Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-05

their beIrs, while the amount paid 10
decreased through the desih Of invA-
lid pensioners leaving no dependents.
An increase OF from IS to $40 per
m nth IL recommended Tor all wholly
disabled and destitute Mexican war
survivor.
INDIAN AFFAIRS,
Under the mead OF Indian affairs the
secretary repeats the recommendation
OF his preue cessor for "a commission o.
three officers, one OF whom shall be-
an army tfilcrr, to tRke the place OF
mmiseIouer and ashistAn. commits
siouer OF Indian affairs.
"The commission sent to negotiate
Win the Umcompahgres seems not to
have unuerslood the terms Of the
agreement OF 1890, as In Its report II Is
stated that the Uneompshgres do.
clined to psy Sl.25 per acre ior their
new lands because they had sold their
loTmer lands, which were " better
quality, 10 the government at ~ cents
per acre. IL the Inulabs Understood
that the Sl.25 per acre for new lands
allotted them was to be taken out OF
their Understanding trust fund, they
were Justified In declining to accept
such u proposition, rs the agreement
clearly stipulstes that the trusi iuud
i, q permanent one, from which
the Indians shall receive $780,.
600 per annum forever. The records
OF the lana Office give Colorado laDds
ttlipquished by the Utes as containing
IL, 467, 200 acres. o. this 69S, $50 acres
HAYS been sold, realizing Fl,324,s90.
The cost OF removing anu settling the
Utes and providing agricultural nipple.
fttI a Aata LII t.aa nj at an
s429,657. Consequently, sl,679,557
must be realized from the sails OF The
Colorado lands before the Uncompah-
gre Utes can be required TO pay Sl.25
per acre Tor lands allotted them in
Utah. II the commission lad ex.
planned this situation, the Utes would
perhaps have consented to accept
lands allotted TO them and to pay Sl.25
therefor when tuilicient shall nave
been fealizsd on the sale OF their Colo
RADIO lands to permit tuch payment
without interfering with their trust
fund.
UTAH AspHALTUM.
"The commission segregated from
the Utah reservation the northeast
portion thereof and reported It to the
department rs all OF the reservation
that could ptudently be classed as nom
agricultural. The last report OF my
predecessor, under the heading Of
The Geological Survey states that
an examination made by that
bureau has established the fact
that On this reservation are large
deposits Of 'gilsonits,' or asphsl.
tum of great commercial value,
for paving and other purposes. 1t was
thought for some time that these de.
posits were confined to the section OF
The reservation set ABIDE by the com.
mission as UNFIT for agriculture, but
later 1t has developed that other II not
more valuable deposits Of 'gils0nite' are
located on that portion Of the reserva-
ton not designated by the com mission
as subject to restoration to the public
domain because not needed tor allot-
ments to the Uncompabgres."
"It is my Judgment" says the sec. ,
Rotary, "that some legislation should
be enacted whereby the people OF the
United States eau at an early date
have the benefit Of these valuable and
useful deposits.
"It 10 claimed considerable portion
OF the Uncompahgre and Uintah Iea-
ervatiuns, known as the lava beds'
contain substance called 'elaterite,'
WhiCbs WIN viz
covered, makes a valuable paint anu
an insulator Of Incompatible quality.
Such deposits OF giIsonlte, or eisterite,
are Of rare occurrence; In fact know
OF no other within the limits of the
public domain.
II recommend that Congress author
ize the appointment OF another com.
mittee to negotiate with the UncOm-
pahgres sad explain to them how the
LANDS allotted can be paid tor withou!
depicting their trust iund, anu that
Authority be given such commission
to sell (subiect to the approval OF the
secretary OF the interior) the remaining
portion OF the lsnus OF the reservation
to the highest bidder, to lease them, or
to negotiate with responsible parties for
the working of the deposits, In order
that the government may DO fairly
compensated anu to the end that the
puunc may enjoy the benefit Of 10
highly useful gilt OF nature.
at these lanls were the property of