Arizona citizen., 1878-12-07
Indian Commissioners Report.

WASHINGTON, November 27.-The Commissioner of Indian Affairs report
 urges the consolidation of Indian tribes as recommended by his prede- cessors, reducing the reservations to nine in number and restoring 10 public domain l7,642, ,455 acres of land. He thinks most of the indians in Cobra do, New Mexico and Arizona may be removed 10 Indian Territory; the Klamath Indians to Yakima Reserva
 tion, Washington Territory, whither BannOcks and Malheurs will be imme- diately sent The Commissioner ap- peals for permanent title to Indian lands; recommends the organization of 5000 Indian cavalry under army of ficers for service near reservations. He publishes the correspondence be- tween the agent of the Bannocks and the military, 10 show that the latter were well informed of the actual state of affairs in time 10 be prepared for hOstiliueS; also that the Indians re- ceived all the subsistence the funds ap- prOpriated by Congres enabled the h. dian office to purchase. He shows that the agent of the CheyenneS was required by law of Congress to wi h. hold supplies from Indians who would not work, which led to the outbreak of the Cheyennes. He recommends the re moval of the Umatillas in Oregon to the Yakima Reservation, and that the lands be sold for their benefit. The Mis- sion and HOOpa Valley agencies, Gal ifornia, are re-establiShed Their dis continuance was caused by the failure of Congress to make appropriations.
 The first recommendation Tn this re- port is eminently sound and we be- lieve entirely practicable. To put it in force, will free nearly eighteen mil lions of acres of land for occupation If citizens generally. This of itself would be a great gain, and would very nearly fl not altogether put a stop to the usually false charge that the whites were fomenting trouble by encroach- ing upon the Indians rights to land or water or both.
 In Arizona, there is constant irrila- ton between settlers and Indians, and, We believe not from any design on the part If either to make trouble, but from causes inseparable from the law ful settlement on lands adjoining re- serves, and the discovery and working of gold and silver mines. These causes are at work on the Gila and Salt river valleys and in Globe mining district. While there is no care upon the part .of settlers to occupy any part of the Pima reservation, the lack of water on the reserve during some years comPels the Indians to seek lands of, on which to grow the food they must have, and in going off they come in conflict with land and water interests of settlers; anu the discovery of rich mines on the western part of the San Carlos reserve, led to an encroachment upon it with out any purpose to injure the Indians, but it is a source of irritation which might, under bad or unwise mana2e- ment, cause serious disturbances. Go far as Arizona settlers are concerned. we believe it were better to have the Indian tribes removed from the Terri tory. But we would not urge their re- moval to their detriment. It is how ever believed that Indian Territory contains plenty of tillable land for ali the tribes of the Territories and Pacific states, and if so, they could be removed to their own permanent advantage, and hence ought to be, and whites should be prevented from ever settling in that Territory
 As to the 5000 Indian police, that is all right, but it may be question as to the advisabllity of placing them under control of army officers except as now done in Arizona.