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[[preprinted]] 93 [[/preprinted]]

4.

for allotment; yet in the field notes all this land is classed as "rolling prairie, land first rate." From the field notes of this former survey, no one can get a true idea of this country, its poverty of soil, scarcity of water in parts, and rugged broken [[illegible, rewritten in pencil]] tractless [[/rewritten]] in general. In allotting the Indians care must be exercised to place them upon land where they can become self supporting, either by farming or grazing, therefore the allotments will be scattered in townships, and except in favorable localities will not be solid, & necessitate a complete survey of the township. It was a knowledge of this state of affairs, obtained from my personal examination of the land to be allotted, that caused me to write to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs under date of June 20, 1889, requesting that Mr Briggs "might be authorized to make new surveys as they may be needed during allotment." The point which I desire to make clear to you is this: If Mr Briggs must, as according to your present instructions, make the survey of every township in its entirety, he will be obliged to do much work that