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Show First Shopping Tour Indicates People Have Heeded Advice Of Tribe lie ads; ffteiaii Sales Show Steady Up-Swing When members of the Ut I Indian tribe on the Uintah-Ouray reservation appeared at the five pay stations located at Fort Duchesne, Whiterocks. Myton, Randlett and Ouray, yesterday, Oct. 24, they were issued checks totaling $678,240.65 which is about one-third of the $1,673000 they were allotted by Congress as money long owed them by the government of the United States. According to Forrest R. Stone, superintendent of the agency, and Reginald O. Curry, chairman chair-man of the Tribal Business Committee, Com-mittee, a total of $414,325.11 I had been previously requested jby the tribe members as the amount to be drawn as they i were contacted prior to the date of issuance. However, when the day arrived, requests were made by the adults of the tribe to the extent that by the time the ; agency's paying offices had closed, another $263,915.54 had been issued in checks, making the $678,240.65 total issued on Wednesday. Mr. Stone stated in his interview inter-view with the Standard that withdrawls were heavier than they had anticipated, due largely large-ly to some Indians changing their minds about amounts needed, need-ed, and some desiring to withdraw with-draw a portion of the amount coming to their minor children. Approximately $1,000,000 still remains in the fund and will be drawn as the parents present substantial plans and programs for using the money allotted their children. From Mr. Curry's office came the information that those who drew money for their children yesterday presented some very intelligent proposals on behalf of their children. "Some said they were setting up savings accounts ac-counts for their youngsters; others wanted to have dental work done; some will buy clothes and others planned to purchase livestock to get them started in useful endeavors," Mr. Curry said. The $1,678,000 that is to be drawn in cash represents only a :part of the money set aside by the government io be used by the Indians over a 3-year period. The total amount was $32,000,-000, $32,000,-000, and this amount will be I used for rehabilitation of lands; : loan funds, and various other ac- tivities. Interest on the unused money should allow each Indian approximately $300 per year, ! Mr. Curry reported. A general feeling of pleasure eminated from the agency and tribal leaders that their educational educa-tional program had met results as reports came in that the Indians were using good judgment judg-ment in the use of their money. Reports from banks revealed that at the end of the first day 55 new depositors had been re-, re-, ported by the banks in Roosevelt I and Vernal. Forty had been announced an-nounced by the Commercial iBank of Utah at Roosevelt, Mr. ' Curry reported. I The local office of the Commercial Com-mercial Bank of Utah and the two Vernal banks went all out to handle the checks for the tribe members. Tuesday an armoured arm-oured car from Salt Lake City brought the needed cash to serve their needs. According to Robert Rob-ert Montoomeryr assistant manager man-ager of the Roosevelt office, they sent money to the various Indian trading posts in the area to assist them in cashing checks. They also secured the services of Chief Ji-hnay Vietur to ai ' in-identifying in-identifying tribe members and in making deposits. '" Several business establishments establish-ments were contacted this morning morn-ing and without exception, all reported . a general increae in business. "It was not as we ex-peted, ex-peted, on a comparative' basis I with the previous Indian paydays, pay-days, but was steady and proved that those who had received the money knew what they wanted," -one store manager said. Automobiles, perhaps, led all other merchandise purhased on Wednesday, as reports from three new and used car dealers reported sales were booming. However, food, clothing, bedding, bed-ding, appliances, jewelry and hunting equipment came in for a treat portion of the purchases. Reports from Indian trading posts and from local retail establishments es-tablishments where credit had been extended revealed that, generally speaking, the Utes had come in and paid off their debts, i One trader said he had collected debts that were 10 years old. This statement was typical from the merchants contacted. "Our Indian neighbors "kaow what they want they shopped carefully arid bought staple and needed items, proving that the fine program carried on by the Ute Tribal committee and the Indian Agency is paying off. Officials at the agency expected expect-ed many others to apply for additional- money today, both for themselves and for their children. Merchants also expected expect-ed this week end to be above average. |
