Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-03-29
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Secure but Pleasant Prison
 for the Apaches
Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands
 as Indian Reservations.
PLAN ADVANTAGEOUS To THE INDIANS,
 THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE.

! From the Santa Barbara Daily Independent March 8 1854
 An extent of country about equal II slze to Los Angeles county, and contain ing some of the most fertile valleys and richest mineral lands Of Arizona, is now withheld from the uses of civilized man for the purpose of affording a loafng ground for the most murderous com munity of ssvages that ever lived upon the face of the earth. Not only within the confines of the San Carlos reserva- tion is the work of civilization prevented, but all the country around is kept back and its development retarded from the fact that uneasy bands of savages peri odically make excursions outside their own lands, and leave a trail of fire, mur- der and desolation to mark theIr path. The events of late are but repetition of many such, and even yet one of these marauding chiefs, Geronimo, ut the head of band of murderers, is hiding in the fastnesses of the
 MOUNTAINS OF MEXICO.
 1he great extent of the present reser- vation and the entire lack of any bar rIers against the free roaming of the Apaehes makes the control of them a matter of utmost difficulty. Indeed, whenever they so desire death and de- struction may be wrought upon the noigbborirg communities without possi- bility of prevention. Their uneasy. roaming disposition makes an outbreak a matter of certainty within certain pc riods of time. As soon as they have gathered rifles and ammunition, obtained rest and become organized under chief their work of ruin is repeated.
 LOWER CALIFORNIA
 Has been frequently mentioned as bet ter place for a reservation, only a nar- row strip of land on the north would re- quire guarding, but the diplomatic cor respondence and complicated arrange ments necessary with Mexico opposes thIs, together with the Tact that the pe- ninsula Is itself of too great extent The necessity for some radical measure, however, Is proved by the charred ashes of burned homes but lately ceased to smoke and the blood of many peaceful men but lately shed, the work of these tIeacherous, we'll armed and fleet footed Apaches. There is an easy solution of the problem.
 PROPER PLACE
 For the Apache Indians Is place around which nature has put such obstructions as will prevent possibility of their at any time making those sud- den marauding excursions which have made them celebrated the world over. A suitable place and where large army force would be unnecessary would be one where within these natural obstruc- tions 10 escape would be land suitable for tillsge where they would have an to learn the arts of peace and would be able to earn the sure reward of industry. A desert would be 8 prison too severe, rather a fertile spot that would encourage exertion in peaceful way.
 A SUITABLE PLACE Would be one where supplies. pro- visions, four, corn, beans and vegetables would be easily obtained and bought cheap. and where the opportunity to sell the aborigines liquors would be These are three important, considerations and if full filled solve the vexed Indian problem in 30 far ss tho troublesome tribes of the San Carlos reservation are cOl- cerned.
 Within sight of Santa Barbara is location which answers these requisites in every particular. The Santa Cruz and the Santa Rosa Islands are the only places in the wEole United States where the Indians referred to
 WOULD BIZ COMFORTABLE Inasmuch as the climate IS mild, would | be shut in by the waves of ocean from all possibility of wrecking their savage | Jury upon peaceful people, would have to industry by fertile soIl and would be near an emple source 1t supplies of all kinds. The one item 1f provisions would be great saving to he country. The government would be enabled to obtain all kinds of food at much reduced rates from those current n Arizona. The cost of buying the stands would be saved almost in a sea ,on by the difference of prices of pro visions.
 THE VALUABLE LANDS Of the San Carlos would be thrown ,Den to settlement and become taxable property, populous and wealthy instead ,t being as it now is terra incognita. The great gain however would be in the 'act that the Indians would be beyond he ability to escape and to harm. In ,tead of numerous troops only one steamer would be necessary 10 keep the Indians in surveillance With the ocean on every side the mur- ierous bands would be kept from work ng harm upon the outside world while dealers in liquor and the ike would be kept from them. The soil,
 CAPABLE OF CULTIvATIos AF,ot. ba .ba rneans of weaning them