Arizona republican., 1894-10-19
INDIANS ARE WILLING.
They Favor an Allotment in
 Severalty.
The Pimas and Maricopas Desire More Independence and
 Higher. Civilization.

Governor Hughes returned yesterday from the conference with the Indian chiefs ct Sscaton regarding the aIlot- ment of lands in severalty.
 The conference grew out of recom- mendation in the governors late re- port to the interior department. Col. J. Roe Young, the Indian agent at Sacaton, seconded the recommendation and having talked with the Indians concerning it brought about the con- ference which was set for last Monday.
 There were twelve chiefs present. several hundred Indians and number of Indian students, all the representa- tives of the 5000 Indians on the reser- vation.
 The ch urch in which the conference was held was densely crowded and the grounds outside were thronged with in- terested representatives and spectators.
 The proceedings opened with felici- tous speech by the governor in which he praised the history of the Pimas and Maricopas, who had ever been the friends of white men and had mater lallv aided in the esta blishment of a civilization so much of which they now enjoyed. He pointed out the advantages to them of the allotment, showed them that they might live more independent- ly and enjoy moral advantages which they never could enjoy as mere wards of the government.
 the Indians. His tribe had always fpia dlxyf lo koI to live like white men. They did not want to be always government beggars, but wanted to earn their own living. Other chiefs spoke and many of the tribesmen. The one thing that particu- lsrly impressed the governor was the clear view taken by the Indians Of the question. They had apparently studied it from every side, had reached con- 'clusion ,and were able through the inter- preter to fuently tell how they reached it. All were in favor of allotment. The terms were talked over and the Indians agreed, if the government was favorable, to accept the following: Forty acres of land for each head of family and ten acres for each child, the land to be watered and made ready for cultivation.
 They were ready at once to sign pe- tit1on to the government for this kind of an allotment. Agent Young will inn mediately prepare the petition and for ward it to the department.
 The allotment on this basis will com prise from S0,000 to 100000 acres. There are about 192, 1000 acres in the reservation. The disposition of the re- mainder was discussed at the confer ence. The land could be sold and the proceeds held in trust for the Indians. Or it could still be held in common by the Indians as pasturage.
 The Indians arrived at no conclusion concerning their wish in regard to the unallotted lands but there seemed to be a prevalence of opinion that they oupht to be held for pasturage pur- poses.
 The willingness of the Indians to hold lands in severalty is due to three causes. Agent Young, who has been painstak- ing and conscientious in his dealings with them, believing that it would be better for them to so possess the land, has been untiring in hls efforts to inn press them with his views. These h. uI1HS, GOO, nave Deeu redCulHg out dlter higher civilization, and they have come to believe that it csn be attained only by greater independence. However strong and effective these reasons may have been in bringing the h. dians to conclusion, they are both theoretical.
 The third is condition some- thing better understood by an h. dian than a. theory. For two or three years there has been an insufficient water supply for the reservation, and partial and, in some cases. total failures of crops have resulted. The Indian be- ieves that when the government con tracts to abundantly water an allot- mant of forty acres it will be watered, and there will be no end of wheat and h1 1rlnx-