Show commissioner Commissi oller collier of indian ind an affairs lauds projects in the uintah basin U S indian agent acs gasn gain in tribal population A sharp increase in indian population ia tion of the uintah basin with greatly improved economic conditions for both indians apt and white hite men in the basin was predicted saturday b by john P collier washington D C united states commissioner of indian affairs mr air collier spent the day in salt lake city conferring with staff hembes for five western westeri states after having completed a two day visit sit in hi the uintah basin outlines reasons the commissioner based his prediction of better times for the jinnah basin on two things 1 A comprehensive soil erosion control and range rehabilitation program and improvements to the irrigation systems involving an immediate expenditure of and 2 the recent completion of a first class hospital at fort duchesne built with and indian service funds the population of american Amp rican indians in the united states in hu said is increasing more ra rapidly eidly than that of any other racial group in the country the birth rie rate of the uintah basin indians is considerably sider ably higher than that among whites and the only reason they have not shown a rapid increase previously revio asly has been because of the beigh high mortality rate among infants ani and children we hope to remedy this with the next nev kosp hossitt cri cr 1 l du duchesne chesne untoward conditions mr collier said that on his last visit here three years ago the uintah basin lands had been in a virtual state of wreckage the range lands barren from overgrazing and the farm lands in many instances waterlogged because of a poorly planned irrigation system the indians are doin doing a superb piece of work in erosion control ind have themselves given toward an improvement program which has aready already an appropriation of under the reorganization act he said the improvement program also in involves I 1 bolves purchasing additional farm lands in the uncompahgre area and annexing more public domain to add to grazing areas this work mr collier said will aid the white settlers as well through improved irrigation projects and better range control addresses tribesmen the coilin ss ioner addressed a me meeting eting of of the tribesmen at fort duchesne friday the indians he said expressed satisfaction at increasing responsibility being given them and at measures beng taken to make them self supporting bUp porting among those to greet mr collier here saturday afternoon at the temple square hotel were john duncan 85 year old tribal chief at whiterocks utah tile the elderly elderly ute was brought here to have glasses fitted following a successful operation to remove a cataract cater act from one of his eyes mr collier left saturday evening tor for imort hall idaho |