Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1900-06-13
The NAVAJO INDIANS,
They are industrious and Are Max
ing Progress in Civilization,
EXPERIMENT WITH SHEEP,

Colonel A. NJ. Tinker, Of Washington
City. who Is spending a week at Santa
Fe. inspecting the Indian schools and
United States agency, has just COM
pleted a thorough inspection of the
Navajo agency n reserve. He found
these Indians contented and prosper
Gus under Agent q. W. Hayzlett's adj
ministration OF affairs. From a moral
and law and order point OF view their
advancement in the past few years has
been very marked. a leading spirit
among them Is Chief shee. whose
mother vas a Navajo and WHOSE father
an American named Dodge. Shoes
wealth Is approximated at $4,000. He
Is thrifty and a keen trader, and has
interests In several OF the trading
stores on the reserve. besides a good
farm n a great many horses. sheep
and goats. He has a powerful influence
for good and his opinions are respected
by all, indian and white men alike.
GOOD WORKERS.
The Navajoes are good workers and
In late ear have shown their capa-
city to earn wages by doing most OF the
h'eNs w dlNHk AHt IdilfNhNh III
western New Mexico and Arizona. Last
year they earned In such work over
$4,000. Merchant Cotton of Gallup.
makes It his duty and pleasure to Sc
cure them railroad work. within a few
days past he sent out a call for 200 Ma
vajoes 10 work on the railroad. but re-
ceived only half OF the men wanted as
most Of the able-bodied men of the
tribe are now engaged with their fields
and nocks.
SOURCES OF WEALTH.
Something more than $780, 900 annual
ly is received by the Navajoes from
the sale OF their blankets. Probably
twice this noun IL secured from the
sales OF their wool. hides, pelts and
ponies. h area OF their cultivated
fields can be very largely Increased by
the construction OF Irrigation bitches.
The government has done something in
this direction but Impractical men have
been sent out to manage the job and
perhaps $780, 900 OF government money
has been FILTERED away with little or
nothing to show for 1t. But the policy
of the Indian office is all right and in
the Navajo reserve will be supplied
with an adequate irrigation system,
such as Is now receiving its finishing
on the Crow Indian reserya-
ton In Montana.
SHEEP RAISING.
Sheep raising will always be the chief
Industry OF the Navajoes. Their lands
admirably adapted TO IL, and now.
years of stubborn resistance, the
Indian flock masters are breaking
away from their old custom OF run
mixed flocks OF the two sexes to-
gether the year round, and the science
OF the Industry as to breeding, crossing
and sanitation Is s%upplantlng
their ancient slip-shod methods. CHIEF
Shoes healthy influence IL especially
notable In this matter. 1t was found
years ago that the Navajo sheep were
such hustlers, ranging 10 to 20 miles a
day with ease that the higher grade
sheep could not follow them and sur
vive. Flo this reason the several at
tempts OF the government to improy.
the Hooks by introducing fine bred
bucks has come to naught, but Chief
Shee has experimental on his own he
half until he has solved this problem.
He brought in a lot of Merlno bucks
n took special care In handling them
until he secured a cross or grade of
sheep which has nearly al the hardy
hustling qualities OF the native animal
while producing a higher quality of
wool. Having satisfied himself of the
results of Chief Shoes experiment
Colonel Tinker has just written the In
dian office urging that the NavaJoes be
600 full blood Merino bucks
with which to improve their nocks, the
leaders among the Indians having
agreed to care for them along lines
similar to those originated by Chief
Shee.