OCR Text |
Show I ci' "a.3te Land Left 57 - Furthermore, I am convinced that, if this _ - . sale ia nosr rejected, the Indian will liave Cr.:'.' a rieco . , , , , . , .. .. , remaining on his hands, after tho primary filing expires in 1913, nothing but a place cf wasteland. The land must be sold now for -that it will bring on the market. The only alternative ia that the Indian will havo it remaining on his hands in 1919 with no water right available therefor, a worthless possession. I cm not alone in my opinion in this natter. Joseph i!. Bryant, Engineer in Charge of this Irrigation Project, has ejtpresatid his opinion, in writing, which communication is new in tho Indian office filaa. 3/. Sry&nt endorses this sala in unequivocal language. This past summer r/hen kr. Ji. J. Long and '~r» R. Ti, Shipe, of the Indian Service, visited this reservation, I took particular puina to alicw^ then; this tract, and to explain to them the nature ex thi* sale *nd of the differefio** of opinion that existed thereon between the Indian Office and myself. They both •sxpreasi&d the opinion that the sale waa woll mads. Kr* Long a-poku vary emphatically --n tb<* subject, in fact, he stated that the land in question ia not worth "flv* cents" p-vr acr-a and he if. correct in this statement. It mi.^ht be well, and I Would reqisst, that the Sal«s Suction ef tha Indian Office consult with these gentlemen, or either of thea that happens to be in the Offioe, relative to this land. It is possible that information and data will .thereby ha secured by the Kales Section that will pive then a bettor understandins< of conditions. I also took occasion to show this tract of land to S. M« Sroaius, of the Indian Eights Association, whan ho visited this H^sorvation last August. He understood conditions perfectly and he expressed the opinion that the tract aas well sold. :rth Mre ;ents an Acre. I do not know on what ground the Office bases its opinion that the land is worth more than we aro able to gat for it, but presume |