Arizona citizen., 1875-03-06
Removal of the Chiricahlas.

THE CITIZEN stated last week that Col. Dudley, now removing the Verde Indians to San Carlos, is also commissioned to re- move the Cachise Indians to Hot Springs agency in New Mexico. The order being out for the removal, and the agent on the ground to execute it, there is no use in discussing the policy or impolicy of the change. The great consideration IS wheth- CT or not the Indians will submit peacea- bly,. The general impression is that they are much attached to their present locali' ty. The people of Sonora and few oth- CTS have continually found fault with the conduct of these Apaches, and nearly eve " man acquainted with it's size, knows the reservation is much larger than is needed for the Indians on it, and embrac- es lands that ought to be open for settle ment. The Chiricahua and DragooD rang es of mountains are included in it, and one of them would be ample. These rang es contain more valuable timber and springs and small streams of water than so few Indians have need for, and were they now available for citizen occupation, would soon be claimed by actual settlers. The best Of the San Simon valley is cover ed by the reserve and the Indians will not live in it nor cultivate it in any way. The reserve is about seventy miles square, and covers on an average the best of Arizona. We think it much better for the general prosperity of this county, to have the whole reserve abandoned and opened up 10 settlement. We believe in less than two years, there will be twice as many citizens on the reserve in various active pursuits, than there are now idle Indians. Of course this opinion is based upon the belief that the present peace will continue otherwise it would be a thousand fold bet ter to retain the Indians where they are | and the reserve even a. it's size. No good person wants the old bloody times renew ed. Peace first and profit afterwards, is the proper platform and the one the peo- pie prefer.
 | There are several features of the case which-if the removal be peaceably made and maintained-particu please US. | The Alta California and it's assistant agi- tators will be relieved of much mental distress concerning Agent Jeffords, his | | hear no more Of the Chircahua reserve
 being an asylum for thieves of any race.
 But of one thing we are certain, and that is we can have no better state of peace in the southeastern part of Arizona, than we have enjoyed for two and one-half years. And another thing is quite as certain, that | it the ChiricahuaS act as we'll after remOv- 1 1 1, m 1872, they will furnish the most extraordi- nary example of immediate and complete l abandonment of a life of murder and theft tor one of peaceable and reasonable sub
 mission and behavior, of any Indians with | in our knowledge, if even known to our nation. We have not any time, nor do we now, doubt that Gen. Crook could have re-
 duced these Indians to submission by ac-
 tual war, but that he could or would have
 made them any better behaved than they
 have so far been, we do not for moment
 admit. What may be developed in the
 further handling of them, we do not know, l but demonstrated facts will be admitted 1 by all fair men. And right here it may as
 well be stated that this people owe very
 much to Capt. T. J. Jeffords, agent of the
 Chiricabuas. Whatever follows, he must
 have credit for peaceably managing what
 were the most ferOcious of savageS up to
 the very day they came into his official
 care, and we are thoroughly convinced
 that he has been prompt and earnest in
 his endeayors to capture and return to
 owners, stolen stock found on his reserva- | tiOn.