Past News Items

With an appropriation of $87,050,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, an increase of $7,346,502 over the current year total, the Bureau of Indian Affairs will expand and improve its operations along several major lines, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Glenn L, Emmons said today.

Appointment of Joseph E. Noyes as Chief, Branch of Realty, Bureau of Indian Affairs, was announced today by Commissioner Glenn L. Emmons.

George W. Mathis, who has been serving as Acting Chief of the Branch since the retirement of Harry M. Critchfield last June, is being named to a new position as chief appraiser of the Bureau,

The Bureau of Indian Affairs awarded a $61,540.78 contract today to improve the entrance road to the Taos Pueblo of New Mexico, which annually attracts thousands of visitors.

The improvement will provide a bituminous surface for a little more than two miles with adequate drainage and right-of-way into one of the most popular and spectacular pueblos of the Southwest.

Floyd Haake of Santa Fe, New Mexico, received the contract. One other bid was received, for $86,860.41.

Reappointment of Floyd E. Maytubby, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as Governor of the Chickasaw Indian Tribe for a two-year term beginning October 18 was announced today by secretary of the interior Fred A. Seaton.

In advising Mr. Maytubby of the reappointment, Secretary Seaton noted that he had served in the office "with dignity and integrity" since October 18, 1939.

Immediate transfer of administrative jurisdiction over two small Indian reservations, Kaibab in Arizona and Skull Valley in Utah, was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

Award of a $136,837.21 contract for grading, draining, and crushed-gravel surfacing of 11.6 miles of road on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Shannon County, South Dakota, to Roy Kindt of Winner, South Dakota, was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

Roy Kindt was the low bidder. Five other bids were received, ranging from $140,927.37 to $161,914.18.

Acting Secretary of the Interior Hatfield Chilson today announced awarding of two contracts totaling $276,803 for road and bridge construction on the Yakima Indian reservation in the State of Washington.

The contracts are as follows:

C &E Construction Company of Yakima, Wash., a contract for $226,995.63 for the construction of a total of 11.059 miles of road; engineer's estimate $242,969.90.

Award of a $64,322.48 contract for construction of 2.508 miles of bituminous paved highway on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, Imperial County, California, to Basich Brothers Construction Company and N. L. Basich, South San Gabriel, California, was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

The Basichs were the low bidder. Seven other bids were received, ranging from $78,322.48 to $116,857.20.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Glenn L. Emmons today made a public statement on the current status of a claim against the United States filed with the Indian Claims commission in 1948 by the Creek Indian Tribe.

The claim involves compensation for about nine million acres in Georgia and Alabama, ceded to the United States by the Treaty of Fort Jackson in 1814.

The Department of the Interior announced today that Thomas H. Dodge, superintendent for the past seven years at San Carlos Indian Agency, San Carlos, Ariz., will transfer on November 26 to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where he will serve as superintendent of the Osage Agency, replacing Russell G. Fister.

Mr. Fister has retired, effective December 31, after 32 years of service with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.