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Show the Moqui Reservation; thence west to the place of beginning. The Indians residing within this tract have made some improvements on their lands, have endeavored to cultivate it, using the tributary water for irrigation purposes, and have thus acquired valuable water righb. SOME NONRESERVATION PIMA INDIANS, ARIZONA. A number of nonreservation Pima Indians have possessory rights to certain lands in township 1 north, range 4 east, Arizona, which they have occupied and cultivated for more than twenty-five years, having also made some improvements according to Indian custom. Notwith-standing the rights of the Indians, certain white men appeared at the Tucson local office, Arizona, and made entries upon the lands, and Special Agent S. J. Holsinger, of the General Land Office, reported to that office that these entries were in conflict with the possessory rights of the Indians. The entries by whites were therefore suspended by the Commissioner of the General Land Office, who advised this Office, June 6, 1902, that these entries were held for cancellation, subject to the right of appeal. In case the entries are finally canceled, steps will be taken to save the lands as homes for the Indians who occupy them. MISSION INDIANS ON WARNER'S RANCH, CALIFORNIA. In my last report, page 115, was given the decision of the United States Supreme Court (181 U. S., 481), under which theMission Indians, who for generations have occupied what is known as Warner's ranch, in California, will be dispossessed of their homes and forced to go elsewhere. As they will be compelled to go absolutely empty handed, humanity and bare justice require that an attempt be made to find lands upon which to locate them. July 25,1901, tbis office recommended to the Department that an Indian inspector be detailed to proceed to the Mission Agency for the purpose of making a selection of a tract, to be obtained from the public domain or acquired by purchase from private parties. In his report of January 7, 1902, Inspector McLaughlin stated that 27 families, aggregating 128 persons, reside at the Agua Caliente (Hot Springs) on Warner's ranch, who, with 30 absentees, make a total of 158 persons who belong on that reservation, known as "Agua Caliente No. 2." The Indian settlements at Mataguay (11 persons), Puerta La Cruz (9 persons), and San Jose (14 persons) are within Warner's ranch, and at Puerta Chiquita, on Governor Gage's property, are 18 persons. These, with 40 persons at San Felipe, who are also liable to be dispos-sessed of their land holdings, make a total, approximately, of 250 per-sons who must be provided for. |
