The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1884-04-06
Tho DUCK Valley Reservation.

n.
In recent interview with Agent J. s.
Mayhugh in Tuscarorh, the Times.Re-
view obtained the following information
regarding the Western Shoshone Agency
and Its future prospects:
The Reservation aggregates about
20 200 acres, Of which, however, ONLY
about 10000 acres are available for ag
ricultural, hay or grazing purposes. or
this there are only abaut $500 acres
that can be regarded as purely agricul-
tural land adapted TO cultivation, n large
portion OF that, which III other respects
would be fitted for crops, being subject
to early frosts. There are about 600
acres under wire and pole fence. SIr.
MnyhuSh expects this scnsun to put ia
go acres Of wheat and 75 or 50 of bar
ley. This is what hc terms the conn.u-
nifty crop, to De- used for the general
benefit Of the Indians. Each family
will III addition have garden Of from
two to five acres each FOR the cultivation
of potatoes and other vegetables for their
own separate Use. There are AT pres
cIIt 300 daily rGtions served out at the
reservation, although there are fully 500
Indians that receive aunuity goods from
the government Though this Agency.
The major portions Of the families ar.
living i'll lumber houses, com!ortnblp
furnished with tables, bedding. cooking
stores, etc. Each family has from one
To three cows, besides oIios, pigs iald
chickens. There is also band of about
500 community ponies, besides those be-
longing to individual members OF the
trlbe. The Tatiuns for each man, wom-
an and child consists Of five pounds OF
-four oue-ti0h pound Of coffee, onc-fii,h
OF sugar, one puunL of Deans, one pound
of bacon or three Of bcf. aud one pound
q! rice or huuiny per week. Syrup, tea
and dried fruit are also served uccnsion-
ally to the aged and sick or annuity
goods, are issued twice year to each
man, "a pair Uf blank It's, hat ur cap. two
flannel and two hickory shirts. one pair
Of boots or tao pair of shoes, butcher
, knife, comb, soap Zach woman gets
eight yards Of red or blue flannel, bal
moral skirt, ten yards uf jeans, one pair
Of bianEsu twice Year, twenty yards
Of calico. shoes, stockings, handkerchief,
scissors. thread. and NIri, ty OF little
things necessary for making UP clothing.
Mr.. MUylnSh says ait,r serving out the
! annuity goods for the last year hc has
still enough on hand for the coming
season. Wagons, farming implements.
etc, are all furnished 10y the govern
Incut. The school. unlyr tia supcrind-
cucr o! Rev. Father Calran, has 3G pu-
pills, with au average attendance Of 81,
whivh when the weather improves it is
expected viii increase To 10. The In.
dams urr evidently well cuuicu;cd and
uGu unanimously opposed to removal.
They say they would rather remain
whcrr they arc and raise grim, stock,
'N's. NNaii AitfN-A Aia' y aNANANf 4a' lNAlbllH
or annuity goods from the government.
The twenty years treaty having expired,
whatever they receive hereafter will
come from Congressional appropriation.
According to the treaty, they have here
toiurc received annuity goods to the
amount Of $1,000. The entire expense
Of thr agency last year did not exceed
Sll 200 aud Nh. Mnyhugh is o: the ouin-
ion that in few years more the Indians
will he able to supror, themselves on the
reservation without governmental aid.
There are quite number Of good farm
crs, tcuinsiCrs, aud some with cnus.dcm-
bic mechanical skill among them. The
standard Of civilization IL undoubtedly
higher at the Duck Valley than any
other Agency in the country.