The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-28
NAVAJO INDIANS ARE INCREASING
Tribe Is Prosperous and Their NUM-
bers Have Doubled.

Those who believe that iecadence Is the
heritage OF the American Indian would do
we'll to study the Navajo tribe. In 1865 II
numbered 1000 souls. Today. through
natura, increase and not through !rnmi-
grafton. almost entire,y without adnix-
ture of other blood. there are %. go0 Nav
ajos. Every individual tribesman appears
prosperous. Many OF the bucks are rich,
even from the standpoint of the white
man. II is roughly. though conservatives
ly. estimated that the tribe has Loo 900
sheep. G0.(s0 head of cattle, 5000 goats
and horses in such numbers as almost to
defy enumeration. Horsefesh, indeed Is
one Of the main food supplies. The po-
MES, not necessarily of poor stock. are
unstable, even AZ s. head. 4 very
large percentage OF the wool crop is sold
for shipment 70 Boston, just as IS sold the
crop Of the white wool grower. The Nav
aJo blankets are still famous. though the
better specimens are to be had only
payment of seemingly oxorbitant prices
One OF the main sources of the tribes rev.
enue now is from tho sale OF blankets
that cost the purchaser little If any more
than would blankets OF ordinary mill
manufacture. Most OF this modern weav-
ing is done. singular to relate, with ordi-
nary Germantown yarn. brought TO Ari-
Zona for the Indians by the carload. IL
special colors are required by the Indian
Yet. despite this strange admixture OF
aboriginal hardicraft and modern con-
venience. the Indian has never before so
prosperei.
Little assistance is received by the tribe
from the general government. consisting
only In occasional gifts OF wagons and
agricultural implements and In the sup
port OF the schools Throughout the Nav
atos have an independence that ia re-
Ia a fnr
from peaceful. the casual traveller across
the reservation is as ssfe as he would be
IN n New England village. Prospeetors
they dislike n dislike shared by nearly all
Southwestern tribes. but they appreciate
fully the power OF the great chief in
''Wasintona' and rarely modest fellow
tTibesmen or whites. Rugged. health is
the attribute II almost every individual.
ana there Is every Indication that coming
centuries Will know the &ayajos an one
Of the most considerable of the subdiyis-
;,us OF population IN the Southwest,
The Navajo reservation IS the largest in
the Union. Yet already It is too small for
The expanding tribe, a fact appreciated n
the Indian bureau. Negotiations are in
progress for the purchase by the govern
ment Of a considerable number ~ land
claims 20 the Westward 81 the reserva-
tion When these have been secured She
reservation lire viii he moved Il Number
Of miles further toward tho setting sun.
This advance 81 the Indian has 10 II
nothing 20 rsuae apprehension - the
white population g northern Arizona y
large part Of tbr region now uBa here
after - Re occupied Is -aly grazing land
AT the best s5te3Niiug IN scenic features,
bat Ia ktng ip water
The main property rights 70 be secured
are a Tuba '1fy or MGea C0Tie Wash.
- miles north Il Flagstaff Hcve Nor
rnors. nun bering thirteen families. have
been settled for fifteen wears They ful~
,ivats = ns,tst @H3 acres of laaa. irrigated by
a tager-faHIaE nosx from Noe7 Couie
creek A. Tuha * expected L. arise the
metropolis ~ SIZE .,ava5as- When the
Mormon are 5tsT7ss~-~ssf the riea ,and
vii be divides up among a number u the
more Industrious Indians ami 10 start
them vel 81 modern husbaatrv TIE irrt-
CATION system IT, 80 Is reuo3eieG on the
inest s. 9nr ss~I Itu~S On :he site II ,ae
present traders store wilt t=a fsaift an In
dian school fag hicA an eppTorTIafsar
~ - pS. has already eeen fsafe The
cider Ina.sos sre rut aver=e % progress
ard ssaa ;tetr children 81 school in all
gaot will The lI;tte orss are remarkably
hrszhs ara learn Eaz':~h readily.
Fer So people a. are these 4 Is eaSs
"a prophesy "a prosperous tutGT~. Yes
pastoral TauSs th@E es~F remain. event .Gzl-
- 20 - -r>tT1. supreme 50 the "A s'&f in tN%
rearing - range cArtle sr1i sHses Thstr
lands with lit:la exception aye rot ara.
Re an6 Re scheme - farms r. reve-sIty
wslL 1@ser bn tried sEth fh@r1 IRE trsar
II 4st continue IS a f-tt=e. : nation within
oH~ nation irssssc Ffesst. YET willingly
subordinate ~ tAe u nifs mas E Its.orffv
Rlfs a8Fauf ~ aver tire af3te 57asl k>A-
Cause vntsxesi thrffsy ard ever ws.asshv
ia sAs s5ssss<2a;-ge of their nocss~-s,.aeiss-
a&1 k-sgsseS