| OCR Text |
Show COMBfIssIOm OF INDIAN ArFbIBLI. be engaged for some time in continuing this work, aa there are be-tween 3,000 and 4,000 of these Indians. In some parts of the field difficulties have temporarily prevented .the completion of allotment. After many Hopi Indians had been tentatively allotted in Arizona, it was found besk to suspend opera-tions until definite information can be secured concerning resources in water; for without adequate supplies of water the Indians could scarcely gain a livelihood on their lands. In order to ascertain the resources in underground water for Hopi and also on the Navajo Reservation, where allotments were suspended for the further reason that the General Land Oilice had not yet made original surveys, the office has had an expert from the Geological Survey make studies, and he has been followed by a well-drilling outfit which has developed five good wells near Hopi Mesa and Keams Canyon, Ariz. These wells are inches in diameter. They will be equipped with windmills and pumps, stone tanks for the storage of water, and troughs for watering cattle and sheep. This develop-ment of underground water in desert regions has been so succesiful that two more drilling outfits were purchased in June. The cost of these operations for the year was $9,000. At Blackfeet, Mont., after allotment had proceeded to a consider-able extent, it was ascertained that the Jndians were not selecting lands which would be benefited by the irrigation projects under construction for them by the Government. The allotting agent was immediately instructed to remedy this condition of affairs and he reports that he has succeeded and expects complete adjustment in accordance with recent selections by October 1, 1911. The superin-tendent of the reservation writes that the Indians have now so se-lected their allotments that they will command almost all sources of water on the reservation. For the 2,500 Indians on this reservation nearly 900,000 acres will be required. In connection with allotments many incidental problems involving other parts of the service have to be met. For instance, at Bad River, Wis., a number of Indians have not received land; it hap-pens, however, that vacant tribal lands are very unevenly timbered; some quarter sections have stands of very valuable timber, whereas others are bare. Under these conditions, thst allotment may be equit-able, it is now hoped that legislation can be procured by which the timber can be cut and the prooeeds divided pro rata, and the land allotted for purely agricultural purposes. The statistical data on file at this office show that roughly two-thirds of the Indians have been allotted. When allotment at a reservation has been completed, special statutes have usually provided for opening the surplus lands to settlement. In this way throughout many districts white farmera are pow interspersed among the In- |
