Mohave County miner., 1891-09-19
TIE svai,apais 90 farmers.


regarding the working qualities Of the
Wallapais that we decided 10 make per-
sonal investigation, and with this object
in view visit was made 10 the Indian
garden IN Truxton canyon, Shere several
families have been engaged during the
past summer in raising crop of corn,
nelons, vegetables etc. The farm Is sit
mated about four miles east of blackberry.
on the line OF the Atlantic Il Pacific rail.
road. In what IL known as Truxton valley
the old Yompah Of the spaniards. -
Here the Indians have several acres en-.
closed With q substantial fence, and a
ditch taken out from the creek, several
hundred yards in length. by which water
is conveyed for irrigating purposes.
Al thIs point In Truxton creek there 10
a flow Of water, estimated al from fifteen
20 twenty miners inches, y quantity
amply sufficient 10 irrigate one hundred
acres Of land. The corn and vegeta les
produced this year are OF the finest quail
i,y, in fact have seen no better any
where Ia the territory.
Indian Bill, who was the frat mover in
this enterprise feels justly proud over the
success which has attended his labors.
and he informed us that next year Chief
Sherum, Charley and others would join
sls ..t,ta..ans ..,;tt, sha f g.. ,..,,
ing on large scale, and that all the In
dians in this part Of the county were de-
sirons Of securing aid from the Govern
ment in order that they may be provided
with farming tools and school in their
own country, separate from the Mohaves,
where their children may be taught with.
out being separated from their parents.
IL il well known that the Wallapai Res
eryation as it now exists does not contain
more than one hundred acres of arabic
land which can be irrigated within it's
boundaries, and except two trips yearly
for mescal and pine nuts. the Indians
have no occasion tor setting foot upon its
barren, desolate hills. As u reservation
it is useless in every respect, and can
never be utilized az home Tor the Wal
lapai Indians, unless 10 is the Intention OF
the Government TO give them full rations
twelve months in the year. All the In
dians with whom we conversed on the
subject expressed preference for Truxion
valley az being better suited TO their
needs than any other locality, IA here
they have An ample supply OF water, and
farming land sufficient for the whole
Wallapai tribe.
Throughout the length OF this valley,
from Hackberry to the canyon proper an
abundance OF water can be obtained by
sinking wells, and at several points there
is flowing water all the year. Aside from
this,the water which could be utilized
during the rainy season, by constructing
reservoirs, would irrigate the entire Wal
lapai valley.
The time is drawing near when some
progression must be made whereby the
Wallapai Indians may become self sus-
tanning. Il is not only their wish TO
make homes and work for Themselves,
but the majority Of them are in favor Of
having their children educated provided
they can have schools, and settle in their
own country.
The policy OF giving them rasions has
a tendency TO keep them unsettled, and
give them distaste for labor. The
greater portion of them have TO make
monthly journeys Of from ten to thirty
miles to draw their rstions. and bu, few
return without having gambled off or
eaten up the Hneager supply Of beef and
-four which they receive. Common jus.
tice, aside from the question OF economy,
shunld dictate to the Government that
the only method Of educating and civil
lixing the Wallapai Indians is by aiding
them to establish schools and homes in
the land where their ancestors have lived
and died, and where the degraded rem.
nant OF once powerful tribe only ask an
opportunity to become self sustaining.
ARIZONA PILoRIM.