Delta chief., 1883-12-12

ulullSi III Casli, uDout Us an
on Indebtedness to them. The practice of
paying cash to the Indians is pernicious one,
for as a general rule the money is expended
for useless, IL not injurious, articles and ought
to be discontinued.
| INDIAN HOMEsTEADs.
| The Commissioner of Indian affairs recon-
mends that fund be placed at the disposal of
the department to pay the fees of homestead
entries by Indians. In this heartily concur.
think when an Indian will settle on land in
tending to make it his home, he ought to be
encouraged in SO doing.
| IRRIGATION.
| A large number Of reservations are situated
within the arid regions, where agriculture can
not be carried on without irrigation. In some
| instances the cost of constructing bitches Is
very great, and 1t cannot be done by the Indi-
ans without material assistance on the part OF
the government. 1t is folly to attempt to farm
such reservations without provision Tor an ad-
equate supply Of water. I therefore recon-
| mend that an appropriation be made for the
vations as can be farmed only by irrigation.
=
APACHEs IN ARIZONA.
annual raids made by the Apaches Of Arizona.
In April last number of the citizens Of Arizo-
ma were killed, and large amount Of proper
ty stolen or destroyed BY a band Of Apaches
tuht iclt Iuc Sdu ShIlOS Tt6cTNdtlOu III April,
1882, or before that time In attempting to
escape they passed into New Mexico. and KILL
ed Mr.. McComas and wife and took their
young son prisoner: The people Of Arizona
were greatly excited over the murder Of their
fellow citizens and the destruction OF their
property and threatened to take vengeance on
the Indians on the reservation, claiming that
the murders were committad by those Indians.
1t is not at all surprising that the people Of
Arizona should have been excited over these
outrages, occurring each year with the regular
ity OF the seasons, and that In the excitement
always attending an Indian raid they should
contemplate holding the whole tribe respons-
BILE for the act Of a comparatively small num-
Der Of the tribe. There is nothing more terri
BILE to a new settlement than an Indian raid.
No one knows when the blow will fall, or
where next the stealthy foe will appear. 1t is
not open warfare. where every man has fair
show with his antagonist: it is not war; 1t is
assassination In such raids the Indians are
careful not to meet any consi''~rrl" number
of whites, but the watch for t''n-- gaEner at his
work. the defenccless househo. /, or traveller
on the highway. When the citizens assemble
the Indian hides in the mountains until they
disappear, and then he awaits his time to re-
turn and wreak his vengeance on the unarmed
and defcnceless citizens, regardless Of age or
sex.
In nv former report pointed out the dan
ger TO the San Carlos Indians II these raids
were not stopped. Should these raids be con-
tinued. | am confident nothing but the pres
ence OF a military force will protect the Indians
at San Carlos from destruction. The people
believe the agency is the harbor for rencgadcs:
thieves, and murderers, and 1t is to be feared
that heretofore such belief has not been with
out foundation. although It is not believed
that any agency Indian was implicated in the
last murders.
The Indians enga red In the raid escaped in
to New Mexico with but little danger to them
selves. The comma lder of the district Of Ari-
zona, General Crook, pursued them into Mex
leo, and compelled the surrender Of a portion
of the hostiles, who were brought back to the
reservation as prisoners OF war. Some difll-
Guilty occurred as to the disposal OF these In
dians. They were prisoners OF war. had sur
rendered with the idea that they would not be
punished, and would be permitted to return to
the reservation. General Crook hoped to Sc
cure quite number Of hostiles that had not
surrendered. but had, through the prisoners
taken, indicated their intention OF so doing.
After n careful consideration OF the case 1t was
thought best to allow them to remain as pris-
oners of war on the reservation, hoping by so
doing those still out might be secured, and
then all danger of futher hostilties, for the
time at least, be avoided. General Crook was
given full charge of the police of the rcscrva-
ton. but It was not thought to be prudent TO
divide the responsibility of keeping peace on
the reservation, and the Department was not
willing to attempt to keep peace with the pris-
oners of war freed from military control. The
condition is an anomalous one, and one that
cannot long continue. 1t is quite certain that
the presence Of the prisoners among the
agency Indians has been very dcInOraliZing.
| These Indians are guilty Of murders and other
crimes and subject to the laws OF Arizona and
New Mexico, whore the crimes were commit
| ted General Crook says that they were not
promised immunity for the past offenscs, but
| 1t is quite evident that they returned with the
idea that they would not be punished for the
crimes committed.
| II does not appear to be the duty OF the De-
| partrncnt of the Interior to determine whether
these offenders should be punished or not. At
| this time they are prisoners Of war, In the
! hands OF the War department. II possible,
| they should be removed from the agency to
| some point where there will be less danger Of
their escape, and where their evil influence
will not be felt by the more pcaceably disposed
| OF the tribe.
| SAN CARLOS RESERVATION.
The San Carlos or White Mountain reserya-
| ton was established November 9, 1874, by Ex-
ecutve order, and contains 2,52S 900 acres.
| The reservation should be carefully surveyed,
and such portions as are not needed for the
support OF the Indians should be cut of.
| This reservation is not the property OF the
Apache Indians residing on It, but 1t is quite
difficult to make the Indians understand that
theirs.
Since the establishment OF this reservation
there have been discovered the exterior
parts thereof both coal and silver mines. The
coal mines are located in the southern part on
land unfit for cultivation. These coal beds
were first discovered by miners, who alleged
that they were of Of the reservation, and who
still insist that such Is the case; but a survey
by the Surveyor General Of Arizona affords
proof of the falsty Of this claim. 1t is. howey-
er, alleged that the prospectors who first dis
| xba faI In nd fall ann.