Arizona weekly citizen., 1895-08-17

one foot of lumber, an article so much needed for the construction of water gates, fence gates, collins, etc. When an Indian dies some of his relatives ap- ply to me for sufficient amount of lum- Der to make a coffin. l give this from my private stock, takiag chances of be- ing remunerated for the same; in some cases l am repaid, but quite frequently not, because these people are too poor. ' When county paupe- dies he IS decent ly buried at the expense of the county: but the Indian poor. the wards of the government, even though christainizsd, are buried, for the want of few boards. in an old blanket contributed by chari- ty; for blankets these Indians have never received. Although my forge is kept going pretty constantly, sharpen ing farming tools, etc., for the use of the Indians under my charge, l have never received one single pound of coal. If these Indians had their wants suppli- ed in accordance with my recommends | tions during the last four years, they would be in much better condition. They are we'll enough inclined towards farming, but they know, and have ex- perienced the fact, that farming with good advice alone, without tools cannot be successfully operated.
 During four continuous years I have made request after request for the assis- tance indicated as above. I have sent in list after list of farming implements required, always conhning my demands to the most urgent needs. During the four and ope- half year that have been the Farmer-in-chsrge of this reserya- tion, these Indians have received ONE farm wagon. When l stated in my re- port of last December that these Indians had always been treated by the govern ment like greatly neglected step chil- dren, l stated but the bare truth.
 Last January you very kindly invited me to go to the Agency and select from the annuity supplies such articles as the Indians most needed, and you have since then very lIberslly given us all you could spare, but as your stock of farm ing implements was very limited we could not get the necessary number of farming tools.
 The Indians of this reservation derive no benefit from the thousands of dollars distributed yearly among the Indians residing in the vicinity of the Agency for freighting, labor on new buildings, for beef furnished, for school, etc.; neither do they derive any benefit from the gvist mill at the Agency where the Indians there can obtain 95 per cent, for their wheat in flour shorts and bran. Here the Papago sells his grain for 90 cent per ctw. and buys flour at $500 per ctw. There IS no government school here; the government does not own a single building on this reservation and the PapaRo Indians have absolutely no opportunity to be empioyed in any way by the government, like those at the Sacaton Agency.
 Notwithstanding the fact that these Papago Indians have been very much neglected by the government, as above stated, and the further fact that they had very poor harvest in 1893, and that farm products have fetched prices those of every previous year, still they have made very far progress toward civiliZa- tion during the past year, The number of farmers has increassd; many Indians have moved upon their farms to reside there permanently. Several Indians keep their farms in very good condition new wells have been dug, new houses built, 250 days labor has been perform ed on roads. The sanitary condition is first class, due manly to great clean Illness, improved houses, better living, and the discarding of the use of ditch water.
 It is also matter of great satisfaction to be able to state that gambling and drunkenness have diminished to very appreciable degree.
 l again recommend the purchase of two good stallIons and two good bulls for the Pspago Allottees to improve their stock which is of a very inferior breed. The fenced part of the reservation will furnish enough feed for from 1900 to 2O00 animals. A hay press should also be bought for these lndisns.
 Thanking you for the treatment I have received from you and your office, am.
 Very respectfully,
 J. M. BERGER,
 Farmer in charge.
 To J. ROE YoUNG, U. s. Indian Agent, SacatOE. AriZ.