Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-06-12
THE NAVAJO INDIANS
They Are Industrious, Thrifty and
Are Making Great Progress In
the Arts of Civilization.
EXPERIMENT. With SHEEP
Chief Shee Crossed Merino and Native Sheep
With Good Results-What the Govern
ment Is Doing for Irrigation On
the Reservation.

Colonel A. M. Tinker, of Washington
City, who is spending week here in
specting the Indian schools and United
States Indian agency, has just concluded
thorough inspection of the Navajo
agency and reserve. He found these
Indians contented and prosperous under
Agent g. ". Hayzlett's administration
of affairs. From 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 mOtlioI sXas Ma
vajo and whose father was aMKmerican
named Dodge. Shee's wealth is ap-
proximated at $75, 200. He is thrifty and a
keen trader, and has interests in several
OF the trading stores on the reserve, be-
sides good farm and great many
horses, sheep and goats. He has pow
erful 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 years have shown their capacity
to earn wages by doing most of the
heavy work along the railroads in west
ern New Mexico and Arizona. Last
year they earned in such work over $7O,-
900. Merchant Cotton of Gallup, makes
it his duty and pleasure to secure them
railroad work. Within few days past
he sent out call for 200 Navaioes to
work on the railroad, but received only
halt the men wanted as most of the able
bodied men of the tribe are now en-
gagged with their fields and hocks.
SOURCES OF WEALTH.
Something more than $1OO,OO0 an
nually Is received by the Navajoes from
the sale of their blankets. Probably
twice this amount is secured from the
sale of their wool, hides, pelts and
ponies. The 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 lob
and perhaps 100000 of government
money has been frittered away with
little or nothing to show for it. But
right and In time the Navajo reserve
will be supplied with an adequate irri-
CATION system, such as is now receiving
its finishing touches on the Crow Indian
reservation in Montana.
SHEEP RAISING.
Sheep raising will always be the chief
industry of the Navajoes. Their lands
are admirably adapted to it, and now,
after years of stubborn resistance, the
Indian flock masters are breaking away
from their old custom of running mixed |
locks OF the two sexes together the year
round, and the science of the industry |
as to breeding, crossing, shearing and |
Is suprlanting their ancient |
slip-shod methods, Chief Shee's healthy |
influence Is specially notable in this mat
Ter. 1t was found years ago that the
Navajo sheep were such hustlers, rang
ng Is to 20 miles day with ease, that
he higher grade sheep could not follow
Them and survive. For this reason the
several attempts of the government to
improve the flocks by introducing fine
bred bucks has come to naught, but
chief Shee has experimental on his own
behalf until he has solved this problem.
He brought in lot of Merino bucks and
,ook special care In handling them until
le secured cross or grade of sheep
which has nearly all the hardy hustling
qualities of the native animal, while
producing far higher quality of WOOL
iaving satisfied himself of the good re-
ults OF Chief Shee's experiment, Colonel
Tinker has just written the Indian office
lrging that the Navajoes be furnished
90 full blood Merino bucks with which
o improve their flocks, the leaders
,mong the Indians having agreed to
are for them along lines similar to those
riginated by Chief Shee.