Show indian meeting at Blan blanding fing takes up many problems facing tribe including living conditions in the area by J B harris at a meeting get oct 24 in the blanding churchhouse church house between elbert J floyd superintendent of the consolidated ute agency from ignacio colo and the blanding town board several matters batters nat pertaining to the utes in in this locality were thoroughly discussed k mr floyd reported that the agency had been tor for some time past working with the U S congress to get an appropriation to rehabilitate many mar of the ute indians who need encouragement if and when the appropriation pria tion is granted the agency hopes to be prepared to send the money for real rehabilitation in keeping with that desire t they hey are trying 4 to cultivate a friendly attitude iri in all secil sections oris where the individual indian would like to settle the individual indians favl expressed themselves as not wanting to locate where they are not welcome but some of them are quite willing to cap idolize on the idea and settle in communities where they can enjoy the conveniences of modern day life the community of blanding exhibited a splendid attitude toward this question but the opinion of the community is quite divided as just what would be the best thing for the indians one group favors allowing them to purchase vacant lots in town and abill encourage them to seek the advice and help of their individual neighbors while the other group and that group included a unanimous town board and other leading citizens were in favor of purchasing a tract of good fertile land close enough to the town so that town water and lights and such other utilities could be made available to the new comers one of the main objectors object ons to the first plan is that land is very er pensive and hard to get so that very little hope was held out in that respect mr floyds idea as to the kind of homes to be built for the indians was about as follows good well built substantial homes with three rooms and bath with the latest sanitary provisions and the homes to become a credit and in keeping with the home generally in the community not less than a half acre of good fertile land is to go with each home and an acre if it can be obtained the president of the town board speaking for the corporation said the indians will be given the same consideration on water lights and irrigation privileges as the whites it will be expected that they pay their bills and taxes on their homes the same as everybody who lives in the community I 1 the agent most emphatically stated that no indian will be settled in town against his will for those who want to live at allan canyon provisions will be made to help them where they want to be regarding education the agent said about as follows the government people in charge of the indians are looking ahead to the day when all indian schools under government control will be turned over to the states and local communities when the time comes it is hoped the indians will be able to enjoy the same educational privileges as any of the white children citizenship in its best sense is the real objective held out for the indians and then offer them all the blessings we ourselves desire as fast as they are able to accept them mr floyd the agent was very generous in his appreciation and praise for the liberal and kindly attitude of the townspeople toward his aspirations aspe rations for the welfare of his group of utes states joseph B harris speaking for the town of blanding |