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Show REPORTS CONCERNING INDIANS IN UTAH. ment work was, however, completed some time prior to the opening of the reservation, and it is believed tbat justice has been done to every Indian with respect to the character of the iand selected for him, especial effort having been made to obtain good agricultural land in each case. Approved applications for the appropriation of water for all allotements have been obtained from the State engineer of Utah, and it now remains to apply the water to the land within the time limit prescribed by law. At present this limit is placed at two and one-half years from the time specified by the State engineer, being six months after the date of approval of ail applications. This period is woefully short; in fact, if it be not extended the water Can not be put on the iand within the sperified time. It is, howex'er, hoped tbat the State engineer's office u,ili be prevailed upon to extend the period so that at least five years will be had in which to complete the construction of the canal system, and the sub-sequent culti\.ation of tile lands necessary to the beneficial use of the water. It is estimated by the chief engineer of the Interior Department in charge of irrigation that the sum of $600,000 will be required to complete the construc-tion of all canals necessary for the irrigation of ail allotments. Of this amount, the sun1 of $125,000 was appropriated by the last Congress and the expenditure of this nlouey is now being carried on under the direction of the chief engineer. It is hoped that continued appropriations wili be had from time to time in such amounts as wili be sufficient to carry on tbe n70rk without hindranre and that the entire systellr of canals may be completed within a period of three years. In order to perfect the water rights of the Indians for wbich approved appli-cations have been obtained, beneficial use of such water wiil have to be made within the prescribed time limit. To this end, it wiil be necessary to make the most persisteot efforts in causing all land to be cultivated. I believe under changed conditions Indians will generally do more toward the cultivation of their allotments than heretofore. On the other hand, there are very many inca-pacitates who can not make proper use of their allotments by cultivating them. leaving but one course open, and that is to lease all surplus lands at a very reasonable figure. These lands are now being leased in small quantities and it is expected that, within the year, a large amount of iand will be handled in this manner. Should it become apparent, however, that the entire acreage of the surplus allotments can not be leased within a period of five years, some method will have to be devised by wbich lessees may be brought into the country. As a last resort I believe it would be desirable to let leases on allot-ments at a merely nonlinal sum, with a proriso that the land be fenced and improvements put thereon. Tracts of land aggregating approximately 250,000 acres have been reserved for grazing purposes for Indians. These tracts comprise large bodies of the very best grazing land in the country, and are so located with respect to the Indians that they may readily and with facility graze their cattle thereon. At present the Indians own some two thousand head of cnttle, and they are handling their herds in a creditable manner. With proper supelTision it is believed that the cattle interests of the Indians can be increased mauy-folb and it is my desire to give them every assistance consistent with the interest manifested by them to the end that they may raise cattle with profit rather than otherwise. It is believed that these lands shonld be held for the Indians for a considerable length of time in order that it may be demonstrated whether the holding of such tracts of land is beneficial or detrimental to the Indians. Any policy tending to restore any portion of these grazing lands to the pnblic domain should be opposed until such time as it shall be demonstrated as to whether or not the holding of tile grazing land is a benefit or a detriment. It is realized that in the early future various parties will undoubtedip become interested in the matter of having these lands restored to the public domain, and inasmuch as the tracts contain practically no agricultural iand it is just as valuable to the Indian as to the white cattlemen. The Indian population is enumerated bererrith, as follows: Uinta Utes: Males ...................................2.40. ............. 'emales ................................ 195 - .............................................. Total 435 -- 18306 ?A-24 |