Arizona weekly citizen., 1895-09-14

| well as to the children. The closing eX
 hibition last June was very satisfactory
 and in fact was more largely attended by
 parents and other people than ID ahy
 any previous year.
 Four hundred and fifty dollars were
 expended last month ln repairing the
 school house, for new iron roof and
 in generally overhauling the building. | This money has been collected from I church visitors. In 1890 over S1400 | were expended on the same building. In former years the greatest trouble on this reservation was caused by in- | troducing 'mescal," Ia distilled liquor
 made by Mexicans from the cactus plalt). This liquor is bought in Old Mexico and smuggled into the United States, and sold to the Indians on tbis
 reservation, partly by Indians from here, but mostly by Pspago's from the Indian villages in the southern uart of Arizona, but by e instant and clo watching I
 have entirely stopI ed thls traffic. They found It impossible to bring me5oal, and
 to sell 1t to the Indians here without be-
 ing detected, arrested and punished.
 About eight months ago sn Indian from
 Fresnal Ian Indian village about sixty
 miles from here), brought few gallons of mescal near to San Xavier. l very soon discovered where he was hiding in
 the bushes; he escaped arrest, but had
 no time to take with him the rest of the
 liquor or some new and old clothing
 which he had already taken from the Indians in payment of the meseal. This
 was the last case of this kind. Since then there has been no drinking on thIs reservation at all and the great fiestas of Sen Francisco in December and St. Johns day in June, have passed without having drunken Indian in the reserva- ton. I could hardly believe it, but found it was fact. There is still some liquor sold to the Indians in Tucson,
 but not in quantities large enough to interfere with the peace on this ressr- vation. The Mexicans and Indians en- gagged in this business have been watch ed very closely, and more arrests and convictions have been made for selling llquor to the Indians during this year than in any previous year. To the
 United States Marshsl's office great credit must be given for their efforts in this matter. Liquor selling to Indians has tecome very unproftable and is con- sequently diminishing,
 My former policeman, Jose Lewis. a graduate from Albuquerque government school, skipped the country last Feb ruary. He was very intelligent Indian ard behaved himself very well, but faro gambling brought him into debt and caused him to run away.
 The sanitary condition of the Indians IS excellent; 1t was good last year, but think 1t ls still better this year as no contagious disease of any kind has sp- peared among them.
 l find that one of the beet means of adjusting quarrels and grievances among the Indians is the frequent meetings which are called by me, mostly on Sun days when no services are held at the church. Mass being held every Sun day. At said meetings the Indians are invited and encouraged to present any serious or tritling charges or differences, against the Chiefs, or against any mem Der Of the tribe, or against myself, and ln this way troubles are averted by ad- vislng them as to the best course to be pursued in bringing about the most harmonious action among them. Most of the differences are settled by them selves at such meetings are also prolific Of good results in the discussion of busi- ness which affects the welfare of the Indians, and thus the habit of associa- ton for common good is fostsred among them.
 The Indians on this reservation may not have improved their financial con- dition on account of the unfavorable circumstances Tn the agricultural busi- ness, but in general l think that much has been accomplished in the advance ment towards civilization. Their be- havior during the past year was excel lent, and would be credit to any white settlement. Their relations among themselves and towards the settlers of the adjoining settlements have, during the past year, been very friendly. This change for the better is plainly percept- ible to those who saw these Indians few years ago, and who now come in contact with them.
 The lack of farming implements has been constant drawback to our work. l have been kindly permitted by you to select once a year from the annuity goods on hand at the agency. such ar tlcles as gre needed by the Indians uu- der my charge, but, as you. supplies ar rive at such irregular intervals, I am always either too late CT too early. If | go early some of the articles have not yet arrived, and if I go late most of the supplies have already been issued to the Indians living near the agency. This defect can be remedied by direct re- quisitIon from you for the goods that can be obtained from the department for the San Xavier allottees, and you could direct them to be shipped direct to Tucson, and this would also save pay ing railroad freight by the Indians from Casa Grande to Tucson.
 The carpenters tools which you kind ly permitted me to select from your stock have been very valuable to the Indians and many of them now do their own repairing.
 The reservation embraces what is known Rs the Old Mission "San XavIer del Bsc," with its beautiful and mpres- slve church building. This imposing structure covers an area of 6153 square feet, and is admittedly model of arch itecture and an enduring monument to the sublime faith of the Jesuit Fathers who planted the cross of christianity in l pagan Arizona, more than 800 years ago. | The building, though old and time worn, is still in state of fair preservation. | This Is due in part to the wgtchful care | of the authorities, who maintain a cease less vigilance over the ancient pile, and | also largely to the good efforts of Sec retsry Teller, of Colorado, who visited | the reservation and personally interest," | ed himself in the welfare of the sacred | building. Through his influence and | exertions congress appropriated 5000 | for its preservation and repair. This | has been judiciously and con- expended according to es- inmates previously submitted to the hon. orable commissioner of Indian affairs, but much more is needed to restore 1t to its original condition and grandure.
 A further appropriation of from $500 | to S20O0 Is urgently needed to complete the necessary repairs to the exterior of the church building, and sum of SiOOO | tO SS000 Ia ala uaada1 for 1ba roatoro