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Show BEPOBT OF THE COXHIBSIONEE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 39 . the variow rulings and deciaions of the Department affecting this class of allottees, which h v e been referred to in previons annual reports, a .latrge proportion of these 1,600 allotments, perhaps nearly one-third, have been surrendered or canceled, while from the reports made by Mr. Casson in other cases not yet acted upon a great many more will prob-ably in the end have to be canceled. The necessity for making these cancellations is certainly to be regretted, especially as the Indian allottees thus adversely affected are among the best and most pro-gressive of the nonresemation Indians. Naturally all of them are more or less discouraged and uneasy regarding the security of their allotments. Carson City District, Rev.-Since last February Mr. Casson has been investigating and surveying the allotments in the Carson City, Nev., land district, numbering about 750, made to Indians of the Piute and Washo tribes. As was anticipated, the investigation shows that these allotments cover for the most part arid sageblush and rough mountthin lauds, upon which it is out of the question for the Indians to reside and build homes. The most of these allotments will, of course, have to be canceled, and the O5ce feels that other arrangements should be made, if practicable, to provide homes for these people. One plan, which is now being investigated, is to reserve one or more small tracts of vacant Government land upon which a water supply can be devel-oped at a moderate cost and looate the Indians thereon. Five or 10 acres of irrigated land is deemed to be amply sufficient to meet the requirements of these Indian families. In fact, the most important desideratum is to provide them with a home place-a piece of ground upon which they can live unmolested by tbe white land seeker. Some of the Carson City allotments, it is understood, are embraced in the large irrigation system now being constructed by the Govern-ment on the Truckee River, and it is thought that arrangements can be made to place a number of these people upon the irripted lands by securing the surrender of the present allotments, which embrace 160 acres each, and making new allotments of 5 or 10 acres each to heads of families and adults. The sale of enough of the allotted land might be authorized to meet the assessment that will be made under the law to pay for the irrigation system. Fort MeDermitt Military Reserve.-In 1892 the Iands comprising this reserve were allotted in the field by Special Allotting Agent Michael I Piggott, under the fourth section of the general allotment act, to non-reservation Indians, the allotments being Nos. 33 to 112;Carson City, Nev., series. The reserve embraced about 500 acres of irrigable land, to cover a portion of which ditches had been constructed by the miti. tary authorities. The remainder of the reserve consisted of arid and comparatively worthless lands, being nnsusceptible of irrigation. The allotments were made by legal subdivisions, choice of the irrigable |
