Arizona republican., 1898-11-11
FOR A BIG SCHOOL.
plan 10 Enlarge the Indian School.
 A Great Institution.

To the Editor of The Republican, Sir: AS Arizonians we are individu- ally and collectively interested in the advancement Of our territory. Any thing that :ends to increase our pros perity and population has our hearty endorsement. There is nc factor in the community more important in bringing about The prosperity We de- sire than the Phoenix Indian school. This is an ins. tuition established and fostered by the United States govern 1nent and it is now but eight years old
 yet has grown from an insignificant plant of one building and eighty pupils to it's present magnificent proportions with it's thirty buildings and $50 pupils. Eight years ago less than $20,000 was required for it's annual maintenance as against $14G,G00 this year.
 This school is enc CE the city's most valuable assets It is gilt-edged, in come-paying property, and it's great est value lies in the fact that it's in come is derived from outside sources. It brings to the city new mOney-for- eign money that could not be reached in any other way It does not com pete with any other institution or in
 
 destructive to other industries. The $140,000 being spent this year goes into various channels of trade; many thousands are received by the two railroads centering here. Other thousands, and the greatest part Of the whole amount, are spent in the purchase of goods handled by our var ious merchants. Thousands are also spent by the department in the pur- chase of many articles from eastern contractors, all of which should and could be spent in Phoenix. If our dele gate to congress would take up this matter and personally interest himself in securing concessions in this direc- tion from the department, which he could very easily do by making him. self popular with the management, all of this vast appropriation could be spent right here in our midst. There iS hardly anything purchased by the department in eastern markets that could not be purchased in Phoenix for less money, and if our delegate was man of influence and personally inter ested in the advancement Of the people in this vicinity it would be an easy matter for him to secure co1iceSSiOnS from the red-tape policy in vogue in the department in Washington. Again, there is no reason why the Phoenix Indian school should not be increased in size almost indefinitely, thus incr5 as ing it's usefulness from a business standpoint in this community. Sena- tor Pettigrew of South Dakota has used his influence so successfully in congress that his state has almost as many government institutions as dis trict schools South . Dakota draws more government funds toward Indian agencies and schools than any six states or territories. The income re- eeiyed from this source alone is equal to that derived from it's greatest in dustry-cattle raising.
 It is my desire to vastly increase the capacity and effectiveness of this plant. This ambition of mine is fostered and encouraged by the Indian office. This is; a pet school of the department, and l am reliably informed that any appro- priation we can secure Of congress will be heartily and promptly endorsed by the Indian office. have asked for. an appropriation from this years con gress of S176,609, as you will see by en- closed letter, and 1 am confident that if@ we make a determined effort all along; the line, from our delegate in congress down to every business man who ought to be personally interested in. this matter, this appropriation can be put through. This would mean the addition of several new buildings and an increase in the quota of our school of 200 pupils, giving us quota Of 800, which would require an annual expen- diture of about $16O, 900. This is now the second school in size in the United States, Carlisle ill PeTnsylvania having 800 to our $50, and there is no reason why this institution should not be in creased to 1000 CT 1900 or more in yery few years. It is simply a matter of the amount of influence brought to bear and the persistency with which we use it. If one-half of the time, en- ergy and influence is expended in the effort to secure the results outlined that is very often made to secure lit tie one-horse industry that does not bring into the town $5, 900 annually and even then injures other institutions by ltS mere existence, there would be no question about securing what we want. In working for the enlargement of this school it is we'll to bear in mind that it is not temporary but permanent ben efitS that will result. A certain sum Is required annually for the mainten- ance of each pupil, and the greater the number of pupils the greater must be the yearly appropriation. With 1000 pupils in attendance over S200, 900 would be required each year for the support of the institution. The time IS ripe for a determined effort for the permanent enlargement Of this plant. The Indians of the southwest, and es- pecially ir Arizona, have been woefuny neglected by the Indian bureau All the efforts of past Indian officials have been concentrated on the building Of plants and improving surroundings and conditions in the north and north west, while the Indians of Arizona have received very little The atten- tion Of the department is now directed to these Indians. I am sure that 1t is the intention Of the present officials to build schools ard improve agency con- dttioh= of the indians Of Arizona There will be che large India1 school