The Flagstaff sun-democrat., 1897-02-18
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY IS. 1897.
NAVAJO ENCROACHM ENTs.

City, one Ot the most prominent and influential men of the county. IL sup ports the same views in great par: as advanced by Mr. Clark in his letter to Secretary Francis. published in these columns last week:
 TUBA CITY. AKIZ.. February 8 1897.
 Mr. E. S. Clark, Flagstaff, Ariz..-DEAR SIR: With reference 10 the communication of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, published in THE SUN-DEMOCRAT. I notice statement that some people had imposed th"mselves on to the Indian lands, and are endeavoring to disposseSs them of lands that rightfully belong 10 them. etc. This statement is fals" In every particular. and Is calculated to mis- lead and bias the public mind. In relation to citizens that are living near the reservation. This place was settled as long ago as 1874. and white people had lived here good many years before that. but af that time the two little ttlaments fTuba City and Moen-''op were located. and have remained ever since. As for the Navajos. thev were as scarce about here at that time as they are at Flag staff now. The nearest Navajo ncighbor we then had was old Long-back, who lived thirty-fv miles from here. away back on the tNoquil reserve. and it was a rare thing for them to visit us; think not n'arly so often as they visit FlagstaR now. It is true that they have been located on some SD 'ings. etc. and 1t is a matter of great curiosity to us how the Government officials could come and allOt lands to them that we have had fenced and under cultivation for years In some instances with large grown orchards OF them, without so much as asking us to whom they belonged. Talk about their farming, etc.. in this country; when we first came here we ran out of feed and went to buy some corn from the Indians. and the nearest place where 1t could be obtained was forty five miles from here. and the price was II cents per pound. This Is only scheme on the part of the Government officials to rob us of our homes and property in this county. As for our treatment of the Indians. we have always been friendly with them, and have done all we could to help them into civiliza- tion. and encouraged them to do right
 The remark that the whites had pushed themselves into the country is misleading. Intended, as 1 believe. to reflect on our people. I can tell you how that has been with Us. When we came here. there were no indians claiming any of the springs. but soon after we came. in 1874. a few OraibeS came down from the village and took up land at Moen-Copi where they are yet. and their claims are respected just the same, and al ways have been. as if they were white men. The statement that the Indians have lived in this country from time immemorial is perhaps true. but they were not Navajos nor Oraibes. as they will tell you themselves and that they never lived here before the whites came There were a few old Pah-Ute Indians that did live here. and they are here yet. and if you will come and ask them. they will tell you who occupied the country in this vicinity. The Navajos never did have any claim on any of this country til within the last few years. They will tell you that when the soldiers were after them. In Kit Carson's day, a little band of them got off in here. and were not taken. but they never lived here. The government has got hold of the wrong end of the story entirely; the Navajos want this country and the agents want them to have 1t. and that is about all there is to it. If there is an appropriation available for the purpose of improving the Navajo reservation. why in the name of common sense Is it not expended? Does not the reservation neec it, or are not the times
  There are n great many streams of water on the reservation that could be taken out and made good use Ofin farming. that would be equal to or better than what we have here, but the ILd!anS need a little help and en- couragemcnt. There are many places where springs could be develoDed with little ex- pense that would furnish water for their focks, and many more places where. by throwing in a small dam, water cOu be able their flocks to range out where now they cannot go
 As for the rights of the Indians iL this country. they are and always have been respected just the same as though they were white men, The main fault is the other way; the Indians are q little dull in respecting the rights of the whites by allowing their nocks to trespass where they ought not. But they are Indians. and of course we bear more with them than we would wit hthe whites There Is no dis posi- ion on the part of the citizens like our rights respected.
 We have lived here long time. and naturally have become attached to the country and our homes, but If necessity really demands 1t, we can give up our homes for the sake of the Indians, but we do not want to do 1t under the false imputation that we have pushed ourselves into their country and are dispossessing them of their rights, because that is entirely wrong, as a little Inquiry will show
 Respectfully, D. BRINKERHoFF