Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-12-13
N|.AVAJ0S INCREASING.
The Tribe Is Prosperous and Their
Numbers Have Doubled in
Thirty Years.

n tAtS AeIitaSe. OF the American Indian
would do well to study the Navajo tribe.
u In lsGS itnumbered $4,000 souls. To-day.
through natural increase and not
\ through immigration, almost entirely
. without admiSture OF other blood, there
are 22,oGo Navajos. Every individual
4 tripesman appears prosperous. Many
OF the bucks arc rich, even from the
standpoint of the white man. 1t is
roughly, though conseryatiyely csti-
mater that the tribe has COO, Geo sheep,
oo,oso head of cattle, 100000 goats and
horses IN such numbers us almost to
oefy enumeration. IIorsefesh, indeed,
IS one OF the main food staples. The
PONIES, not necessarily Of poor stock,
are unstable, even at three dollars :;
head. A very large percentage of the
wool crop is sold for shipment to Bos-
ton, just asis sold the crop Of the white
woolgrower. The Navajo blankets are
still famous, though the better speci-
mems are to be had only on payment
81 seemingly exorbitant prices. One Of
the main sources of t,lc ::be's revenue
now is from the sale Of blankets that
cost the purchaser little if any more
than would blankets of ordinary mill
manufacture. Most Of this modern
weaving is done, singular to relate,
with ordinary Germantown yarn.
brought to Arizona for the Indians Ov
the car load. IF special coors are re-
quired by the Indian wcavers recourse
is had to common dyes. let, despite
this strange admixture Of aboriginal
handicraft and modern convenience, the
Indian has never before so prospered
Little assistance is received by the
tribe from the general government. con
slstlng only in occasional gifts of wag-
ons and agricultural implements aud
IN the support of schools Throughout
the Navajos have an independence that
is refreshing. While they have a his
tory far from peaceful, the casual t1,av-
eler across the reservation is as safe
RS he would ha-in Il New England vii
lage. Prospectors they dislike, dis
like shared by nearly ali southwestern
tribes. But they appreciate fully the
power Of the great chief in "WasEin-
iona and rarely mclest fellow tribes
men or Whites. Rugged health is the
attribute Of almost every Individual,
and there is every indication
that coming centuries will know
the Navajos as one Of the
most considerable OF the Subdivisions
Of population in the southwest.
Ihe Navajo reservation is the lare-
est in the union. Yet already it is too
small for the expanding tribe, a fact ap-
rrcciated in the Indian bureau. Ne
EQUATIONS are in progress fer the pur-
chase by the government OF 1 consider
able number of land claims TO the west
ward Of the reservations When these
have been secured the reservation line
will be moved Il number Of miles fur
Their toward the setting sun. This adj
vance of the Indian has in it nothing Il,
cause apprehension to the white pon,,-
lation OF northern Arizona. a large
part Of the region now and hereafter
to be occupied is only grazing land at
the best. abounding in scenic features,
but lacking in water.
The main property rights to be Sc
cured are at Tuba City, On Moen Copic
Wash, 80 miles north Of Flagstaff. Here
Normons, numbering l3 families. have
been settled for Is Years They culti-
vaet about 500 acres of lard. irrigated
by neverfailiDg flow from NIoen
Copie creek. At Tuba is expected 10
arise the metropolis of the Navaios.
''hen the MorEnons are Gispossessed The
rich land viii be divided up among
number of the more industrious IN
dlans, and, TO start them we'll in mod
ern huSbandry, the irrigation system
is TO be remodeied OH the most approved
lines. On the site OF the present traders
store will be built an Indian school. for
which an appropriation of $4,000 has
already been made. The older Indians
are not averse to progress and send
their children to school in I'll good will.
The little ones are remarkably bright
and learn English readily
For such people as are these It is
easy to pronhesy a prosperous future.
CT pastoral must they ever remain.
eventually to become supreme in the
west in the rearing of range cattle and
sheep. Their lands, with little excep-
ton, are not arabic and the scheme of
farms in severaly will never BE tried
With them. The tribe must continue as
q tribe, nation within our nation, in
dependent, yet willingly subordinate to
The white mans authority, with ad-
vantage over the white man because
untaXed, thrifty and ever wealthy in
the abundance Of their flocks.-Cincin-
natl Enquirer.
An Anchor OF the Armada.
A few days ago the crew Of a trawler
engaged in lobster fishing near Hnsale
had great difficulty in getting their
anchor aboard, which was firmly fixed
N some massive hard Substance in the