OCR Text |
Show D - E P A R T M E N T OF THE INTERIOR. WASHING TON. August 25, 1903. /'' The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Sir:- I have considered your letter of 18th ultimo, upon the report of Inspector McLaughlin of his negotiations with the Uintah and White River Utes of Utah, relative to the opening of the Uintah reservation as provided by the Acts of May 27, 1902, and March 3, 1903. As to the suggestions of Inspector McLaughlin for the reservation of one township as a timber reserve to embrace the Agency saw mill and one township of the dwarf cedar tract to supply the Indians with fence posts and wood fuel, and 160 acres located on Farm Creek as a coal reserve, which seem to be required, I am of the opinion as the legislation governing this matter provides that all the unallotted lands, except the reserved grazing lands of 250,000 acres, shall be opened to public entry on October 1, 1904, it is better that Congress should authorize the setting aside or reserving from public entry the two timber reserves and the coal reserve, and you will please prepare the necessary correspondence for presentation to Congress at its next session. |