New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-04
THE INDIANS IN COLORADO.
WHY THEY suOrID HAVE LANDS IN SEVERAL,

WHY THEY SHOULD HAVE LANDS IN sEVEKALlf'
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: I notice q resolution was agreed 10 III 'no
Senate on Wednesday, requesting the free"e.' " 20
fraln from allottng In severalW the o'e minus
Colorado to those Indians pending leg1shuon III VIC
present Congress respecting their remoVal 10 iio'0
reservation I cannot see who will be benehted oy
rcb IeosIation but I can see a prolong cation OF IN
certainty IN both the people Of Colorado and New
Mexico bordering that reservation. ard to the o'es
as well.
They were to be sent to Utah. but Governor Thomas
and a delegation visited Washington four weeks ago.
and told the senate Committee IT was hardly falr 10
treat Utah dumping ground Tor surplus ihu'an0'
that Utah had under irrigation $4,000 cultivated iarns
tbev were increasing the number every year, and
couIdnt snare the Land for reservations. So where are
they to go? have had late and reliable
reports from that Immediate locality anu
both settlers and Indians are weary OF be-
ing tenants-atwill Of Congress and therefore would
welcome either the allotment Of the lands In sever
alty or the removal OF the Utes, who are DIVIDED on
this question The better portion of them are ready
for division Of their lands and to remain where they
are Along Pine River they have built and are living
I'm bouses Three weeks ago acquaintance OF mine
saw an Indian woman with a broom In her manu-
actually sweeping the ground In front OF her door.
II IS true they cannot farm without irrigation NO
more can the whites but with their lands III se'or'
atty and the balance thrown open Tor setue"sh''
their narrow strip Of land would be traversed by pr
vate irrigation bitches, supplying both lndlans ana
settlers the first year IL IS opened.
For the mutual Interests OF both whites and lndi-
ans do not believe in reservations Are they not
cont nualy giving trouble Last winter a fe"
saoon)keepers at Pocatelo, Idaho, reported an mp
rising Of the shoshones and Bannocs. The Governor
Was wired for troops. was there There was
nothing in II. The saloon men want troops quartered
at Pocaeo to paronize their bars The Indians were
quiet as sheep, and knew nothing Of the report
II the reservation plan is retained, all our game
will soon be gone forever. In the territories border
ing re excavations four years ago could sight an ante
lope every hour OF the day. and often large NERDS,
where now are to be seen. Mountain sheep nave
been driven away up the divide between wyoming
and Idaho owing perhaps. TO the protection anorded
by the guard at Yellowstone Park. know OF no oet-
ter hunting for elk deer and sheep In large herds than
that locality, while the timber thOngs with bear IL
Is the only good hunting ground left.
without game and without FARMS the lndian can
not exist While on a reservation he Is not and VIII
not be subscrvient 90 game laws. lie shoots In and
ont OF season. He not only destroys In his own
boundaries, but goes far beyond In the white man
territory and there continually is creating trouble AS
every frontiersman knows. We want our sporsmen
to share these great reservations, the nonlrngaoo
portions in common with the Indian, and the game
therein protected BY the laws. With lands given
10 the Indians In severalty for homes, they learn
from their white ncighbors how TO exist By farming,
and arc not dependent upon game.
with lands IN severalty. the whites their neighbors
become so numerous, that the Indians are soon
lost sight or as far fighting IS concerned. l
wonder how many people here in Newfork know that
the descendants OF Cornplaner and some OF the SIX
Nations are existing fairly well in the western part OF
this state bought railroad ties Of them years ago,
and on delivery tie required face Of the tie, nine
inches was rcligously kept. could get the Utes
to cut ties equally well today - ~,
Are hot the Indians OF New Mexico, with ther
Irrigation dltches little Spanish and little religion,
doing WELL Is 1t not great relief to break IN
upon their pretty pueblOs In the midst OF fohago'
after a hot DAYS ride over the plain
II is true also that some OF my visits to Eastern
Arizona have been cut short, and unumely, as In
last september, by few renegade Araches but these
arc exceptions ON the frontier thirty years ago,
Thought the Osagcs were the hlthest of all human
beings, but they now reported very wealthy.
ON the whole. from my own observations, believe
the Indian hts been better managed by the Depart
ment of late than In any period | can name. be-
ucve there has been less stealing. believe the
average Coloradoan would Hike 10 zee the map OF
his state cleared OF the rcd strip, $50 miles long and
nfteen miles wide, at lis southern border, and am
OF the opinion that he would not kick very extensively
n each Ito was given 100 acres, allowed TO remain,
and the balance thrown open TO those who choose
to occupy IT, w. h. PE4DhiCh.
Natr Nor ADrit