New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-28
RELIEF FOR THE PIMA INDIANS.
A RESERVOIR NEEDED TO IRRIGATE THEIR LAND
AND RENDER THEM sELF-sUPPoRTING.

tBY TELEGR APH TO THE TRtBUNE.J
Washington. Feb 1.-THE following communica-
ton has been sent TO The Tribune Washington
Bureau by the Rev l. S. Whittemore. OF Arizona
who has come to this city to appeal to Congress
TO relieve the distress OF the Pima Reservation Ind
ians:
Are only dead Indians good cnes? Is II honora-
BILE to the American Nation TO perpetuate the
wrongs done TO them from the first settlement OF
this country?
ION the ella River at the Pima Reservation. In
Arizona. are four thousand Pima Indians who are
Industrious intelligent and virtuous. and VINO want
to earn their living. In the war between tne
Apaches and settlers from 1898 to 1884, hrst under
General Crook. and later under General Miles u
is reported on good authority that these Indians
saved the Government about 100000 Previous 10
1882 they raised from fifteen million to twenty mill
ion pounds of wheat. besides other cereals ana
we're prosperous. Since that time the setters on
the upper ella have built canals and have draihed
the river and left the Indians In poverty and SUI
ferng.
ON the snring O, 1895 Colonel j. Roe Young.
spnerintendent at the Pima Agency. complained to
the Indian Commissioner at Washington OF the
wrong done 70 his Indians, ana asked that CORPS
~ hvdrographic engineers be sent 10 view TWO OF
more sites on the ella fourteen miles east OF Flor
ence ct the Buttes and on Queen Creek. triou-
.orv And as a result Arthur p. Davis was sent
cor this purpose In December Of that year, with a
force OF competent men. who performed the WORK
assigned. spending six months at the task
I'm March. 1897 Mr. Davis made his report TO
Congress through mis- chief Mr.. +. H. Ne"e"'
tJvdrorraphcr. as Document Il. LIVth Congress,
Second Session.
For the time spent and the means at hand the
renort &c excellen, and shows faithful service and
skill This document states that the cost OF con-
structng a reservoir at the Buttes including lana
owned BY settlers GsSE S9q Cover S Haghe
in his report for 1895, states that the Papagoes III
Pima County stole cattle from me st0cS Snen tber
families from starving Al those four thousand or
settie on the reservation with the Pimas and. Ike
them become self-supporting. When these eigh'
eaiion the surplus. as the above document shows,
can be utilized by the settlers who IN payment , p,
icss than years return the entire cost t. the
$3.50 900 annually for many years TO support these
eight thousand Indians In ideness and worthless
Now as a matter Of economy is +, not cheaper
and wiser for the Government 10 construct said
ians? a clause calling for $4,000 to investigate
water storage tie ella and its tributaries. look
ing to the construction of said reservoir was in
serted in the Indian Appropriate pill. passed The
House and went to the Senate and by the commit
else that act. Had the committee been able to see
se O of means 81 oG eee avs
petuated so direfu a calamity. VIII the confer
recommend the restoration Of the provision? K
hundred or more Pimas sowed wheat expecting
seed was lost and the Government must feed then,
and their ponies or both must suffer.
"Of these Indians $50 members OF the
Presbyterian Church under the veteran missionary.
the Pew. c. u. Cook. who has been their pastor
over twenty years. The writer has lived
close 10 them nearly ten years and knows whereof
ne affirms He has come three thousand miles 10
plead that their wrongs be righted and II he re-.
turns without this clause reinstated 1t Will be a sad
day him and more sorrowfu 10 them.
1T through Secretary Bliss Of the Interior
and Marcus a. Smith, Delegate TO Congress that
the clause was inserted and passed the House
and the writer's object In coming and remaining Is
20 aid Mr. Smith In obtaining justice to these Ind
ians and relieving their suneringa