OCR Text |
Show 102 REPORTS OX TEE DEPARTMENT OF THY: INTERIOR. recommendation placed in charge of the Indians and instructed to get them settled on the lands which had been withdrawn for their use. At the same time Mr. Mead was requested to adjust the claims of the settlers who had gone upon lands reserved from entry, and also to see that the Indians were properly settled on their lands. On October 26 he reported that 14 settlers were living on those lands, to which they could get no title whatever, and he recommended that the Department purchase their houses and other improvements, which he valued rtt $13,242.75, and turn them over to the Indians, who were in great need of everything of the sort. On November 11, 1903, this purchase was authorized by the Department to be paid from the appropriation L'Support of Indians in Arizona and New Mexico, 1904," and Special Agent D. W. Manchester obtained quit claim deeds from the squatters, which were duly recorded. The squatters were then paid and they left the reservation. Among the buildings purchased was a public schoolhouse, in which an Indian day school was soon started, with an Indian girl, a "returned stu-dent," as teacher. On November 4 Mr. Mead reported further that there were then 200 Indians on the reservation, and within a month the number would probably reach 500 or 600; and although'the reservation contained a total of 24,971.11 acres, 2,275.18 acres were still held by 21 settlers who claimed valid rights thereto, and the tracts occupied by them comprised the very best and only irrigahle land, the balance being rough, arid, badly cut by arroyos, and therefore of little or no value. To give 100 families 25 acres each would necessitate the securing of all lands controlled by the settlers, and all these settlers who had valid claims had tendered options for the purchase of their permanent improvements and of their rights to lands, as they desired to sell out rather than live within the confines of an Indian reservation. He therefore recommended that all their improvements and rights be purchased by the Government. On November 9,1903, Mr. Mead transmitted the options from the 21 settlers, which amounted in the aggregate to $49,030 for their claims to lands and improvements, and $6,983.25 for personal prop-erty. On January 6,1904, the Office reported the faots to the Depart-ment and recommended that the valid claims and improvements of the settlers, hut not their personal property, be purchased by the Govern-ment, and that for this purpose Congress be asked to appropriate $60,000. The appropriation was made in the act of April 21, 1904, and reads as follows: To enable the Secretary ot the Interior to purchase, in hls discretion, at such price as he may deem reasonable and just, for the use and occupancy of the Indians of Verde River Valley and Camp McDoweil, Arizona, and such other Indians as he may see fit to locate thereon, the claims of whatsoever nature to |