Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-09-17
THE NAVAJOES.
Destitute and STANDARDIZATION
May Help Them Waste of Public
FundS-A Talk with Lieut..
Plummer.

Lieut.. E. II. Plummer, acting govern
ment agent to the Navajoes, has been in
the city for brief visit. 1t is needless to
say that his marked popularity was attest
ed by the warm welcome of scores of his
friends. He talks very Interestingly about
his duties among the Navaioes. This is
the most numerous and important tribe
of Indians on the American continent.
The reservation which they occupy, In
Guiding several million acres in northwest
New Mexico and northeast Arizona, con-
tains some of the finest land in the west.
"The tribe" said Lieut.. Plummer sis
CONSTANTLY INCREASING
and now numbers about 10000. They
are making very satisfactory progress in
the matter of education, there being now
about 300 in the schools ON the reserva-
ton"
| When asked as to their material pros
perity, he said; 81 am sorry to report
that the tribe is in almost destitute con-
dition. You know the chief industry of
the Navajoes is dealing in wool. On &C.
count of the depressed prices of that pro-
duct for the last two or three years, they
have been unable to realize enough to
live on from their focks and consequent
ly there has been good deal of depreda-
ton upon the property of the settlers On
the border of the reservation. These last
people
DO NOT BLAME THE INDIANS,
for, as one told me, they know them to be
starving; but they do think it a hardship
that they should have to bear the whole
burden of charity to the nations wards.
As to the remedy for this condition of af-
fairs" he added, anticipating the inquiry,
II think that if means of support is
given the Navajoes, there will be no
trouble about their combining themselves
to their reservation; and believe that
SYSTEM OF IRRIGATION,
efficiently carried out 80 as to give water
service to the lands on the reservation,
will be the solution. There is enough
land within reach of water to afford sup
port to five times the population. The
government has appropriated 100000 for
this work, but it is at present being car
ried forward with little or no energy.
Since this amount was appropriated only
$50 yards of irrigation bitches have been
constructed and. three or four miles
graded. While this important matter is
thus being trifled with, the Navajoes are
starving. have earnestly recommended
t0 the dana rim ant n chanua in the man :
agement of this important work, as do
not desire to see the appropriation used
up in salaries.
"The other important question with
u.s." he continued, "is
THE SALE OF WHISKY
upon the reservation. This evil, while
not as great as heretofore, is still suf-
ficient to give US very considerable
trouble. have urgently brought before
the authorities the importance of the ap-
pointment of special detectives to locate
the vendors of liquor to the Indians. If
the department accepts my suggestion, I
think this great source of evil can be
blotted out by the arrest and conviction
of several of the leading offenders"
| Lieutenant Plummer is looking splen-
didly. This agency is not very desir-
able position, however: and 1t ia believed
that the government, in recognition of his
valuable services, will soon consider hum
entitled once more to the enjoyment OF
the privileges of civilization, and will, in
the near future, relieve him from the
duties of this position. In that event, he
will return to his com pany at Fort Marcy