Arizona citizen., 1874-05-30
Col. Dudley's Report.

WE make the following interesting ex- tracts from the report of Col. Dudley, Su- perintendent of Indian affairs for New Mexico, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs:
 The Pueblo agency is situated at Santa Fe, and the Indians are located in nine teen villages, one of which is within nine miles of this place, and the most distant of which is about two hundred miles away. These Indians are entirely self-sustaining. They have rude Knowledge of some of the mechanical arts, and an equally rude acquaintance with agriculture and it's inn plements. However, they succeed in feed- ing and clothing themselves in a manner which satisfies them, even though it might not be satisfactory to civilized peo- pie. They possess very considerable amount of property, consisting of lands, houses, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, etc. This people appear to be midway between barbarism and civilization; and although the Roman Catholic priesthood claim to have civilized them two hundred years ago, yet believe it would be difficult for the most shrewd observer to discover any difference between their manners, GUS toms, and condition at that early time and the present period. They live in the same manner, practice the same rites of heatheniSh religion, (albeit now slightly changed by the forms of the Romish church,) and are as great worshfppers of 1J period in their history. The government has for several years endeaVored to estab- fish schools among this people, and it's eff forts have been attended with but slight position of the Roman Catholic priests. This priesthood oppose teaching the Pueb- To Indians the English language appar- ently because it will prevent their having in the future, as they have now, the close monopoly of missionary efforts among them. am not bigoted follower of any religious denomination. I certainly ney- CT could be of one which finds it necessary to keep the people in ignorance in order to maintain its control over them. The action of the Romish priests of this Terri tory reminds one very forcibly of "the dog in the manager" They viii neither teach these Indians themselves nor allow others to do so. have single instance to relate which exemplifies their power and purpose in this matter. For more than two years constant, persistent efforts have been made by my yIpredecessor, the different Pueblo agents and myself to es- tablish school at Tesuque Pueblo, nine miles from this place. All these efforts, however persistently made, were unavail- ing. August last @ young man came to me, stated that he was a Mexican, a Ro- man Catholic, and had been teacher He said that he was out of employment: that his family were suffering: that he could teach the common English branch es, and that he desired the appointment of
  have these Indians taught to read and write in the English language, and hay ing failed with all the appliances at my command, l thought it best to make an effort in another direction. I therefore told this young man that if he would pro cure @ letter from the resident bishop of the Romish Church directing these Ind fans to furnish him @ room and send their children to his school, Iwould at once give him employment. What representations he made to the bishop am not advised. but he obtained the letter, and has sue ceeded without difficulty in establishing school.
 The education of these Indians. both in letters and the arts, seems to be of the first importance, and to be the principal duty of the agent. I am happy to be able to say that their present agent, B. c. Lewis, has succeeded in establishing several schools, and if he continues the same ar dent efforts he has heretofore made, I am sure we can soon chronicle great improve ment in the mental condition of the Pu- eblo Indians of New Mexico.
 that it is impossible, in nearly every in stance, to procure the services of compe- tent men as agents at the salary allowed, ffeen hundred dollars per annum. It is no economy to employ incompetent men because they can be obtained for a small salary. The cost of living in this Terri tory is fully double that in the States, and an agent who has family must of neces- S1ty De strongly tempted to engage in transactions of questionable character, in order to eke out a living, however misera- ble. I would recommend that agents be paid two thousand dollars a year, and then require the nomination of men of business experience and capacity. I know the government would save money by such course. I would earnestly request you to require the missionary board mak- ing nomination of agents to look into oth- CT matters than mere piety of the persons selected for nomination. A competent bad man will in the long run cost the gov ernment less than an incompetent good man. There are here plenty of unscrupu- lous men who are entirely willing to do the work of Indian agencies, and relieve the agent from all trouble. A man may be perfectly honest himSelr, and yet allow dishonest men of more ability than him. self to do his work for him, and rob the government continually. Please give us good men if you can, but do let us have men of ability who can manage their own business. .s t- I
 Of course I have nothing to say about the pay of superintendents; but you will allow me to suggest that better man for the position might be obtained if the sal ary were increased.
 G. W. CAMPBELL called at our office and informed us that eighteen sheep-herders lost their lives in the late storms on the Rio Puerco, west of Socorro.-[New Mex ican