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Show COM~SSIONEB OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 51 technical and engineering subjects, including discussions relative to the adopting of the improved method of accounting for irrigation work now being undertaken by this bureau, other matters of impor-tance were discussed. Careful consideration of the rights of the Flathead, Blackfeet, and' Fort Peck Indians has convinced me that the conditions under which the cooperative irrigation work on these reservations has been done in the.past is not for their best interest, and that its continuance would be a great injustice to the Indians; accordingly the Congress at its coming session will be requested to enact remedial legislation which will relieve th&Indians from continning.to finance these projects in u manner which has heretofore been inimitable to the accomplishment of their prosperity and self-support. It is believed that their property and the funds received from the sale of their lands should be released from the lien now imposed upon same for the total expense of constructing these projects, and that the cost of construction shall be imposed upon water users, Indian and white men alike, without discrimination. according to the benefits received by each. LEASING TRIBAL LANDS FOR GRAZING. The grazing areas on the public domain have been constantly diminishing. Many of the big privately owned pastures of Texas and elsewhere have been broken up into smaller tracts for stoclr- graz-ing or farms. The increase in the number of Indian-owned stock has. correspondingly decredsed the area of grazing ranges for lease. These conditions, together' with the advanced price of beef, mutton, and wool and the great demand for horses and mules, have mate-rially increased the number of bidders for Indian reservation leases, with uniformly better prices for same. I t is our purljose to use good business jhdgment in making this readjustment, and accordingly I am having the acreage.md carrying capacity of many of the big reservation ranges reestimated by de-pendable and largely experienced stockmen. Water supply, fencing, winter protection, and every factor essential to securing the best results obtainable are being industriously undertaken and accom-plished. The added income to the Indians from the better has been utilized for their advancement, and, altogether, the results secured are very gratifying. On some reservations there is a practice for intermarried white men and some Indians with considerable white blood' to take ad- .vantage of the tribe as a whole, andparticplarly of the fullbloods, . . . ,. . .., |
