The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-31
SPECIAL to The Hera1dA

(OptCIdI 10 Inc deralQ.l
Washington. Aug. SO-The commits
sioner of Indian affairs has formally
designated Commissioner James JEFF
t1eys of Missouri as chairman of the
Uncompahgre allotment commission.
and he has received special instruc-
tions to govern him in rendering the
accounts.
Captain William H. Beck. who is act
ing Indian agent for the Uintah and
Ouray agency, is under Instructions to
oIter the commissioners every assist
ance in his power. Blank township
plat5 and blank al1otmena sheets have
been forwarded to the agency for the
use OF the commissioners. Maps of
Utah and blanks for weekly reports
will also be mailed.
The commissioners are instructed to
employ a surveyor, assistants and in
tegpreters, these to be paid out of the
balance Of the appropriation for the
commission Of 1894
1t is the opinion of the Indian office
that none of the Uncompahgres will
desire allotments outside on the raser-
vation. but if they do the commissions
ers are directed to allct them lands
anywhere in Utah excepting mineral
lands.
MUST EXPLAIN.
The commissioners first duty will be
to assemble the Uncompahgres in
council and explain to them the pro-
visions of the act of 1897 and the ne
cessity that exists for them to take al
lotments at once if they desire to re-
tain any of their lands within the I'm
cOmpahgre reservation proper. as other
wise they will be opened to settlement
on the fEst of April next.
With regard to the payment required
for their aHotments, the commissions
ers are directed to explain to the In
compahgres that the Indian Office en-
deaVCrSd TO secure a waiver of the re-
quireIneTgt, but that congress refused
to remit the amount and therefore no
alternative The commissioners Will
also call their attention to the fact
that a majority of the Uncompahgre
male adults assen-ed to this require
nlent in 1881.
secure the consent of the tribes. or
that of any of them, they will proceed
to make allotments.
The assistant attorney for the inter-
Tor department has expressed the opin-
ion that the word agricultural was used
in the act of 1887 in {. sense that in
cluded grazing" and the opinion will
govern the commissioners appointed.
FUNDS FOR EXPENSES.
The Indian Office has. with difficulty.
arranged for the payment of salary
and expenses Of the commissioners.
Congress made no appropriation for
this special purpose, and the Indian
office will meet tlI!t expenses out OF a
balance of 81, 800 left unexpended by
the last commission, and $4,000 carried
in the current approximation bill for
the Survey ind subdivision of Indian
reservations and of lands to be allotted
70 Indians"
PROVISION STRICKEN OUT.
The secretary of interior approved
all the instructions to the commission
ers and drafted by the Indian bureau.
except that q provision reading as lOl-
lows was stricken out:
IF land is 50 located as to De sus-
ceptJble of irrigation. it is believed that
40 acres of land would be ample allow
ance OF agricultural land. and" the IN
dfans should be advised to select not
more than that quantity of such land
However. If they desire the full duan.
tity. they have the right Ito select IT,
UTAH MILL SITE CASE.
Secretary of the Interior Bliss today
affirmed the decision Of the land COM
missioner in the Silver Star mill site
case. from the Salt Lake City land
district. The applicants for the mill
site are required to reDublish notice or
aD0Iication, naming q day Tor making
rroof. The application to refer the case
to the board of equitable adjudication
is denied ,,.,5
A postoffice has been established at
Jordan, Big Horn county. Wyo-, ana
Louis j. Duhig commissioned postmas-