The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-11-27
NEW MEXICO INDIAN uEsERvA-
TION.

The following we copy from the Me-
silla, New Mexico Independent, Of Oct.
9th. The correspondent gives a good
report Of our former townsman, Fred.
Godfrey, Agent for the Apaches in that
Territory:
The people Of New Mexico and Ari-
zona have come to feel great insecurity
from Indians who are kept on Reserya-
tions. and who are fed, clothed and
armed at the expense of the Govern
ment. They are more dreaded than
those Indians who roam unrestrained
through the mountains, and rob and
murder whenever an opportunity offers.
We are not surprised at this feeling
when we come TO review the history of
these pets for the past ten years. In
dian outbreaks from Reservations are
no longer a surprise to any one; we can
safely count upon them as often as
once a year, aud the murders aud rob-
berries that invariably follow are fresh
in the memory Of every one.
The Mescalero Apaches Oh the Tuls-
rosa Reservation, are, however, TO
some extent, an exception to the gen.
eral rule. Since Maj. Godfrey, the
present agent, has had charge Of these
Indians they have kept tolerably quiet
AS much so as it is possible for an
Apache Indian TO be. They have COM
mitted no recent murders that we know
of, and their robberies and larceny
raids, IL any, have been entirely lost
sight of and swallowed up by the re-
cent performances Of the modern "Dick
Turpins" who abide in this latitude,
and who put the Indian and whiteman
alike under contribution.
We are informed that the Agents
books show that about nine hundred of
these able bodied friendlies sit down
daily TO Uncle Sans table, and each
one is said 10 be able TO do justice to
the sumptuous repast. This cannot be
doubted il the lazy bucks we saw
lounging about the Agency are TO be
'taken AZ an average of these free
lunchers. Their general appearance
indicate high living, and we venture TO
say that Mai. Godfrey has the latest
family Of Indians 10 be found in New
Mexico, An Apache Indian is like a
government mule, you can determine
the kind Of treatment he receives by
measuring the depth Of fat oh his ribs.
These Indians were TO receive their an
nuities on the 10th inst, and as we
saw them gathering about the agency
in considerable numbers, and with
childish expectancy awaiting TO receive
yearly allowance Of gew-gaws, blankets
mants, etc.
Annuity day generally finds the
whole tribe promptly on hand, after
which, for a time at least, their where
abouts is a matter of conjecture. Re-
straiHt and labor are two things the
Apache is decidedly opposed TO; the
former he never submits TO save by
force, while the latter he scorns under
any circumstances. He will submit TO
being well fed and clothed by the gov
ernment, provided always, that you
arm him with the latest improved guns,
allow him to loaf around in idleness,
and indulge his propensity for blood
and plunder at least once year. Sug-
gest to him the necessity for cutting off
these little ipdulgences and you at once
change the Smiling brother" into
red-handed demon.
We are informed that there is
school at the agency, in charge of Miss
Katie Godfrey, where the Indian chill
dren, who are moro susceptible OF kind
treatment, are taught, and some OF
them are said To DO making rapid pro-
gress in their studies. There is large
body Of rich land within the limits of
the Reservation, well ..watered, aud
adapted 10 cultivation, and these peo-
pie could, If they were so disposed,
raise sufficient corn, wheat and other
products to supply all their demands.
The land has been cultivated for sever
al years, and is one Of the best corn
producing sections in the Territory.
When the Reservation was located, the
government ordered the purchase Of
all private claims within the Reserva-
tion limits, and number OF these
small claims were purchased by the
Agent under instructions from the gov
ernment. but for some cause the order
was rescinded, and n number Of per
sons still hold ranches within the linn
its OF the Reservation. But the In
dians have more land than they are
likely TO ever cultivate. Last year they
were induced to do some planting, and
they raised small amount Of corn;
this year they have done nothing, pro-
badly regarding il as being unwise to
devote their time TO agricultural pur-
suits so long as they are fed at the ex-
pense OF the government.