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Show REPORT OF THE aOM?rfI88IONE& OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 43 the exercise of hat he might be able to terminate the contestr initi-ated, adjust satisfactorily all the issues involved, and thus save useless and expensive litigation. These contests have not as yet been finally settled. IRRIGATION. The Indian appropriation act for the last fiscal year (1903) contained an appropriation of $150,000 for construction of ditches and reserva-tions, purchase and use of irrigating tools and appliances, and pur-chase of water rights on Indian reservations, and authorized the employment of not exceeding two snperintendents of irrigation. Two irrigation engineers were employed under this appropriation, George Butler at large and John B. Harper on the Pueblo and Jica-rilla reservations in New Mexico; and one, Walter B. Hill, in charge of construction on the Crow Reservation, in Montana, was paid from funds belonging to the Crow Indians. Of the above appropriation $120,950 hss been expended, as followu: For the Pueblos of New Mexico ............................. $11,200 - Crow Reservation, Mont .................................... 39,000 Southern Ute Reservation, Colo.. ........................... 11,100 Walker River Reservation, Nev ............................. 2,360 Western Shoahoni Reservation, Nev. ........................ 3, WO San Carlos Reservation, Ariz.. .............................. 9,300 Pima Reservation, Ariz ...................................... 15,000 Navaho Reservation, Ariz .................................. 13,000 Kl-th Reservation, Oreg. ................................ 7,000 Mission reservati6n8, Oslifornia ............................. -10,000 Total ................................................ 120,950 Some $%.,000'more has been expended on other reservations in small amounts, leaving a balance of about825,OOO at the present time, which will probably be reduced to $12,000 or. $15,000 by the payment of outstanding liabilities. The Crow Indians having expended nearly $600,000 of their own funds in the construction of systems of irrigation, it was found ncces-sary to nse the appropriation for irrigation to complete their largest system. 'When completed, this system will be one of the finest and best constructed in the country. Some $35,000 more will be required besides the cost of the necessary laterals, amounting, according to the estimate of Inspector Code, to about $250,000. The appropriation for the current 6scal year is $150,000, the employ-ment of four skilled irrigation enginears being allowed. In addition to Messrs. Butler and Harper, Messrs. Walter B. Hill and James It. Meskimons have been appointed snperintendents of irrigation. |