Arizona republican., 1890-11-25
INDIANS AT FORT VERDE.

In the last annual report of Major
 General Miles, while recommending an
 abridgement of the White Mountain Indian reservation, he also made the very unacceptable suggestion to change the Apaches Crowded" from near San
 Carlos to the large and now abandoned military reservation at Fort Verde, in the fertile valley of the river Of the same name. This move has been sug- gested several times before, but has been defeated each time by the unani- nous and sharp opposition manifested toward it by the people of Northern Ari- zona. The reason for such opposition will readily be seen, when it is stated that the reservation lies only about thirty miles from Prescott, embraces a large amount of the none too abundant farming lands of Yavapai county and is, moreover, in the center of a well'settled section of country, peopled by both farmers and stockmen, and grazed over by thousands of cattle. Then, too, tbe Indians proposed to be removed are not of peaceful nature and would be a source of uneasiness to the citizens of the North who already have enough to contend with in the vicinity of the Hualapais. In this connection, the Pres colt Journdl-Miner says:
 In his annual report General Miles repeats his pet recommendation to have the Camp Verde military reservation peopled with murderous Apache Indians. The inconsistency of his posi- tion in this matter is most glaring and surpris- ing. He made bitter opposition to the return of sixty or seventy Chircahuas from the malar- ious swamps of Florida to Fort Sill, Indian Ter ritory, 600 miles or more from the settle
 ments of Arizona, because, as he asserted
 they would prove menace to this Territory, and now he claims that the San Carlos reservation is unhealthy for the poor Apaehes, and recommends that GOO of them should be removed trom the reservation where they are under military surveillance and placed in the very midst of one of the most populous and prosperous settlements in Northern Ari- zona While not wishing to ascribe any unjust motives to General Miles on this question, the authorities at Washington can very readily see that his recommendations are glaringly incon- sistent, and that some motive beside the vel fare of the citizens of Arizona must Turk behind them. The people of this Territory, and par ticularly those of the northern portion, have no hesitancy in openly attributing motives to him which are not in keeping with the brold and enlightened views which should be possessed by man in General Miles position. Whether they are correct or not it is not in our province in this article to state, but we can most em- phatically assert that the people of Yavapai County, and particularly those who have fam flies and homes along the Verde River, do not want these Apache Indians placed on the Camp Verde reservation, recently abandoned by the military authorities. Encouraged by the recom- mendation Of General Miles, delegation from two of the tribes proposed to be placed on this reservation visited it about week ago for the purpose of looking it over to see if 1t would suit them. A gentleman who recently came from Camp Verde reports that the Indians seemed more than satisfied and anxious to be placed there. If the authorities at Washington could be made to realize the position as the people here do, we do not believe they would entertain this proposition for moment, out coming from such source as General Miles, it can be readily seen what importance may be attached to 1t.
 The presence of these Indians would be constant menace to the people of Northern Ari- zona and would result in driving many settlers who have families away from the Verde valley. we are glad 10 note Tn this connection that Governor Murphy IS in harmony with the peo- pie of this section, and that he has in his off cial capacity entered most vigorous protest against the proposed removal of Indians to Camp Verde As he has resided for years in this county and is consequently very familiar with the condition of affairs, he is far better able to make recommendations in the matter than General Miles, who we believe never saw Camp Verde and who never was in this county to exceed thirty or sixty days. Governor Mur- phys recommendation should have more weight with the authorities than those of Gen eral Miles also for this reason. In the mean | time our citizens and those of the Verde valley | should again do as they have already done sew | eral times, enter most vigorous and deter | mined protest against placing the Indians there