotments under the 4th section have been kansmitted to this oflice by the General Land Office during the past year. No trust patents for such allotments have been issued since my last annual report was submitted. ALLOTMENTS RELINQUISHED WITIIlN THE SIOUX CEDED TRACT. Under section 13 of the Sioux act, approved March 2,1889 (25 Shts., 888), the Indians residing within the Sioux ceded tract in South Dakota were allowed, upon certain conditions, to take allotments on the ceded lands. Many of the Indians availed themselves of this privilege. However, soon after they had been allotted by the special agent in the field, they began to relinquish their allotments to the United States and remove to the reservations to which they respectively belonged; and they have continued to execute relinquishments from time to time, until more than one-third of those who elected to take allotments on the ceded lands have relinquished them and moved upon the reserva-tions. The number originally allotted on the ceded tract was 431, and the Department has accepted and approved 158 relinquishments up to the present time. I IRRIGATION. ! 1 The Indian appropriation act for the current fiscal gear contains an ! I ' appropriation of $150,000 for construction of ditches and reservoirs, I j purchase and use of irrigating tools and appliances, and purchase of : water rights on Indian reservations, and authorizes the employment of : not exceeding two superintendents of irrigation who shall be skilled |