Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-09-16
JICARILLA APACHES
The Indians Are DESERVING Tepees
and Occupying Houses Built
for Them.
THEY ARE But POORLY FED
Statistics Of Stock Held by Them-Farm
Products Good Stock County Occupied
by the Embellishments in State
of Confusion.

The population of the Jicarilla reser-
walton is S31, of which 406 are males and
435 females. The reservation has but
little arabic land, but Is one of the best
grazing districts in the territory. Wa
ter could be secured from Sinking
Lake, twenty-six miles south of Dulce,
which is the agency's headquarters,
and a part Of the reservation placed un-
der cultivation, whereby the Indians
| would be enabled to raise farm produce
successfully. A large part of the reser-
timber, part Of which could be market
ed and the proceeds used for the pur-
chase of cattle and sheep for the In
dams. In this way the Jicarilla Apaches
could be made self-supporting in a few
years., but unless they are given the
means to turn their attention to stock
raising they will continue to be a care
to the government for many years to
come. This timber, standing as it does,
is of no value to any one.
oOlllC JCdlo d6O dllOllllClNpS "GIC llduC
to the Indians then living, but owing to
the confusion of names it has been
found impossible to deliver most Of the
patents, only IA per cent of them being
delivered, the others remaining stored
away in the agency's Office for lack Of
means to identify the Indians to whom
they belong.
Two ladies supported by the Method
ist church at Dulce are doing every
thing in their power to elevate the In
dams and give them moral and relig-
ious instruction. They hold weekly
services, and in various ways contribute
to the uplifting of the people among
whom they labor.
Six miles of new road was built on
the reservation by the Indians last
year, and old roads and bridges have
been kept in good repair.
The Indians on the agency are noted
for the excellence of their baskets, bows
and arrows and bead work. A large
proportion of the amount realized from
the sale Of products of Indian labor
came from those items.
The Indian court is composed of three
judges, who look after minor offenses
on the reservation. Drunkenness is
punished by confinement in the agency
Jail, sixty-seven cases having beer dealt
with in that manner last year..
There are 900 acres cultivated by the
Indians on tho poSQrxration IN which
they raised 225 bushels of wheat, 600
bushels of oats, 125 bushels Of corn, 500
bushels of potatoes, 20 bushels of onions,
35 bushels of beans and so bushels of
other vegetables. They also cut 700 tons
of hay, part of which is marketed. They
own 1850 horses, 10 mules, $50 burros,
95 cattle, $500 sheep, 500 goats, and rs
domestic fowls. They have the means
to care for a much larger quantity OF
stock of all descriptions.
About half of the support of the
Apache Indians is derived from the is
sue of government rations, though the
rations are not half sufficient to supply
their actual needs. Issues are made
semi-monthly. There are also small is
sues of annuity goods each year, but no
annuity money, SO that all money which
they obtain is derived from the sale Of
their own products.
The people on the reservation are
without school facilities. But plans and
specifications have been drawn for a
school building, with a capacity of 1923.
The Indians are very anxious to have
their children educated, but are In
willing to send them to distant schools.
There are on the reservation 251 chill
dren of school age, none of whom are
in school anywhere.
The smallpox broke out on the reser-
walton during the year, but was much
easier controlled than among the Pueb-
los, on account of the Indians not being
SO closely crowded together. There were
twenty-seven cases and eleven deaths.
Every member Of the tribe was vacci-
mated as soon as the first case was re-
ported.
During the year forty-two dwellings
were built on the reservation, making
a total Of 300 now occupied by Indians.
They are gradually leavin" their tepees
for the greater comforts of home.
The severity of the past winter was
such that the Indians were compelled to
use their seed grain and potatoes for
food in order to relieve hunger, which
necessitated the issue to them in spring
of new seed for planting. There Is ev-
cry prospect that conditions will be
more severe this winter, as their crops
are almost a total failure, owing to the
drouth Of the past nine months, and
they will be compelled to live upon the
government r~ations, which are, not suf-
ficient to keep them from want, supple
mented with the small amount earned
from the sale of bows and arrows, bas-
kets and bead work.
--11N--