CROW, MONT.-A large amount of land was placed under cultivation on this project during the past year, principally under the "dry-farming" method. The irrigated areas only will yield profitably, however, as the drought has been particularly disastrous in this locality. The streams here are now carrying less water than ever before known, either to Indians or whites. Heretofore flood waters from the Big Horn River have proven ample for all requirements, but in June of this year it became necessary to construct a temporary dam across this stream in order to divert sufficient water for irrigation purposes. Increased irrigation activities adjacent to this reservation and the development of additional areas by the Indian Service, the Reclamation Service, and private parties, will necessitate the construction of a permanent diversion dam for the Big Horn project. This should be done in the near future. The Crow Reservation is chiefly adapted to stock raising. Whether it is suitable for even limited farming operations, without irrigation, remains to be proven, but with the present drought confronting us the Indians would have been in an exceedingly critical position if it were not for the produce yielded by the irrigated areas.

FORT BELKNAP, MONT.-Practically all the farming done on this reservation is being conducted by the Indians. The present and recent high prices of farm products have stimulated greater and more economical use of the irrigation facilities. Additional areas are being cultivated and better farming methods used.

MISSION RESERVATIONS, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.-The irrigable areas on these small mission reservations are exceedingly limited and in many instances offer opportunity for the Indians to make only a bare living. Accordingly, the reservations are used chiefly as a base of operation, the Indians maintaining homes there and raising a part of their sustenance; seeking work elsewhere for the remainder. These Indians will be found in trusted positions all over southern California, and the fact that they at least have homes to which they can return makes them more independent, and doubtless has much to do with their stability and trustworthiness.

COLORADO RIVER.-In order to determine the feasibility of a large gravity irrigation project on this reservation, a force of engineers and assistants has been engaged in making surveys, plans, and estimates. The work has been much handicapped by the shortage of man power but it is being continued with the expectation that a full report will be ready for presentation to Congress at its next session.

GILA RIVER.-Efforts were made to obtain satisfactory proposals for the construction of a dam across the Gila River near the agency at Sacaton. Advertisements were issued on two occasions during the year, but no response to the first advertisement was received, and to the second, only one bid. This was so high that it was rejected. As

this appropriation was based on estimates made several years ago, when labor and material were much lower, additional appropriations are necessary before the work can be undertaken.

The act of May 18, 1916, carries an appropriation for the construction of a diversion dam across the Gila River above the town of Florence, Ariz., but stipulates that the project should be undertaken only in the event that it shall be found feasible and that a satisfactory adjustment of the conflicting claims to water between the Indians and the whites could be reached. Negotiations were promptly begun, but much valuable time lost because representatives of white land owners in the valley insisted on a division of the available waters that was manifestly unfair to the Indians. On my repeated and earnest insistence that the rights of the Indians must be fully recognized and protected an agreement was finally reached under which the project will be limited to 62,000 acres, of which 35,000 acres are to be Indian land. In determining which particular tracts of land in white ownership that are to come into the project, aggregating 27,000 acres, regard is to be had to the areas previously cultivated, those having established water rights recognized by court decree, and any other factors deemed material. Representatives of this bureau went into the field with instructions to obtain individual contracts from claimants of land in private ownership within certain boundaries indicated by engineers as being the feasible, economical exterior limits of the project. This resulted in obtaining contracts covering something over 80,000 acres, included in which are between 12,000 and 13,000 acres claiming vested water rights. These facts are all to be considered in designating the 27,000 acres in white ownership that are finally to be included in the area to be served. It is expected that these designations will be made shortly, thus paving the way for the project to be declared feasible, as required by law. Plans and specifications of the dam have been prepared and it is hoped that actual construction can be undertaken in the near future.

PAPAGO WELLS. Additional wells have been installed and the old ones operated, thus enabling these deserving Indians to use larger grazing areas and attain greater success and industrial advancement. Without wells for stock watering purposes these Indians were unable to increase their holdings. While their reservation is comparatively large yet the rainfall is scant and the pasturage indifferent. Stock raising is the chief industry and practically the only means of support for the Indians, except such as can be obtained outside by actual day labor.

NAVAJO AND HOPI OF ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.-These Indians have a large area of practically desert land. Irrigation is being rapidly developed in the few places possible. The predominant industry, however. is raising live stock, and there are now nearly a

million sheep and goats on this reservation. To obtain food and water for this stock is no small problem, and available funds have been spent in sinking and equipping new wells. The Navajo country, as well as that occupied by the Papago, presents a problem somewhat peculiar. Large areas covered with forage more or less scant cannot be used for pasture, owing to the distance to water for drinking purposes, there being but few living streams or springs in this entire country. Wherever underground water can be developed by small and frequently deep wells, it means the utilization of forage that otherwise would be wasted. The Indians eagerly avail themselves of these additional facilities and frequently, when a new well is nearing completion, their herds of sheep, goats, and cattle may be found awaiting the expected water supply. Additional funds are urgently needed for further development in this most worthy cause. Thousands of acres affording reasonably good pasturage could be profitably utilized if water can be made available for stock watering purposes. The Indians themselves would not only thus be greatly benefited, but it would add in no small degree to our meat supply.

PUEBLO.-Aid has been extended to the Pueblo of New Mexico with their small and ancient irrigation projects. Sanitation in their villages has been improved in some instances by the installation of domestic water supply, drainage and sewage systems.

FORESTRY.

The signing of the armistice with Germany brought an abrupt close to the preparations for the production of airplane material on a large scale on the Quinaielt and Siletz Indian Reservations. The discharge of men in engineer units in America and the return of men from overseas in the early months of 1919, has facilitated a gradual reorganization of the forestry branch of the service. The great increase in salaries in private employment has made it difficult to obtain and hold competent men. However, plans have been perfected for effective timber cutting operations, and in the spring of 1920 the work on valuation surveys will be resumed.

No extensive timber cruising was undertaken during the year. A small party made a careful examination of the timber on allotments of the Siletz Reservation in order to determine the best methods of selling the timber. The scattered location of the allotments on that reservation and the release of government control over many allotments has made it difficult to effect advantageous timber sales. Conditions are not favorable for an offering of timber at this time, but the service is now in possession of the information required for future offerings. Throughout the year a cruiser was engaged in a valuation of the timber and land of public land allotments under the jurisdiction of the Greenville Indian School in

northern California. This examination established the fact that there had been trespass on a number of these allotments, and afforded the service a basis for the settlement of the trespass claims and the sale of a large number of allotments on advantageous terms.

The larger timber sales of the year were the eastern division unit on the Tulalip Reservation consisting of 65,000,000 feet, the Omak unit of 25,000,000 feet on the Colville Reservation, the Stinking Lake unit of 25,000,000 on the Jicarilla Reservation, and the Northern Spring Creek unit of 26,000,000 on the Klamath Reservation. A sale of 6,000,000 feet known as the Big Bend unit on the Klamath was made late in the year, and the Camas Creek unit of 24,000,000 feet on the Flathead Reservation was advertised for the receipt of bids on July 15, 1919. Minor sales of alloted timber were made on the Coeur d'Alene, Flathead, Fort Lapwai, Leech Lake, Nett Lake, and Skokomish Reservations. Extensive lumbering operations were conducted under former sales on the Bad River, Flathead, Jicarilla, Klamath, L'Anse, and Lac Courte Oreille Reservations. On the Winchester unit on the Nez Perce Reservation which was sold in June, 1918, operations were begun within four months. The Apache Lumber Co. has been engaged in erecting a large mill within the area purchased by it on the Fort Apache Reservation in 1917. The railroad from Holbrook, Ariz., to the mill location has been completed, and it is expected that the mill will begin operation on a large scale in the autumn of 1919. Preparations have been made by the Deer Park Lumber Co. to begin cutting in the autumn of 1919 on the large Chamokane unit on the Spokane Reservation purchased by it in July, 1918. Logging operations have been conducted during the year on the Ford unit on the Spokane Reservation. Approximately 30,000,000 feet have been cut under the contract of the International Lumber Co. on the Red Lake Reservation, practically all of which was within the area that was severely burned in the spring of 1917. Only about 500,000 feet of the timber burned on the point between the Red Lakes in 1917 remain uncut, the timber most injured by fire having been cut during the logging season of 1917-18 and 1918-19, and delivered to the agency sawmill for manufacture. Detailed information as to the amount of timber cut on each reservation will be found in the forestry portion of the statistical appendix to this report.

ROAD AND BRIDGE WORK.

Good roads in the industrial welfare and progress of the Indians are of equal importance as among the whites. A more intelligent and comprehensive system of laying out and maintaining highways on the reservations is being developed under the Congressional appropriations available for this purpose, and as the Indians are more

and more appreciating these essentials of modern economical development, greater progress is anticipated.

Specific appropriations by Congress for road and bridge work were available during the year as follows:

Some of these appropriations for road and bridge work are made reimbursable from tribal funds of the Indians which may hereafter be deposited in the United States Treasury, while others provide that the money shall be available only on condition that the county or State furnish a fixed part of the amount to be expended. Indian labor is largely employed for road work, with the exception of the necessary experienced supervision for which white foreman must be used.

ALLOTMENTS.

Allotment work on the Gila River Reservation in Arizona was continued. During the year ended June 30, 1919, 1,213 selections were made. These selections comprise both irrigable and nonirrigable lands. About 600 Indians are yet to be allotted on this reservation.

Two hundred and seventy allotments were made on the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon, of 80 acres each, under authority of the act of March 2, 1917 (39 Stat. L., 969-986). There are about 113 Indians yet to be alloted.

Reallotments have been made through changes in, and exchanges of, allotments under the acts of October 19, 1888 (25 Stat. L., 611-612), and March 3, 1909 (35 Stat. L., 781-784), on various reservations. It is estimated that the number approved during the year will approximate about 1,000.

ALLOTMENTS IN NATIONAL FORESTS.

Allotments were made and approved to 16 Indians in various National Forests, comprising a total of approximately 1,200 acres, under section 31 of the act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. L., 855-859).