The Florence tribune., 1897-07-24
Water for lndian Farmers.
IFrom the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
 About 5000 of our Indian wards live far out on the desert plains of south western Arizona, on the Gila River res ervation. The river there has left far behind the mighty canyons it dug among the mountains, and flows through the middle of the long; narrow reservation on it's way to the Colorado. These Indians, for many generations have lived where they are to-day, and thelr reservation is limited by the area or the desert they have turned into the finest wheat and corn fields. hay meadows and gardens, by means of ir- rigation canals, many of them miles in length, and some of them, Major Powell says, antedating the Columbian epoch. The Indians are now in trouble from very unusual cause, and they deserve sympathy and relief in their present diversity.
 The Indians in question are the Pimas and the Marieopas. The valley of their river, below the reservation, is strewn with ruins that are relics of the ancient culture of their forefathers. They have always been self-supporting and all ways the friends of the whites. The pioneers who took the southern route to California found their home a friend ly oasis, resting place in the desert. These tribes joined the emigrants, too, in repelling the Apaches, who were the scourge of the Southwest long before the Government took them in haud, and many ton of hay and hundred weight of grain have gone from the Glla River reservation to the troopers and their horses while posted around San Carlos trying to keep the Apaches in bounds.
 A few years ago many white settlers in Arizona were impressed suddenly with the idea that if the Pima and the Marieopa Indians could thrive by agri- culture in the Gila Valley they them selves might also make homes in thst district. The Land Office encouraged them in this view, and lands were allotted to them along the river above the reservation. They dug irrigation canals, and now their part of the val ley is beautiful with verdure. But they have tapped the source of life of the reservation, for they have diverted to their own purposes almost the entire water supply of the poor Indians be- low. The Indian fields have lapsed into desert again, and these people, among the thriftiest aborigines of our country, are now reduced almost to the condition of paupers and are de- pendent upon rations issued by the Government to keep them alive. The Indian Bureau, encouraged by their in. dustry and friendliness, had been mak. improve their condition, while another bureau has ruined them by it's success ful efforts to reclaim the upper part ot the valley.
 The Government is trying to restore prosperity to these unfortunate In. dians. A thorough exploration has been made for reservoir sites in and near the reservation; and the recent report of Mir. Arthur P. Davis seems tc prove that sufficient water may be impounded; when the Gila River is ir ioodi to meet all the requirements ot the Indians, and can be delivered tc them at a moderate cost per acre. Al soon as possible they will again be put in the way of supporting themselves as they had always done before the water they spread over their farms and gardens was taken from them for the use of white men.