The Florence tribune., 1900-04-21
Sincerely yours, :,
I. T. WnITTEMoRE

complete it.
 Sincerely yours,
 I. T. WmTTEMoRE.
 The following are proceedings in the U S. Senate on the 9th inst rela- tive to irrigation of the Pima reserva- tiop, taken from the Congressional Record:
 Mr. PLATF of )nnecticut submitted the following resolution, which was read:
 Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby directed to carefully examine and report upon the proposed plans for irrigating the Pima Reser- vation in A rizona, particularly:
 First, with reference to the feasi- bility, cost, and comparative merit of such plans.
 Second, the exte nt to which the h. diaus occupying such reservation have heretofore been furnished irrigation for their lands.
 Third, by what means they have been deprived of such irrigation, whether legally or otherwise.
 Fourth, whether the irrigation which they have heretofore enjoyed has been in connection with any enter prise for the irrigation of lands belong ing to individuals or syndicates. Fifth, whether any of the proposed plans for irrigating lands upon the Pima Reservation are exclusively for the benefit of the Indians; if not, whether plans can be devised for sup plying water to the Indians npon such reservation independent of and dis connected with the rights of individ- ual or company landowners other than the Indians.
 Sixth, full information as to the claims of the Florence Land company or other owners of land to the rights of water to be supplied to the Indians upon such reservation, and the quan- tity of lands thus owned.
 Seventh, whether there are unoc- cupied Government lands which might be irrigated under any of the proposed plans after fully supplying water for the irrigation of such reservation. Eighth, all facts necessary to in- form Congress as to the feasi bility of irrigating such Indian reservation with or without furnishing water for the irrigation of private lands, and the probable cost thereof.
 The Senate, by unanimous consent, proceeded to consider the resolution. Mir. STEWART. I wish to remark in regard to that resolution-I shall not object to it's being passed-that on the land above where these Indians are the waters have been absorbed by the people who have settled about Florence in very large communities. The water can not very well be taken from them, aud there must be more water furnished to the people above before it reaches the Indians on the reservation below.
 While l am opposed to the govern ment undertaking irrigation schemes, 1 think, perhaps, that the subject ought to be investigated and suitable contracts made to furnish water for the Indians on this reservation. If the old method they had of furnishing water was not resorted to, it would utterly depopulate that whole region. That would be out of the question. There must be provision made for stor- ing a large amount of water above in order to furnish sufficient water for the Indian reservation below for use on their lands.
 It may be necessary to appropriate a certain sum to furnish water so as to irrigate these lands for the Indians. The Government has got to provide something. We have appropriated $50 900 for those Indians this year, and we must continue to appropriate, because they are good lot of Indians, who have been self-supporting for some time. have visited tbeir homes. They are, on the whole, a very superior class of Indians in every respect, but they have got to be taken care of by the Government. Whether it would be cheaper, taking into consideration the people above them, to build dam