Arizona citizen., 1871-04-15
Authorized Agents for The Citizen
CRITICISM OF COL. STONE
 MANS REPORT.

. letter from the chairman of the legis- lative committee on Indian aff .irs, is said to have been received here by last mail, addressed to the citizens of Prescott asking for information, sus- tained by afhdavits, concerning recent Indian murders and depredations, to embody in the report of the commit tee, as an offset to the statements of the military commander, of the De- partment of Arizona, in his late re- port. Doubtless the desired affdavits will be made, and if time permitted, testimony taken from the witnesses and survivors of the depredations and murders committed in this county alone during the last year, the record would be appalling. Since the organization of the Territory, in 1863, no act of any military officer has so unnerved the hearts of the brave settlers of Arizona, as this same report of Col. George Stoneman. From Spring to Fall,
 from Winter to Summer, they have been hoping that in few months, in little while, before long, their prayers and petitions to government would be answered, that a real war against the cursed Apaches would at last be inau- grated, that sufficient troops would
 be sent hither to carry on persistent, continuous, effective, offensive opera tions, until the wretches would sue for a peace which should be permanent. To this end we have besought permis- sion to enlist native troops, to have more cavalry sent here, to have some truly energetic action on our behalf :; that the practice of feeding the savages at different posts, when there was no doubt that their course was to feed at government expense in one section of country and travel thence to another and commit frightful barbarities, re- turning red with the blood of their vic tins to draw their rations and lie around the feeding spot till rested and recruited for another raid, might be discontinued till the savages were put on reservations. To this end, our diff ferent Territorial legislatures have petitioned for relief, and among our other prayers, we have asked for a separate Department. Well, we've got it, and here we are like the frogs Esop told of, who wanted 8 King worse off apparently than before. Col. $. came here and established Head quarters, in tents, last summer, took @ ride through the Territory, visiting all the posts, and returning in October, and leaving the Territory for Califor- nia, he makes his report to his superi- ors in office, and in that document makes some statements that are as- founding and sickening to Arizonans. He recommends the reduction of the number of posts in the Department from eighteen to eight, and the dis charge of civil employees, as that will increase the efficiency of the command and aid in reducing the expenses of the Department, and thinks that the only detriment to the people will be that they cannot sell grain, hay, &c., at exorbitant prices to Government at the abandoned posts. He complains of the cost of Fort Whipple, to govern ment, refers to the rigid economy which has been practised under his command, to the reduction in quantity of forage purchased, and of fuel and lime; also to the exorbitant prices charged by contractors for those arti- cles, and to the miserable quality of quartermasters' stores sent to this Ter ritory. There is a difference of opinion in regard to the policy of reducing the mum Der of pOsts. 1t is very probable