Arizona weekly citizen., 1881-09-04
THE PIMA AGENCY.
Correction-The Indians Under Strict Discipline
 Affairs in General at the Agency.
PIMA INDIAN AGENCY, ARIZONA,

Correction-The Indians Under Strict Discipline Affairs in General at the Agency.
 PIMA INDIAN AGENCY, ARIZONA,
 August 29, 1881.
 EDITOR CITIZEN: notice in your is-
 sue of the 27th instant an article in your
 editorial column which think does the
 Agent of the Pimas, Maricopas and Pa
 pagos injustice Evidently you did not
 know that the Papago Indians are un-
 der the supervision of the agent station
 ed here. It gives me pleasure to correct
 this erroneous impression and to inform
 you that the three tribes assigned to
 this agency are in good hands and have
 an agent who is ever watchful and ener-
 getic in the interest of those under hls
 charge. I think the Papagoes mention
 ed in your editorial should have been
 located southwest of Tucson instead of
 southeast, as there are a number of h.
 di.ns answering to your description hv-
 ing in that direction. In concluding
 your article after dwelling upon the
 general prosperity, industry and friend
 Illness of the Indians in question, you
 say: "It is barely possible that the in-
 dustry and friendliness is enhanced by
 there being no Indian agent to rob | them" This sentence Is susceptible of
 a number of constructions, but l think
 the general inference would be that the
 Indians mentioned are living in such a
 state of prosperity because they are not
 under the charge of an Indian agent l The CITIZEN is mistaken. Mir. Roswell | G. Wheeler is in charge of all the Papa | goes in Arizona, as well as the Pimas and NaricOpas, and is gentleman de- voted to the elevation of the Indians under his supervision. Already, he has instituted a number of wholesome re- | forms here Tizwin and whiskey drink l ing among these Indian .-tslrfsI--sf ~'.:' 4 7'..-- - l.. - 4--.t4s,-4s has been posi- lively forbidden and any violation of this rule is punished. When prisoner sur renders himself Gas has been frequently , done) the penalty Is five days of hard labor. When arrested by Indian police men, ten days are required.
 It is gratifying to be able to tell you that at a feast held a few days ago at Blackwater, where many hundreds were (as far as could be ascertain ed not one drop of liquor was cOnsum- ed: and there has not been for some , time any drinking on this reservation. Gambling, another baneful practice ' among these Indians, is being success S fully checked; a number have been ar- f rested and punished for this offense, l z think with beneficial results for the . whole tribe. Another reform which will l greatly elevate these Indians, Is the ef- I fort now being made to break up lewd- 1 ness. When there Is case of rape the I punishment Is very severe; this, though, [ Is of very rare occurrence. Mir. Wheeler [ expects to inaugurate the marriage cere- IF mony among them, ana teach them to live up to it's requirements. l have seen ' Agent Wheeler cut off tine hair of f number of Pima boys, thereby doing i towards breaking up the 2 old and unclean custom. Several young ' men have consented to have theIr halr < cut off in two weeks (the commence I ment of schoOl) z
 Antonio, head chief of the Pimas and ' has erected a nice adobe q house with several rooms. Tonic, the T Indian interpreter, has also completed a a good adobe house for himself. Agent T Wheeler, in his efforts for the improve f ment and elevation of these people, has T the hearty cooperation of all the chiefs T and head men. The agent will interest T himself in the improvement of the cattle ! and horses of these tribes by importing V finer breeds. To show the great person. al interest in these people taken by U. $. | Indian Agent Wheeler, l have been per n mitted to take the following extracts n from his annual report to the COmmis- I sioner of Indian Affairs of this date: '
 {" To say that these Indians are among f the best that live within the boundaries e of the country, Is not saying too much. d They have always tried to help them- i selves and have invariably befriended n and assisted the government Tn its en- leavors to suppress the murderous l; Apaches. The emigrant through the . desert country has found them friends and protectors, yet the government T seems to ignore their claims and very a allows meagre appropria- Q lions for their benefit, while bountiful f supplies gre granted the Indians least n deserving and whose time Is occupied Tn i the amusements of stealing and murder.
 These Indians are aware of this injustice i,
 
 rainfall occurs and short crops and say c that if they were bad Indians like the a Apaches and would go on the war-path " instead of being good, they would have n plenty given them by the government. Ii They have frequently asked for the es- s of schools in their different i villages, but no attention has been paid o to their request. o
 Thr Gila river is still unfordable, but f is gong down. The terrific storm which n swept down this valley the Sth instant
 blew away the roof and part of the sec q Ond story of the new building, which s was near completion. Agent Wheeler V and clerk Huston were sleeping in the V rear building, connected with the main i building, at the time of the storm and V felt the swaying and rocking of the q building as if an earthquake was shak- T ing the ground. The roof was blown s over 1000 feet. Many of the adObes fell f within few feet of of Messrs. Wheeler n and Huston, and it was remarkable that a they escaped with their lives The dam- a age done the building will amount to i about S1O00. I have the honor to be a very respectfully, J. $. ARMsToNG, a
 Principal Agency Boarding School. V