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An Act Authorizing Construction Of Certain Public Works On Rivers And Harbors For Flood Control, And For Other Purposes, United States Congress

US Government Documents related to Indigenous Nations

This United States public law, passed on December 22, 1944, also known as the Flood Control Act of 1944 or US Public Law 78-534, enacted the Pick-Sloan flood control plan for the Missouri River Basin. The Garrison Dam was part of the Pick-Sloan US plan. Completion of the Garrison Dam flooded the river bottom lands belonging to the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara people. The majority of tribal members living on the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota were living on these river bottom lands prior to construction of the Garrison Dam.

Letter From Senator Langer To B. J. Youngbird Regarding Youngbird's Letter To Us Subcommittee On Indian Affairs, September 11, 1944, William Langer

William Langer Papers

This letter dated September 11, 1944, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to Ben "B. J." Youngbird, member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, expresses Langer's thanks to Youngbird for sending a copy of the letter Youngbird wrote to the US Senate Subcommittee on Indian Affairs.

A handwritten annotation on the letter reads "Indians" and "COPY" is also stamped on it.

See also:

Letter from B. J. Youngbird to US Senate Subcommittee on Indian Affairs, August 14, 1944

"Agenda For The Fort Berthold Reservation" By Carl Sylvester, August 4, 1944, Carl Sylvester

William Langer Papers

This agenda dated August 4, 1944, signed by Carl Sylvester, Chairperson of the Tribal Business Council of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, lists twenty-six goals of the Tribal Business Council on topics including the restoration of alien land within the tribal boundary to tribal ownership, consolidation of fractional holdings to larger usable units, disavowal of forced fee patents by federal agents, establishing of Tribal authority over wildlife conservation, law enforcement, determination of blood quantum, and a variety of other issues.

The back side of the last page of the agenda contains several signatures and additional information …

Letter From William Zimmerman To Senator Langer Regarding Us Senate Resolution 292 Authorizing Investigation Of Oil-And-Gas Producing Tribal Lands In Us And Alaska, July 14, 1944, William Zimmerman

William Langer Papers

This letter dated July 14, 1944, from William Zimmerman, Assistant Commissioner of the United States (US) Bureau of Indian Affairs, to US Senator William Langer, refers to a request the bureau received for a report on US Senate Resolution 292, which would authorize an investigation of "oil-and-gas bearing Indian lands in the U.S. and Alaska." Zimmerman writes that he sees no need for the proposed resolution and asks Langer "what lies behind the resolution." Zimmerman restates his position that such an investigation is unnecessary.

Letter From Senator Langer To Fox Et Al. Regarding Floyd Montclair’S Role As Representative Of Fort Berthold Americans, Incorporated, May 11, 1944, William Langer

William Langer Papers

These eight letters, identical except for addressee, dated May 11, 1944 (except for one dated May 10) from United States Senator William Langer to Martin Fox, Sam Badgun, Walter Young Bear, Robert Lincoln, Phillip Snow, Richard Burr, Phillip Atkins, and Oscar Burr, all members the the organization Fort Berthold Americans, Incorporated, acknowledges Langer's receipt of their letter informing Langer that Floyd Montclair is their representative. Langer writes that Montclair “is down here appearing in behalf of the Fort Berthold American, Inc.” Langer assures the recipients that he is doing his best to help Montclair.

See also:

Letter from Fort Berthold …

Letter From Senator Langer To Earl Bateman Regarding M.E. Pool’S Report, May 6, 1944, William Langer

William Langer Papers

This letter dated May 6, 1944, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to Fort Berthold Tribal Business Council member Earl Bateman references an enclosed report from M.E. Pool, secretary for the US Senate Committee on Appropriations. The letter and report are in answer to a request made by Bateman on April 21, 1944. Langer notes that if additional information is received, he will send it to Bateman.

The report referenced as enclosed was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.

See also:

Letter from Senator Langer to Earl Bateman Regarding Requests, April 29, 1944

Missouri River Basin: Conservation, Control, And Use Of Water Resources Of The Missouri River Basin In Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, And Missouri (Report By Secretary Of The Interior Harold L. Ickes On Bureau Of Reclamation's Plan For Basin Development.), United States Congress, Us Senate, William G. Sloan

US Government Documents related to Indigenous Nations

This report by the United States (US) Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes on the US Bureau of Reclamation’s plan for Missouri Basin flood control and development dated May 5, 1944. The US Bureau of Reclamation had been studying the Missouri River basin for several years in order to create a comprehensive flood-control plan by 1945; however, the release of the “Pick Plan” in March of 1944 pushed the Bureau to release their plan early. At over 200 pages, this plan, also known as the “Sloan Plan” named for William G. Sloan who completed it, reflects the detailed study …

Letter From M.E. Pool To Senator Langer Regarding Bateman Requests, May 5, 1944, M.E. Pool

William Langer Papers

This letter dated May 5, 1944, from M.E. Pool, secretary for the United States (US) Senate Committee on Appropriations, to US Senator William Langer acknowledges Langer’s letter of April 29 asking Pool to find information requested by Three Affiliated Tribes Tribal Business Council member Earl Bateman. Pool says the information requested by Bateman “will be furnished insofar as it may be available."

See also:

Letter from Senator Langer to M.E. Pool Regarding Indian Matters, April 29, 1944

Letter From Senator Langer To M.E. Pool Regarding Indian Matters, April 29, 1944, William Langer

William Langer Papers

This letter dated April 29, 1944 from United States (US) Senator William Langer to M.E. Pool, clerk for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, refers to an enclosed letter from Three Affiliated Tribes Tribal Business Councilman Earl W. Bateman “asking for certain information regarding Indian matters.” Langer writes that Pool’s help in securing the materials Bateman is requesting will be greatly appreciated.

The letter from Bateman mentioned as being enclosed was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.

Letter From Senator Langer To Earl Bateman Regarding Requests, April 29, 1944, William Langer

William Langer Papers

This letter dated April 29, 1944 from United States (US) Senator William Langer to Three Affiliated Tribes Tribal Business Council member Earl W. Bateman acknowledges the receipt of Bateman’s letter from April 21, 1944. Langer assures Bateman that he will take immediate action.

See also:

Letter from Senator Langer to M.E. Pool Regarding Indian Matters, April 29, 1944

Letter From Senator Langer To Joe Bear Et Al Regarding Resolution Placed In Congressional Record, April 7, 1944, William Langer

William Langer Papers

This letter dated April 7, 1944, from United States Senator William Langer to Joe E. Bear, Adlai Stevenson, Alfred Smith, Jackson Dancing Bull, and Francis Stevenson, marks the receipt of the letter received from Bear, Stevenson, Dancing Bull, and Stevenson which forwards a resolution that these five people would like placed in the congressional record. The letter’s wording is verbatim with the only alteration being the name and address of the five recipients. The letter states Langer will have the resolution placed in the United States Congressional record when Congress reconvenes. The letter is marked with the handwritten annotation “Indians.”

Letter From Guy Timboe On Behalf Of Representative Burdick To C. H. Beitzel Regarding U.S. House Resolution 3961, April 5, 1944, Guy P. Timboe

Usher Burdick Papers

This letter dated April 5, 1944, from Guy P. Timboe on behalf of United States (US) Representative Usher Burdick to Fort Berthold Agency Superintendent C. H. Beitzel, responds to Beitzel's inquiry about the progress of the Missouri River Project. Timboe notes that Burdick is in North Dakota so Timboe is responding on his behalf. Timboe writes that US House Resolution 3961, which provides for the Missouri River Project, has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now before the U.S. Senate for a vote. Timboe details how work has been done to ensure North Dakota interests are protected. Timboe …

Letter From C. H. Beitzel To Representative Burdick Regarding Missouri River Project, March 23, 1944, C. H. Beitzel

Usher Burdick Papers

This letter dated March 23, 1944, from Fort Berthold Agency Superintendent C. H. Beitzel to United States (US) Representative Usher Burdick, inquires about the progress of the Missouri River Project. Beitzel notes that several "Indian people" have asked for information on the project and thanks Burdick for any information he can provide.

See also:

Letter from Guy Timboe on Behalf of Representative Burdick to C. H. Beitzel Regarding U.S. House Resolution 3961, April 5, 1944

Memo From William Lemke To Colleague Announcing A Meeting Regarding States' First Right To Water, March 8, 1944, William Lemke

Usher Burdick Papers

This memo dated March 8, 1944 from William Lemke to "Colleague" invites them to a meeting regarding states' first right to water within its boundary, on March 9, 1944. There is a handwritten annotation at the top of the document that reads "No Ren."

Missouri River Basin: Letter From The Secretary Of War Transmitting A Letter From The Chief Of Engineers, United States Army, Dated December 31, 1943, Submitting A Report Together With Accompanying Papers And Illustrations, On A Review Of Reports On The Missouri River, For Flood Control Along The Main Stem From Sioux City, Iowa, To The Mouth, Required By A Resolution Of The Committee On Flood Control, House Of Representatives, Adopted On May 13, 1943, United States Congress, Us House Of Representatives, Lewis A. Pick

US Government Documents related to Indigenous Nations

This letter submitted by the United States (US) Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, dated March 2, 1944, contains a recommendation report that presents a flood control plan for the Missouri River Basin along with correspondences regarding that report. The recommendation for flood control is known as the “Pick Plan” named after its author, Colonel Lewis A. Pick. The plan includes considerations for irrigation, recreation, navigation, wildlife, power, and municipal use. The Pick Plan eventually reached a compromise with a competing flood control plan known as the “Sloan Plan.” The “Pick-Sloan” plan became US public law on December 22, 1944 …