Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-09-03
PUEBLO AND APACHE
Some Figures from the Annual Re-
port of Hon, N. s. Walpole,
Indian Agent.
PUEBLOS ARE PROSPEROUS
Better School Facilities Are Demanded
The Jicarilla Apaches Are Not Yet Self
supporting-s Should Be Supplied
with Cattle and Sheen,

Ihe annual report OF Hon. N. S. Wal
pole, in charge Of the Pueblo and JIG
arilla Indian agencies in this territory,
has been made public by the commits
sioner of Indian affairs.
1t is shown that the total population
of the Pueblo agency is 7,SS3 244 deaths
having occurred during the year. 1t is
gratifying to note that 1898 acres of
the agency were under cultivation dur
ing the past year, producing 69,1S4
bushels of wheat, 1858 bushels of corn,
l45 1868 melons and 1882 tons of hay. The
Puebos now own 73443 head of sheep.
which last year yielded 3,0l5 pounds
Of wool, valued at $16Sj1. In addition
they own 4S76 cattle, S063 horses and
large number of other grades of stock
and cattle.
SCHOOL FACILITIES.
The agency now has nineteen schools,
with total enrolment of 555 pupils. A
new school was opened at Pescado, one
Of the sub-pueblos of Zuni, and schools
We're authorized at Nutria and Ojo
Caliente, but on account of various de-
lays these latter have not yet been
opened. The schools a Cochiti, Jemez,
Nambe, Picuris, San lldefonso, San
Juan, Santa Clara. San Domingo, Taos,
Zia and Tesuque We're transferred to
the jurisdiction of the superintendent of
the Santa Fe school in April, and the
remaining schools Of the agency We're
transferred to the superintendent of the
Albuquerque school June 30.
BETTER SCHOOL HOUSES.
The agent recommends that the de-
partment should build modern and COM
Portable school houses for the accom-
mediation of these pupils, and dscon-
tinue the present plan of having the
schools conducted in Indian houses,
which but tends to form and create the
q y1n Iy1Ii In doc tod
Indian youth.
A COMPLAINT.
Some little complaint is made be-
cause half-breeds and other children in
some sections of the southwest have
been allowed to enter the Indian
schools and crowd out the children for
whom the schools were founded. The
agent says such conditions do not exist
at his agency, for there are enough
both the day and non-reservation
schools, and have several hundred left
outside the institutions, without going
to distant points to collect children to
fill the schools and make good show
ing.
PUEBLOS ARE PROSPEROUS.
The condition of the Pueblos this year
is better than usual. There is a great
need of Touring mills among them
Their method of making -four is by
grinding the wheat between two stones
by hand, which work is all performed
by the women. The great excuse which
the Indians make why the girls cannot
be sent to school Is that they are need
ed at home for grinding. The Pueblos
just north Of Santa Fe are located near
enough to mills to have their grinding
performed without this laborious proc
ess. There should be five mills set up
among the Pueblos, at Zuni, Laguna,
Jemez, Isleta and San Felipe. The en-
tire outfit would cost but from $1,000 to
$1,000.
THE JICARILLA APACHES.
The last census of the Jicarillas
showed a population Of S15. They this
year raised little besides hay, as they
were unable to secure seed for other
paintings. their own crops having been
destroyed last year. A large portion of
the reservation Is covered with excep-
tionally fine timber. a part of which
could be marketed and the proceeds
used in the purchase of cattle and sheep
for the Indians. In this way the Jica-
rillas could be made self-supporting in
a few years.
IN POVERTY.
There are 210 children of school age.
but the people are yet without school
facilities, although school will be
completed in December, which will sup
ply this need. The present condition of
the Indians is very poor. 1t is difficult
at any time to raise crops on this reser-
vation. But they can be self-supporting
on the present reservation if they can
but be provided with stock. The agent
is firmly convinced that the reservation
is totally unfit for agriculture, but is
well adapted to stock raising. These
Indians are too poor to secure the nee
essary amount of stock to enable them
to support themselves, but if once sup
piled there is no apparent reason why
they should not cease to be a burden
upon the government.