The San Francisco call., 1906-11-26
RedMenAreU nable
to Cultivate
Holdings
BY NJ. e. Crane

WASHINGTON, D. c. Nov. 25.-In his
annual report Just submitted to the
Secretary Of the Interior the Commits
sioner Of Indian Affairs. F. E. Leupp.
says that the greatest need of the Mis-
sion Indian reservations in California
is water for irrigation. On several of
these reservations there is ample agri-
cultural land for their support if it
could be properly irrigated. The report
continues:
On the Aqua Caliente Reservation
no. z, for instance, the inspector found
tnat 3. 3. Barney claimed the water
right IN Andreas Canyon. In 1893 he
had entered into a contract with the
Government which provided that In
consideration Of the grant Of a TWEEN
ty-foot right Of way for a pipe line,
reservation. the Indians were to be
allowed sufficient water from the pipe
line TO irrigate 100 acres. or such part
OF II as they might have in cultivation.
on the basis of one inch continuous
fiow for each six acres Of land This
was simply in consideration of the
rlgnt or way across Indian lands. No
recognition was given to the Indians
right by long use of the water Under
the conditions OF climate and soil one
inch Of water TO each six acres was of
little or no value, and as q result the
Indians soon vacated the land and left
Mr.. Barney In full possession Of ell the
water. The inspector noticed that Mr.
Barney was not using the water in ac-
cOrdance with the letter and intent OF
the law, but was trying TO perpetuate
his water right by posting and record
ing notices OF the appropriation Of
water. Finding that the latest posted
notice had run the limit OF sixty days
with no development work, the in
spector Immediately posted a notice of
the appropriation of 500 inches Of wa
ter for use on Indian lands and put the
Indians TO work on an irrigation S'+ch.
INDIANS AS FARMERS
This action brought Mr. Barney to
the necessity Of defending his right to
the water. The inspector found that
the pipe line had been constructed at a
cost Of about $4,000 and had a carrying
capacity OF $50 inches. and that Mr..
Barney had vested right which
should be respected; so he arranged a
compromise by which the agreement
OF 1893 was abrogated and a new one
made. giving the Indians one-half of
the water flowing in the canyon other
than that entering the pipe line,
which ranged from so to $50 inches
during part Of the season; The
partment The inspector thinks that
this viii be sufficient to irrigate much
more land than VIII be required to
support the Indians now on the reser-
An extraordinarily heavy food in the
San Luis Rey River during the latter
most expensive part Of the irrigation
ditch on the Pala Reservation. con-
structed at cost OF about $4,000. The
damage is estimated at $4,000. BY
putting in a temporary heading and
making considerable repairs, which
they did without compensation. the In
dians were able TO obtain a reasonably
good supply Of water for this seasons
crop. Chief Engineer Code estimates that
for about $4,000 a ditch could be con-
structed on the Pala reservation which
would not be damaged by any floods
likely to occur in the future. and he
suggests that that amount be set aside
from funds available during the fiscal
wear 1907 His report of May p SAYS
that the Indians are making fair pro-
gress in farming and seem to be recon
ciled 70 their removal and quite salts
fed with their present environment
A walk down the street along which
their portable houses are located with