Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-02-21
A MEMORIAL.
Which If Hearkened o Will Accrue
to the Benefit of Arizona.

Read first time, 100 copies ordered
printed and referred to the Committee
on Memorials and Petitions, February y
1891. Reported back from Committee
with amendment, amendment adopted.
Read second time by title, ordered en-
crossed and &c have third reading.
To the Honorable, the Senate and
House Of Representatives in Congress
Assembled.
Your Memorialists, the Sixteenth Leg
islative Assembly of the Territory of
ArIzona,now in session, respectfully beg
leave to represent to your honorable
bodies:
That in 1864, Congress and the Presi-
dent of the United States in their joint
capacity, granted to this Territory every
16 and sc sections of the public domain
within its boundaries for the benefit OF
the public schools. In subsequent
years, and in pursuance of law, hun
dreds of sections of the school lands
thus reserved have been set apart, dedi-
Gated, and used for Military and Indian
reservations, thus deprIving the children
of the present and future generations OF
the lands which your illustrious preces
sors SO wisely set apart for their educa-
ton.
Your Nemorlalists would fur Their re-
present that the school sections IN the
San Carlos reservation, by reason OF
their proximity to the rivers San Carlos,
ella and other tributary streams, by
reason of the fertility of the soil, the
facility of irrigation and climatic in
huencs, are the most desirable lands for
agriculture and horticulture that we
have IN the territory; and the school
sections and other sections adjacent
thereto in the mountain regions within
the reservation, contain valuable mines
of gold, silver, copper, and fields OF coal
of great value, from which our miners
we're expelled by the authorities OF the
agency at San Carlos.
Now, therefore, in view of the existing
condition of affairs ar the San Carlos
reservation and the probability OF the
valley lands being held by the Indians
in severalty for all time to come, your
Memorialists not only request but urge
with earnestness:
That in lieu of the school lands in the
valleys of the San Carlos reservation,
you will cause to be segregated aud set
apart for school purposes that noun
famous portion of the reservation known
as the "coal fielGs." and mining region
adjacent thereto part OF which are
school lands in their entirety, and that
you cause to be appointed commission
of two, one to be nominated by the Gov
ernor. and such commission shall pro-
coed to segregate and set apart, that the
same be sold; first, to the best interests
of the schools; and second, so as to con-
fer the good to the greatest
good to the greatest number OF the peo-
pie, and the procee DIS thus obtained be
invested for the best interests i the
schools.
Your Memorialists would further 10
present:
That in subsequent years, after said
grant to this Territory in 1864, hundreds
of sections of our school lands have
been set apart for the use and benefit
of the Pima and Maricopa Indians,
which will ultimately be held by them
in severalty, Now in lieu of the school
sections embraced in the Pima and Mar
icopa Reservations, we request that you
set apart and designate Fort Mcdowell.
Camp Verde, Camp Thomas and Camp
Rucker reservations as school lands.
and cause the lme to be sold (when no
longer required for military purposes) to
the best advantages of the Territory,
and that proper care be taken of said
posts until sold.
Your Memorialists would further re-
present that many soldiers were dis
charged in this Territory after the latV
war aud havo become agad kintirm
and destitute, many citizens and
families have been dispOsiled OF their
homes and property by the Apaches,
and are destitute. Many invalids from
OF Ter states have gathered here in the
hone of regaining their health and have
| become destitute, and their numbers
are increased & In consequence, there are
many destitute and orphan children
and a Territorial Asylum for
the care of such persons
become a necessity.
Now, therefore, we request that Camp
Lowell reservation be granted to this
Territory for a Territorial Asylum, for
purposes above named. The building
and ground are of but little value to an
Individual. but of great value of pur-
poses above stated, and therefore, its re-
ouested that it be carefully guarded un-
| til the grant is duly made.
And that his eXcellency the Cover
nor is hereby requested to make such
| endorsement hereon as he may deemed
proper and the Secretary for the Terri
| tory is hereby requested to forward one
copy to the Hon. NJ. A. Smith, our Dele
gate TO Congress, ami a copy to his ex-
ceIlency the President of the United