The weekly Arizona miner., 1878-12-20
ANNUAL REPORT OF GEN. o. E. WILCOX.

The annual report of Gen. O. B. Wilcox has been received at this office. The report commences by referring to the time he assumed command, and the condition m whic' he found inc Indians, The distribu- tinn of troops mode of scouting, etc, and his early decision to combine the scouting ouerations on the Southern boundary under one head. and the beneficial effects resulting there.rom. The General alludes briefly and kindly to the good faith of the Mexican troops in strictly respecting the boundary
 line. He whitewashes, to certain extent, fine atrocities committed by the Pinas on
 white settlers living at Tempe, on Salt River. and justifies himself for having sui fered these Indians to commit glariDg out rages upon a deserving people by claiming
 that No authentic reports have reached me- And still this open warfare has been
 within 100 miles of the Headquarters of
 this Department, and has frequently been alluded to in the public journals, and has caused much correspondence between the heads of the Interior Department and theIr
 Agent. Mr. Stout. The |. $. Grand Jury, at phenix. lately had occasion to investl- gate the matter, and the result was that Aseat Stout. for the first time Tn four
 wears. made visit to where 800 of hls Agency Indians were residing, piilaging
 and destroying property by the wholesale. wc will assert without fear of contradlc-
 ,;on that the presence of the Pimas on Salt
 River was not favored by more than one
 resident of Tempe, and that person was In- fiuenced by personal motives-that of trade
 and traffic for their grain, at the expense oi
 honest. hard-working white citizens. The General refers to the fact that the Depart
 ment bas been engaged in constructing
 roads. e.c. We believe Lieut.. Thomas did
 assist in surveying the Prescott and Brad shaw road, for which the taxpayers of la vapai County are somewhat embarrassed
 We coppy the following extracts from tho I Generals carefully arranged report:
 The Hulapais remain in their ancient
 country, winch however Is being settled hI the whites, miners and ranchmen, am"ns
 whom the feeling is growing that 'hes'
 indians should he removed.
 ; There are some Pimas on Salt River en gagged in peaceful cultivation of the soil D! irrigation. part of their lands on the Glia having been abandoned tor the want o , water, The body of the tribe dwell on tn Gi!a. and ia going to their fields on the Sal . RIvcr. pass over the fields of white mel riving suspicion of cattle stealing and t' threats of vengeance, but no authentic re portS have reached me. These Indians hav
 been the stannch friends of Americans iron tac time of the acquisition ot ArlZona, ah' inc common interests of all require tha their relations with the settlers be guarde' bv diligent, watchful, firm and Judiciou ,, agent.
 The Colorado River Indians have given tn
 military authorities no trouble beyond on or two scarcs which had little foundation .l l. f.ct But their condition has been depl0I s able. from inc want of food and the ravage ! of the small pox. There is large numbe
 of red men in the Department not though to be less than 1000 and' believed to b ? 10000. The white population is sparse an | tsmall though growing steadily. Ines people are sensitive of danger, and tn
 moral effect of keeping troops onoueh io any emergency is a matter of considerabi : importance 10 inc settlement of the countr ' and development oi its magnificent r' sources. Any nart O. the troops moved or D causes a vibration of alarm, makes the IT T d.ans arrogant and lets loose the hors 1 thieves and mail robbers on the desert.
 Taking into ooasderation the number q scouting parties and the climate exposure 2 of troops in camp and on the march, mol | mcdical officers are needed than the usu l. established posts and camps would seem t call for. Frequent changes are necessar - and so far there has been more demand f' ' this indispensable class of officers tha $ could be always supplied.