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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 11 a vigorous advertising campaign has bees inaugurated offering to lessees very favorable terms for leasing land within the next two years. In some cases it is only required that the lessee clear the land of sage brush, level it, and leave buildings on the leased premises to the value of about $500 at the expiration of the lease. LEASING ON THE WIND RIVER RESERVATION. Lands on the Shoshone Indian ~kservationh ave been advertised for lease and sale on very liberal terms. The immediate reclamation of irriiable lands on this reservation was necessary not only to pro-vide income for the Indians, but chiefly to comply with the State law requiring beneficial use of the water before the year 1916. Thirty-two tracts out of over 87 advertised during the last fiscal year were sold. The total irrigable area on this reservation to be reclaimed is 65,674 acres, 35,000 acres of which are already subject to irrigation, $607,637 of Indian money having been expended on this project. QRAZING ON TRIBAL LANDS. During the &cal year ended June 30, 1913, there was received for . grazing privileges on tribal lands (exclusive of ceded lands) approxi-mately $435,000. QRAZING ON OPEN LANDS. One of the most important developments in the leasing policy during the last fiscal year was a decision of the department per mitting the leasing of so-called ceded Indian lauds, which thereto-fore had been grazed free of charge by stockmen. Regulations gov-erning the use for grazing purposes of these vacant Indian lands turned over to the Government to be sold, promulgated on July 25, 1912, have been put into operation on seven reservations. During the year permits to use such lands for grazing have been issued, rentals therefrom aggregating about $75,000. ROAD BUILDING. A systematic plan of road building aid improvement is being gradually. worked out under which each able-bodied Indian is re-quired to donate a certain number of days' labor each year. At Shoshone Reservation a very comprehensive system of roads has been planned, which is a part of the national system of highways. At San Carlos, in &zona, much road work has been done, and.a new bridge has been constructed across the Black River, which .divides the San Carlos from the Fort Apache Reservation. This 'road and' bridge' will enable the Fort Apache superintendency to -receive its supplies from the south over a distance which isconsider-ably less than that from the present railroad station to the north. |