Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-23
OUT IN ARIZONA.
hfH khoNo rHE NnANs--THER OCCUPATIONS
AND IDEAS or nAPPISEss-cuRIoUs CUSTOMS
HOMAGE TO AoNrEzrxA-AS IMPROVEMENT

AND IDEAS or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ,t-Sroxs-
HOMAGE TO soNrEzrxA-AS IMPROVEMENT
BOOM on THE CHA
/ Correspondence q TuE SrAs1
AGRA DUICe. arizona. Julv 70 ,ss,
H'-'i'"s W renew my subscription Cor THs
STAR, WI nj the same time write something
about this isr-away country. hoping a little
news from quarter so remote may prove n
passing diversion 10 the readers of The STAR.
who must by this time have surfeit OF Sitting
Bull and Roscoe Conkling. The former by his
mastery inactivity has succeeded, through in
tersiews. special correspondents, aud the asso-
ciated press, in having himself advertised DAILY
In almost every paper in the United States TO
the exclusion of all the other Indians in the
country, and the latter by cutting OF his nose TO
spite his face is at present dividing the honors
o4tsis dead-fead advertising with his more for
tunate rival. who at least has been able 10 hold
his position. But 1 did not start out
10 write about either Of these celebrities but 81
the Pimas. Marcopas and Papagoes. who GER
tainiy deserve little notice for knowing how 20
behave themselves. These Indians have been
for many years friendly disposed towards Ameri-
cans. and rendered Gen. Crock valuable aid in
helping him subdue the willy and ferccious
Apache. who had been for years terror To set
tiers and prospcctors I'm this territory. The
Pimas aud Maricopa's reservation extends from
the mouth of Salt river, where II empties into
the ella. about 60 miles almost due east nearly
to the town OF Florence the ella being the
southern boundary line.
THESE TWO TRIBES
number about six thousand souls. and are prin-
cipally occupied in agricultural pursuits raising
fine crops of wheat and barley their wheat alone
this season amounting to several million pounds,
which commands a higher price than any other
wheat raised on this coast. chiefly owing to the
superb Esauner in which il is cleaned.
HON HE sQuAws wINNow WHEAT.
This work is generally done by the squaws.
who, with simply basket of their own manufac-
ture, and a strong breeze, areable 10 removeevery
particle of dust straw and chat. leaving the
grain beautiful and bright in colors Of amber and
gold. No machinery has yet been made that
can successfully compete with this primitive pro-
Cess OF the Indian woman. Is Y not a sad COM
mentary on the boasted Yankee ingenuity of the
age! They also raise corn. melons. pumpkins
beans. sweet potatoes and some other vegetables
ana own quite q number OF swine and some fine
cattle and thousands of dogs. The ponies are
only used for riding. the oxen for farming pur-
poses. and the dogs, with their bowling and
barking, to make the day hide0us and the night
more SO. Their huts made of sticks and
dirt, and are about FIVE feet high and thirty in
circumference. and resemble In appearance q
large inverted bowl. The door is only two feet
high and one foot wide, and is always cut In the
Gust sue Oh the nut IN order 10 give MontcZuma
Otitao osstd or good view of the sleeping braves
at his coming with the rising sun. I have seen
the representatives of nearly every race on earth.
but for genuine enjoyment of the present. and
total indifference for the future. the Pima In
dian carries of the prize. pony and enough
TO eat make him supremacy happy.
THE COSTUME OF THE NATIVE ARIzoNraN.
His ideas Of dress are slightly at variance with
the prescribed mode Of his pae-faced brother;
in fact, he is most dressed when least dressed;
the approved style. for grand occasions being
sunshine and paint They work very little spin
not at all. yet Solomon in all his glory was not
clothed like one of these. But all this glory ~
the children of the forest is passing away: the
white man with his railroads and telegraphs is
making his influence felt on these burning des-
erts, and the red man marks his coming and is
fast falling into the ways Of civilization. He is
already an inveterate gambler and never loses
an opportunity to get drunk. and the only one
who speaks good English on the reservation ran
of with another Indians wife a few DAYS ago.
only mention these facts to show you how rap
Idly the Indian can be civilized if he only has the
chance. But We must not blame the Indians
for this: what else could be expected from his
surroundings and the example set him by the
class OF men who generally form a large element
In all frontier countries! Preachers prefer re-
manning in communities where they can he sup
piled with the pleasant things of life. When the
country is sufficiently settled up to furnish
them these Injuries they will come hut then
the Indians will be gone to Hades OF course
there are many worthy exceptions, and am
glad to note one here. The Indians on this
reservation are particularly fortunate i'm having
the Rev. c. H. Cook for their missionary He
has been with them as teacher and minister for
number of years and thoroughly understands
their language and their wants and has to a
large degree their confidence. He is conscien-
tious Christian, and is devoting his life to the
work OF Outstanding these Indians.
AN IMPROVEMENT BOON.
The Pima agency has had big boom I'm the
way OF improvements within the last few months
under the immediate supervision Of Major E. b.
Townsend. US. Indian inspector. On his arrival
here. in November last he at once began a svs-
tenn OF improvements that were much needed.
ana which Will not only greatly enhance the
value of the government property, but will be
OF immense and lasting benefit to the Indians on
the reservation. One of the first things he did
was to cut ditch six miles long, carrying 400
inches of water, which is carried over the south
FORK OF the ella i'm a fume LBS feet long. feet
wide and 10 Inches deep. thus giving the agency
an abundance OF water for all purposes and also
supplying the Indians bountifully for irrigating
Their crops. The new agency building. for the
agent and employees. is model of comfort and
convenience. and presents a fine appearance. as
its Weil-denned proportions stand out clear-cut
against the beautiful blae Of ali Arizcas SKY.
1t is two stories high, built of adobes. whies.
mulch resemble Wisconsin brick. and are much
~ 'iiosC SChcidiit uStu III tIssr TERRI
tory. 1t has two verandas. bay windows
shingle roof with yentilators SKIS feet, fourteen
rooms and two halls seven feet wide The walls
are plastered and whitened. and the whole
ouildicS rs handsomely finished throughout
with California red wood. The windows are
large and protected by green Venetian blinds.
The Indian police. organized by Major Town.
send, are very efficient and do good work. They
are armed with Winchester rifles. have a neat
gray uniform, and are proud of the service. The
school. which is in charge of Mr.. j. S. Arm
strong, has been in a fourishing condition
during the past year. Mr.. Armstrong is a
Nirginian. and graduate of the University
of Virginia. His estmable wife fills the
position of matron with scrupulous fidelity
and success. Mr.. r. r. Hopkins. who has
charge of the mechanical and agricultural
departments, is also a native OF Vir-
ginia. and is well qualified to discharge the
duties of his post. Some one has said that tbe
man who makes two blades of grass grow where
only one grew before is a benefactor to his race
ana as Mr.. Hopkins is teaching the Indians how
TO make many grow where none grew before. he
certainly deserves to be called a benefacfor of
mankind The medical department is in charge
OF Dr Ralph Palmer, of Illinois, who has been