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Show 30 COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. ago we purchased, Wth reimbursable funds, a band of sheep for the Jicarilla Indians, and last year their net profit from woo? alone was $3,600. Recently Wank Reed,'a Crow Indian, sold a range;raised and grass-fed steer for $10.50 per hundred. This is said to be the highest price ever paid for a grass-fed steer on the Chicago market. "These conditions and achievements now exist in varying degree on all Indian reservations and among numerous individual Indians. "There is every probability that the Indian will soon become the cattle king of America, a great factor in the world's wool market, and a large producer of horses. "If the Indians continue to progress as rapidly for the next 10 years as they have for the past 3 years, they will be practical17 self-supporting, with corre-nponding reduction in appropriations." LFASING TRIBAL LANDS FOR GRAZING PURPOSES That I might pass intelligently upon the renewal of permits for grazing stock on Indian reservations, I caused an experienced stock-man to thoroughly examine the ranges to determine their real carry-ing capacity and to ascertain to what extent and at what cost a better water supply could be developed; also the necessity for and the ex-pense- of additional fence constructi~nw ith a view to increasing the number of, and protection for, the stock. Round-ups and counts were had to determine whether permittees were grazing stock in excess of the lease l i e t for which they were paying and a readjust-ment of charges for grazing privileges made to the end that a fair and just rate to all concerned be established. As a result of this work great improvements have been effected, large sums collected for excess gra?ing, and fees considerably increased. To protect the interests of the individual Indians whose allot-ments are being used inside of the big pastures, provision has been made that such persons be paid pro rata for the use of their lands so long as they are a part of the open range, or that they may with-draw them from the range by inclosing with a lawful fence. LEASING FOR FARlTING AND GRAZING PURPOSES. Congress has at various times enacted legislation authorizing the leasing of individual allotments where the allottees could not them-selves make beneficial use of their lands by reason of age, disability, or inability. To permit the indiscriminate leasing of these allot-ments would defeat the purpose for which they were made. Al-lottees are being urged to go upon their allotments and establish homes and work the lands ratber than to depend for a living upon the rentals received. However, to govern cases in which it seems to be expedient to make leases, regulations have been modified and revised. Special laws have been enacted to cover certain reservations and in these cases particular instructions have been issued to the variohs SU- |
