New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-18

The Pimas have always been friends of the whites
and enemies of the Apaches. They gave aid and
TO the early white pioneers and their tepees
always open TO peaceable whites or Indians
when hard pressed by the savage foe 1t is to-day
their boast that their hands have never been
stained by the white mans blood. 1t under
these conditions that they Joined about
century ago by the Maricopas. who fugi
tives from the powerful Yuma tribe. When
the beligerent Apaches broke out upon the warpath
the troops OF the United States often obtained sub
stantial aid and subsistence from the gentle Pmas
Their agriculture has been carried entirely by
irrigation with water diverted from the ella River
The tribes have always supported not only them
selves. but have shared their worlds goods with
the poorer Indians the south of them not favored
by irrigation. They have learned readily at the
Government Indian school and their progress
toward modern civilization has been regarded
OF the encouraging features OF the Indian prob
lem. During the last ten years their irrigating
water-their life blood-has been taken away from
them and they are perforce lapsing into Incidence
misery and vice.
The waters of the ella above them have been
diverted by white settlers. and instead of waving
fields Of green, they now, during the summer look
out upon the dry. parched earth. Year after year
they ploughed and sowed and irrigated their crops
only to see them wther and die before maturity
owing to lack Of sufficient irrigation water In the
drier months. few who favorably located at
POINTS where water appears IN the dry bed of the
ella can still mature their crops; others can exc
precarious employments while the larger number
have become more or less dependent upon charity
or have degenerated into thieves and vagabonds
ABOUT SIX thousand Of these Indians are dependent
for their subsistence the lands of the reserva
toh, wmch contains $4,000 acres. while the water
81 ppy IN the CHA last year, owing to for lands
ABOVE, has not been sufficient to rrigate one thou
sano acres belonging to the Indians Fully hall
seed Notwithstanding the great fertility of the soil
b %0 acres per Indian Of irrigated land been
SHOWN snow by competent authority ample land for
ther use and comfort. W
Government engineers have pointed ont the co
luton OF the problem through the building of a
storage reservoir on the ella, which will sunpI.
water rot only for the Pimas but for thousan ~
other Indians whom the Government could then
move to this reservation and commence The nrnn
Statesmen have urged upon the Covernment IN
ecesSlty Tor such action, from standpoints of ius
congress has turned a careless ear to sncb
enIe9ties. Had the Indians been private Ameri-
ana enforced them, but being wards of the Nafin
0theIs have come in and taken their water To-
nsunoTsd years, and the Government turns indf4
Iereltly away, directing its attention RI ~
wards thousands Of miles distant while its original
ailen 1 and allies are left to steal and beg an
existence or starve. 3 al
Inc United States has expended large sums ~
money for the introduction of irrigation az. Od
lndian reservations where 1t Is desired tot edm
cate the Indian into agricultural habits as means
bo "a, ms el'inzaton Here is tribe of Indians who
nave LOT centuries been engaged I'm Agriculture In,
irrigation, and who were until recently The o ny
successful irrtgators in Arizona They are now day
white man. directly encouraged bV the T ~ tns
states Government. Is II an Imperative ohiiSa
supply should be restored to themq rbe oni,1 tlelr
mes ne tnrough the construction by the Government
oL storage reservoir on the ella. And instead OF
hostile tribe the necessity presents ,tssis or
venting the destruction of civilization already at
pitable people past NUS